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REGIONAL WINNERS IN THE 2008 MYOB EXCELLENCE IN FRANCHISING AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Organised by the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA), the MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of hard working individuals and organisations in the growth and development of their businesses and their contribution towards franchising in Australia.
At regional events held in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, winners were announced in the following categories: Franchisee of the Year, Franchise Woman of the Year and Emerging Franchise System of the Year.
And the Winners are......
VIC / TAS
Franchisee of the Year went to Mark Maumill of Banjos Corporation. Mark is a multi-unit franchisee with eight stores. His successful use of strategic partnerships as a way to facilitate his growth and financial goals has been a large part of his success.
Franchise Woman of the Year was awarded to Deb Shugg, CEO of Award Group. Deb founded Award Group in 1998, began franchising in 2002 and has established an astounding 50 franchises today.
Emerging Franchise System of the Year went to Jason Smith, founder of Back in Motion, a progressive and innovative provider of physiotherapy and related services. Back in Motion was started in 2000, franchised in 2004 and now has 23 outlets in two States.
NSW / ACT
Franchisee of the Year went to Tony Zoobi of Hairhouse Warehouse. Tony, who was a runner up at the 2007 awards operates four stores and supports all NSW franchisees by providing them with the tools and assistance they need to grow and develop.
Franchise Woman of the Year was awarded to Ruth Swan of Price Attack. Ruth is a multi-unit franchise operator who, together with her husband Phillip, owns all four Price Attack stores in the ACT, two of which they started from scratch.
Emerging Franchise System of the Year went to Andrew Simmons, Founder and Director of Vision Personal Training, a personal training chain representing the next step in the fitness evolution. Vision Personal Training was started in 2001, began franchising in 2004 and now has 25 outlets in two States.
QLD
Franchisee of the Year was awarded to Colleen and Mark Hart of Frontline Recruitment. Colleen and Mark have successfully balanced measuring all aspects of their business while simultaneously focusing on developing a healthy and happy culture where people feel valued and are nurtured.
Franchise Woman of the Year went to Lyn Wicks of PoolWerx Corporation. Lyn has been involved in the franchising sector for 15 years and is actively involved in mentoring programs to encourage women from within PoolWerx to partake in more than just administration. So successful is this mentoring program that 40% of the PoolWerx female network now drive sales.
Emerging Franchise System of the Year went to Mr Rental. Mr Rental was started as a small family business specialising in appliance rental in 1991. After 10 years local business experience, they began franchising in 2001 and now have a commendable 57 stores in four States.
Next stop - National Awards in October!
Winners in the WA and SA/NT categories will be announced next week, with all State winners going head-to-head with other regional winners - and the other national category nominations - at the MYOB Excellence in Franchising National Gala Dinner on Saturday 18 October 2008 in Sydney.
Comments from the FCA
According to FCA's Executive Director, Steve Wright, franchising in Australia represents a dynamic and entrepreneurial small business sector contributing positively to Australia’s GDP. Franchising employs some 600,000 people in over 64,000 workplaces and represents annual sales of approximately $128 billion.
The healthy and robust state of franchising is clearly evident in the calibre and quantity of all nominations received in the MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards, with nominations in all categories up on last year's figures. This prompted State Ministers to comment on the well developed franchising sector and the importance it plays in the Australian economy.
The Franchise Council of Australia is the premier body representing this dynamic sector in Australia and is a representative voice to Government. With a vision to developing excellence at every level of the sector, the Franchise Council of Australia is committed to ensuring professional development, business growth and strong networking opportunities for all its franchisors, franchisees and suppliers.
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2007 WINNERS
INSIDE FRANCHISING CONGRATULATES THE WINNERS AND ALL OF THE FINALISTS IN THE 2007PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS EXCELLENCE IN FRANCHISING AWARDS!
The regional winners of the state-based Franchisee of the Year and Franchise Woman of the Year awards competed to take home the prestigious national title at the PricewaterhouseCoopers Excellence in Franchising Awards which were announced on 13 October 2007 at the National Franchise and Small Business Convention (NFC07) in Melbourne.
