Franchisor News | News spinnets

Franinfo.co.uk re-launch

Now that December is upon us, VMG can look back on a busy and exciting autumn, that not only saw the very successful National Franchise Exhibition, Irish Franchise Exhibition and Franchise Marketing Conference take place, but also the re-launch of our website www.franinfo.co.uk.

As a complete source of franchising information, the site was given a brand new design for easier and quicker navigation, as well as several fresh and improved elements. Central to the re-design is the enhanced franchise directory, which now enables users to make detailed searches, create and save ‘hotlists’ of their favourites and request information from their selected franchises.

Advertisers will find the new site offers an unrivalled way of reaching the unique 18,400 visitors who use it every month, with advertising opportunities ranging from microbars, banners and enhanced listings to case studies, premier franchise sponsorship and video streaming.

As the official website for the Franchise Exhibitions portfolio, the website also provides detailed exhibition information, online registration and exhibitor lists.

The re-launch of www.franinfo.co.uk is an exciting development to the VMG portfolio of franchise products and events, and I encourage you to visit the website, try out the new features for yourself, and discover the world of franchising at your fingertips.

Firms must increase days off under new rules

Changes in holiday entitlement mean that UK businesses now have to give workers an extra four days off a year – going up by eight days next year. Previously, full-time staff had a minimum of 20 days’ leave entitlement but employers could deduct up to eight bank holidays, leaving 12 days. However, from October this year firms have had to provide a minimum of 24 days’ leave, and by April 2009 this rises to 28 days.
The net effect will be that businesses must give employees four weeks’ holiday plus the equivalent of all eight bank holidays. However, employers can still ask staff to work on a public holiday as required, and workers have no legal right to refuse.

The TUC said that before the changes came into force, businesses deducted bank holidays from holiday entitlement for an estimated six million employees. It will also affect business owners employing part-time staff as the new rules ensure they get full pro-rata holiday entitlement.

Jim Fitzpatrick, Employment Relations Minister, said: “Businesses will benefit from reduced absenteeism and a workforce who are more motivated and productive.”
The new plans will bring the UK closer in line with other European Union countries, where workers have an average of 33.4 days off a year.

Autumn round-up

 

Out and about on the show trail
t has been a busy time for the franchise industry this autumn and here we look at two of the highlights, the Franchise Marketing Conference and the National Franchise Exhibition, where franchise entrepreneurs and business people discovered a wealth of invaluable contacts, information and advice.

Franchise Marketing Conference 2007
The second annual Franchise Marketing Conference took place on 12 September 2007 at the Hyatt in Birmingham and was a huge success. More than 70 delegates came along to the sell-out event to pick up invaluable marketing advice and knowledge as well as take advantage of the excellent networking opportunities.

Franchisor News was delighted to sponsor the delegates’ accommodation at the Hyatt, and with an evening drinks reception sponsored by Business Franchise all overnight delegates had the opportunity to meet each other the night before in a relaxed environment.

Presentations at the conference were given by franchise marketing experts as well as representatives from well-known franchises such as ChipsAway, Gymboree and BB’s Coffee & Muffins, with topics including:
•    Integrating and focusing your marketing messages
•    Building a global empire
•    Minimum spend, maximum coverage – making PR work for you
•    Managing your franchisees’ marketing
•    Making your exhibition investment pay
•    Maintaining your brand standards in a franchise network
•    Developing a stronger web presence

Attendee comments were extremely positive, with delegates praising all aspects of the event:
•    “Very good value for money, interesting, and lots of friendly useful contacts. I would highly recommend”
•    “Useful and insightful presentations putting marketing into useful franchising situations”
•    “Very well organised with very relevant guest speakers”
•    “Good venue, professional speakers, good networking”
•    “Informative and interesting, a great networking opportunity and chance to meet members of Venture Marketing Group”
•    “Very useful day, good choice of subjects”
•    “Accommodation and meals were superb”

National Franchise Exhibition
Hundreds of entrepreneurs flocked to the National Franchise Exhibition and the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference 2007 for one of the biggest dates in the franchising diary.

The events, held together at the NEC in Birmingham on 5 and 6 October, as always provided the ideal opportunity for anyone interested in franchising and proved immensely popular with exhibitors and visitors alike.

Supported by the British Franchise Association (bfa), The Daily Express, The Sunday Express and Business Franchise, more than 250 firms showcased a diverse range of franchise and business opportunities. Attendees got valuable expert advice from business leaders, and exhibitors were able to amass a wealth of excellent leads.

Companies present included Expense Reduction Analysts, Rosemary Conley, My Home, Lasertech, Signarama, Wimpy UK, Subway, Vom Fass, Thorntons, Esprit, Go Cruise, BB’s Coffee and Muffins, Yogabugs, Chipsaway and McDonalds.

A number of free seminars and advice zones encouraged more visitors to attend and gave them additional value. The Women in Franchising Zone was very popular, giving aspiring female entrepreneurs the opportunity to gain one-to-one advice from some of the country’s most successful businesswomen. Speakers in the zone this year included: TV fitness guru Rosemary Conley and Michelle Dewberry, winner of BBC 1’s The Apprentice 2006, with each of their sessions being very well-attended.

As always at NFE there was a lot of fun to be had … and a lot of chocolate to be eaten! As well as many stands such as Thorntons and Leonadis providing visitors (and exhibitors and staff!) with delicious treats throughout the two days, the franinfo.co.uk stand also went all out this year with a fantastic chocolate fountain, marking the re-launch of the newly designed site.

Visitors and exhibitors alike praised the event. Melvin Hurley, Marketing Manager at Fastway Couriers, said: “Once again the National Franchise Exhibition has delivered. The exhibition continues to be the UK’s premier franchise exhibition. The work put in by the organisers to support our own pre-show lead generation was outstanding.”

James Fleck, Development Agent at Subway, said the event had been “extremely successful”, adding: “even with additional representatives on hand, finding time to speak with all interested parties was a challenge – bring on next year.”

Visitors were equally positive with their comments. Paul Brown, a Store Manager from Margate, Kent, said: “the event was very successful for me providing a helpful and interesting insight into the potential of franchising. I’ve received some great all round advice from the numerous franchising experts on hand here at the show.”

David Tuck, Franchise Sales Manager at Venture Marketing Group, said: “The National Franchise Exhibition continues to maintain its status as the leading national business event in the franchising calendar. This year has been no different with high calibre visitors attending both days of the event providing many excellent business leads for exhibitors.”
 
The 2008 National Franchise Exhibition returns to the NEC, Birmingham on the 3 & 4 October. For further information visit www.franinfo.co.uk.

The 2008 Franchise Marketing Conference will be taking place next September. A confirmed date and further details will be available on www.franinfo.co.uk/fmc