The winners were:
Franchisor of the Year 2007 – Pack & Send
Retail Franchisor of the Year 2007 – Pack & Send
Food Franchisor of the Year 2007 – Gloria Jean’s Coffees
Service Franchisor of the Year 2007 – Quest Serviced Apartments
Franchisee of the Year 2007– Andrew Robertson (Worldwide Online Print)
Franchise Woman of the Year 2007 – Karen Matthews (Ella Bache)
Franchise Media Campaign of the Year 2007– Red Rooster
Franchise Export Award 2007 – Howards Storage World
Franchise Innovation Award 2007 – John Brennan Hair
Scroll down to see all of this year’s Finalists.
Australia’s best in franchising
recognised in regional honours
- PwC Regional Excellence in
Franchising Award winners announced
Emerging franchise systems, franchisees and women in franchising across the country have been recognised during the Franchise Council of Australia’s Franchise Appreciation Week, paying tribute to the ‘best of the best’ in Australian franchising.
Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) CEO Richard Evans congratulated winners from across Australia and thanked them for contributing to the triumph of franchising as successful business model major economic and employment generator for Australia.
“Franchising has a tremendous economic impact on Australia generating sales the equivalent to 14% of Australia’s GDP each year. Over the past few decades, franchising in Australia has developed into a powerhouse industry employing around 600,000 people. The $128 billion franchise industry bears evidence of the sector’s economic and social benefits and plays a significant role in the generation of income and prosperity for Australians,” Mr Evans said.
2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers Emerging Franchise Systems of the Year:
Western Australia: Aroma Café
South Australia: Wokinabox
Qld / NT: Mr Rental
NSW / ACT: Ecowash Mobile
Victoria /Tasmania: Hairhouse Warehouse
2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers Franchisee of the Year:
Western Australia: Jamie Gant (ANZ Mortgage Solutions)
South Australia: Jock Dean (Mr Carports)
Qld / NT: Andrew Robertson (Worldwide Online Printing)
NSW / ACT: Marc & Tania Donohue (Narellan Pools)
Victoria /Tasmania: Cameron Mactier & Margaret Whelan (Optus World)
2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers Franchise Woman Year:
Western Australia: Linda Steele (CHOOKS fresh & tasty)
South Australia: Vicki Prout (Franchise Alliance)
Qld / NT: Dianne Williams (Lenard’s)
NSW / ACT: Karen Matthews (Ella Baché)
Victoria /Tasmania: Sadhana Smiles (Hocking Stuart)
The regional winners of the state-based Franchisee of the Year and Franchise Woman of the Year awards then compete to take home the prestigious national title at the PricewaterhouseCoopers Excellence in Franchising Awards announced on 13 October 2007 at the National Franchise and Small Business Convention (NFC07) in Melbourne.
PROFILES OF THE FINALISTS:
PricewaterhouseCoopers WA Excellence in Franchise Awards
Linda Steele (CHOOKS fresh & tasty) – PwC Western Australia Woman in Franchising
Linda commenced her franchise career working for a major franchised real estate group. Following this, she worked for Telstra as Western Australia’s Lease Portfolio Manager and Power of Attorney for property transactions. She was the youngest person to ever hold this position. Linda then established and ran her own printing business with her partner for many years. She became involved with CHOOKS fresh & tasty in 1997, providing advertising and marketing expertise for the group. Keenly interested in the growth of the company, Linda joined the organisation on a full-time basis from 2001 and is now the general manager of CHOOKS.
From the very start of her involvement with CHOOKS fresh and tasty, Linda’s management skills became fundamental to the company. Her initiatives which began to be implemented from the start of her involvement were seen as key reasons for the company’s expansion from 14 stores when she started to the existing 35 stores plus more which are coming on line in the next few months.
WA FRANCHISE WOMAN OF THE YEAR – LINDA STEELE, GENERAL MANAGER (CHOOKS Fresh & Tasty)
Aroma Café - PwC WA Emerging Franchise System of the Year
Since its inception in 1996, the family owned and operated Aroma Café has grown to 39 franchised stores in Australia, with three more scheduled to open in this year.
A household name in WA, Aroma Café is considered the leader in food and coffee retail. Aiming to set themselves apart from other Australian and international café franchises, the Aroma Café service mission places high emphasis on both made-to-order meals and coffee quality. Aroma Café is the largest distributor of Dimattina Coffee in Australia and employ highly trained baristas who have competed nationally and internationally in renowned Barista Competitions.
Aroma Café is currently exploring the option of becoming a Registered Training Organisation (or RTO), and in the meantime have been approached by many lessors, business owners and developers to establish stores in new areas and improve businesses and shopping precincts.
WA EMERGING FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR – AROMA CAFÉ
FROM LEFT: ANGIE MULÉ, ROBERT MULÉ, ALICIA MULÉ
Jamie Gant (ANZ Mortgage Solutions) – PwC WA Franchisee of the Year
Like many mortgage brokers, Jamie Gant had been in the banking industry for years, first at the CBA and then at St.George, before he decided to go it alone as a broker. But then, after seven years of broking, including five years on his own, he took the more unusual step of heading back to the banking fold – as a franchisee.
For Gant, who was putting 55–60% of his business through ANZ anyway, this was a chance to take his business to the next level. “It was a business opportunity. It allowed me to buy into a company with a leading brand name, and still have the earning potential of the business, with gross income and trail,” he explains.
The move to ANZ Mortgage Solutions has paid off handsomely for Gant. Last year he turned over $100m worth of loans, picking up the accolade for national ANZ mobile lender franchise of the year. This year he is on track to surpass his 2006 volumes and is currently the franchisee for three ANZ Mortgage Solutions branches in Fremantle, Willeton and Armadale.
WA FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR – JAMIE GANT, ANZ MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS FRANCHISE OWNER
(Fremantle, Willeton and Armadale)
PricewaterhouseCoopers SA Excellence in Franchise Awards
Vicki Prout (Franchise Alliance) – PwC South Australia Woman in Franchising
Two-time winner of the PwC SA Franchise Woman of the Year award (2006 & 2007), Vicki has over 11 years experience in franchising and marketing and has been a major shareholder in three companies. She has experienced franchising at all levels, working within the realms of franchising in 13 countries across the world (including successful overseas launches and development).
Vicki was appointed Partner of Franchise Alliance in July 2007 - just three months after joining the company. Established 27 years ago, Franchise Alliance is a national firm of professional business development consultants specialising in the franchise sector.
Prior to her current role, Vicki held the position of Marketing Director at Cartridge World and was responsible for promotion design, delivery and implementation of advertising and marketing concepts for franchise sales across South Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.
SA FRANCHISE WOMAN OF THE YEAR – VICKI PROUT (PARTNER, FRANCHISE ALLIANCE)
Wokinabox – PwC SA Emerging Franchise System of the Year
Wokinabox was founded by Adrian Morrissy. The first Wokinabox store commenced trading in August 2002 at
Norwood, South Australia and the third store (and first franchise) was opened on the corner of King William Street and Hindley Street in Central Adelaide in early January 2004. It was an instant hit, proving very popular with the city lunch crowd.
Since its inception, Wokinabox has consistently sought to sell Asian cuisine with a commitment to healthy food and fast service. Today, there are 34 Wokinabox stores located across Australia and New Zealand serving more than 25,000 customers per week.
SA EMERGING FRANCHISE SYSTEM WINNER – WOKINABOX
ADRIAN MORRISSY – MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jock Dean (Mr. Carports) – PwC SA Franchisee of the Year
An engineering surveyor by trade, Jock bought his Adelaide Hills Mr Carports franchise in January 2000 after various roles working in IT networking, call centers and a stint as an account manager for NEC in Darwin and Canberra.
Two-time winner of the PwC SA Franchisee of the Year award (2005, 2007), Jock has consistently continued to grow his business over the past seven years.
Committed to the Mr Carports franchise model, Jock is heavily involved in the mentoring program where he has trained a number of new franchisees for up to six months, including a franchisee in the Barossa Valley.
With over 50 percent of his business referral based, Jock is lives by the code that the ‘Customer is everything’ and allocates time to build close relationships with his customers, builders and his franchisor.
SA FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR – JOCK DEAN
(MR. CARPORTS FRANCHISE OWNER, ADELAIDE HILLS)
PricewaterhouseCoopers QLD/NT Excellence in Franchise Awards
Dianne Williams (Lenard’s) – PwC Queensland / Northern Territory Woman in Franchising
Dianne Williams started her career as a Midwife for the District Nursing Service and purchased her first franchise in
1985 with Pizza Hut. She won back to back awards during her time as a Pizza Hut franchisee and was consistently the best performing franchisee in the region.
Dianne launched her second foray into franchising with Lenard’s in 1994 where she now owns two franchises. Despite the initial challenges faced, her perseverance paid off and she turned her business around to win the Lenard’s Franchisee of the Year award in 2005.
During this time, she also founded fundraising group “Lenard’s Chickadee Chicks” consisting of current and past Lenard’s staff members, as well as other women who share a passion for giving back to the community. The group has helped raise funds for the Queensland Cancer Fund and key events such as Relay for Life, and continues to do so.
QLD/NT FRANCHISE WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Dianne Williams – Lenard’s Franchise Owner, Earlville and Mt Sheridan
Mr Rental – PwC QLD/NT Emerging Franchise System of the Year
Mr Rental's story started back in 1991 when the company was founded by Glen and Kerrianne Hickman, on Bribie Island, Queensland.
Glen and Kerrianne had originally moved to Bribie Island in 1983 for the coastal lifestyle and to raise a family. It was there they started their first business venture opening a local video library and then also running the local chicken takeaway. They started renting appliances such as VCRs and TVs from their store and soon realised they were making more from appliance rentals than video rentals. They sold the video store and opened Mr Rental.
For 10 years, this enterprising husband and wife team built their business in their local community, developing and optimising their Mr Rental systems. In 2001 they took the bold move to start franchising, with a vision for Mr Rental to become ‘the world’s first choice in home appliance renting’. Within two years they had over 30 stores throughout Australia and New Zealand, growing to over 50 stores today.
QLD/NT EMERGING FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR
Parliamentary Secretary Mr Michael Choi MP and Brigid Madden of Mr. Rental
Kerrianne and Glen Hickman, Managing Directors of Mr. Rental
Andrew Robertson (Worldwide Online Printing) – PwC QLD/NT Franchisee of the Year
In 2003, Andrew commenced a management agreement at the Spring Hill Franchise of Worldwide Online Printing (working for the franchisor) with an option to buy the business. He purchased the business in September 2003 and since then the annual turnover has increased more than four-fold in the four years.
Under his leadership, staffing has grown from three to a full team of nine. A strong advocate of a positive team environment, Robertson’s employees are paid on a salary plus profit-share basis which has resulted in a positive work culture and low staff turnover. He further attributes this approach to his successful acquisition of an additional Worldwide Online Printing franchise at Rowes Arcade in July 2007 .
QLD/NT FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR
Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Michael Choi MP & Andrew Robertson, Franchise Owner of Worldwide Online Printing (Spring Hill and Rowes Arcarde in Brisbane CBD)
PricewaterhouseCoopers NSW/ACT Excellence in Franchise Awards
Karen Matthews (Ella Baché) – PwC New South Wales / ACT Woman in Franchising
Karen Matthews is one of Australia’s youngest female CEOs, leading Australia’s first skincare franchise. Since joining Ella Baché in 1999, Karen has taken calculated risks to grow the business.
Karen is an articulate and engaging presenter and speaks regularly about issues close to her heart such as franchising, strategic growth, the company vision, triple bottom line reporting, corporate governance and mentoring. Karen has been instrumental in establishing Ella Bache’s position today as Australia’s authority on skincare franchising, which is attributed to a unique franchise model that nurtures and supports its business owners.
In January 2007, BRW named Ella Baché among its fastest growing franchises of the year. Over the past three years Ella Baché has a recorded revenue growth of 53.56% and annual store growth of 44.12% with 71 franchises currently in operation and solid growth forecasts 50 more in three years.
NSW/ACT PwC Franchise Woman of the Year – Karen Matthews, CEO of Ella Baché
Ecowash Mobile – PwC NSW/ACT Emerging Franchise System of the Year
Sydney-based Jim Cornish and Stewart Nicholls established Ecowash Mobile in March 2004 as a completely waterless mobile car washing and detailing franchise system.
Ecowash Mobile won the 2005 Australia Post Small Business Awards (Getting Started Category) and the 2006 Champion of Champions Small Business Awards (Automotive Services category). In March 2006, the franchise system was also awarded the ‘Smart Approved Watermark’, the nation’s reference for choosing products, services and organisations that are reducing outdoor water use. In April 2007, Ecowash Mobile was listed in BRW’s ‘Fast Starters’ Top 100 list for Australian companies.
Ecowash Mobile has grown from a two-car Sydney-based operation to currently having 42 franchisees operating 50 mobile units across all 6 states of Australia each washing around seven cars a day which equates to a saving of about 277,200 litres of water a week*. The business has also taken off overseas and is now established and operational in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, France and the USA (launching in Greece, March 2008).
NSW/ACT PwC Franchisee of the Year – ecowash mobile, Operation Director Stewart Nicholls and Managing Director Jim Cornish
Marc and Tania Donohue (Narellan Pools) – PwC NSW/ACT Franchisee of the Year
Marc and Tania Donohue are the Franchisees for Narellan Pools ACT. After approximately 16 years of operating their own businesses in the earthmoving and landscape industries, Marc & Tania purchased a struggling Franchise for Narellan Pools in the Canberra region in 2004.
Since taking over this Franchise Marc and Tania have received no less than 18 industry based awards for excellence in swimming pool construction. They have also grown this Franchise with a 177% increase in turnover in three years. Business plans adopted by Marc & Tania have seen them develop this business from a simple pool installation business to a one stop location including full design and construction of landscaping concepts. This approach has proven extremely popular in the market place.
Marc and Tania are directly involved in industry groups striving to develop not only their Franchise but also the industry as a whole and have been working closely with these industry groups and government authorities in relation to on going water restrictions and water conservation policies in the ACT region.
NSW/ACT PwC Franchisee of the Year – Narellan Pools Franchise Owners Marc & Tania Donohue, Quenbeyan , NSW
PricewaterhouseCoopers VIC/TAS Excellence in Franchise Awards
Sadhana Smiles (Hocking Stuart) – PwC Victoria / Tasmania Woman in Franchising
Sadhana Smiles came to Australia as a 16 year old from Fiji with the desire to achieve and make a difference. Over the past three years she has worked with real estate agency Hocking Stuart to establish industry-leading standards for managing both the sales and property management divisions of the business. As a direct result of this work, Hocking Stuart has significantly increased its turnover in sales and the number of properties under management. Throughout her time as Chairperson of the Property Management Chapter of the REIV, Sadhana has seen a significant growth in the number of women as franchise owners in the real estate industry.
In her spare time, Sadhanna has established a preventative health care clinic in a rural area south of Nadi seven years ago and continues raises funds to run the operation to fly in specialist doctors, general practitioners and nurses from Australia and the US.
VIC/TAS FRANCHISE WOMAN OF THE YEAR – SADHANA SMILES, People & Performance Manager (HOCKING STUART)
Hairhouse Warehouse – PwC VIC/TAS Emerging Franchise System of the Year
Brothers Tony and Joseph Lattouf started Hairhouse Warehouse in 1992 and began franchising in 1998. Through franchising, the Lattouf brothers have been able build their initial three salons into one of Australia’s fastest growing franchises.
The Hairhouse Warehouse concept was born when the Lattouf brothers recognized a need for Australian hairdressing salons to offer both hair and beauty services, as well as a wide range of hair care products. Of it’s nine years in franchising, Hairhouse Warehouse has experienced the most significant growth in 2006/07, previously averaging 13 new store openings per annum this number has increased dramatically and tripled to 45 new stores openings.
Hairhouse Warehouse offers more than 75 brands of professional hair care products under its retail arm, plus in-store hair and beauty services including a hair salon, waxing, spray tanning, nail bar and body piercing.
VIC/TAS EMERGING FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR – HAIRHOUSE WAREHOUSE FOUNDERS: TONY AND JOSEPH LATTOUF
Cameron Mactier and Margaret Whelan (Optus World) – PwC VIC/TAS Franchisee of the Year
After several years in the retail and hospitality industry, Cameron Mactier fist became an Optus World franchisee in 1996 with the opening of his first store.
Establishing a partnership with Margaret Whelan Optus World Bendigo was opened in August 2004, and Shepparton was added to the group in October of the same year. Since then, Margaret and Cameron have expanded their group to six stores, including South Melbourne, Albury and Highpoint.
VIC/TAS FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR – CAMERON MACTIER AND MARGARET WHELAN (OPTUS WORLD FRANCHISE OWNERS- BENDIGO, SHEPPARTON, HIGH POINT, ALBURY, SOUTH MELBOURNE)
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