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This week's edition is packed with news from the franchising sector. Today's we hear from a franchise which is using the results from an in-house internet study to help its franchisees find more customers. Also, a carwash franchise with a green thumb gives us the low-down on why being environmentally friendly really does make good business sense; and we highlight an Aussie franchise which shares its philosophy on caring for the community. Read all about these stories, as well as many snippets from around the globe, in our news pages below. If you are looking for a great franchising opportunity, be sure to check out the new listings at our Franchises for Sale pages - there are hundreds of opportunities to choose from ! Join us again next week, when we will be delivering the latest from Inside Franchising. Have a great weekend! from the Inside Franchising Team |
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Almost half of Australia’s print buyers say they use the internet to find a local printer – and most rely on Google to narrow their search. That’s the view of a new study by print communications group Worldwide Online Printing, which has used the research to optimise its new website at www.worldwide.com.au. Facilities include the chance for information-seekers to quickly find out which of Worldwide’s 88 franchised Centres is most local to them – and then plot the quickest way to get there using Googlemaps. Each franchised Worldwide Centre has its own microsite on which they can upload their own content – centres can use their pages to promote specific offers and discounts, local awards and sponsorships, and advertise jobs available at their Centre. The site itself is designed to make life easier for the country’s web-savvy consumers of business design, print and copywriting services. Online Print Management and artwork upload functions makes placing print orders quick and simple. “When our research showed that as few as one in eight people use printed directories to find supplies of design and print-related products and services, it was clear where we should channel our energies,” said Worldwide’s Senior Marketing Coordinator and web champion, Katharina Kotte. “We turned to specialist web writers at Wordplay Media to produce over 200,000 words of content |
For less confident print buyers, the site’s Quote Request function pre-populates its forms with the most popular variations of each product set, and the site provides fast, fuss-free access to handy templates, tips and advice on creating artwork and branding, and helpful information on the technical side of printing. “The new WOP site and it looks great, well done,” said Graham Johnston, a Worldwide franchisee from Victoria. “The site is much more user friendly and has a lot more general info, which is easy to find. Great job.” To celebrate the launch of the new site, Worldwide is making available a limited number of free copies of a new business development guide called 25 Ways to Amaze Your Customers without flying a banner over the city, sponsoring a hot air balloon or doing anything that requires a chicken suit...
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By Jim Cornish Green businesses are springing up all over the country. As the world’s population takes greater ownership of global warming issues and slowly acknowledges a desperate need to reduce waste and carbon emissions for the sake of an ailing planet, a new generation of business-minded eco warriors is taking up the cause. Some businesses belong to the innovator category, refining or completely revamping mainstream products and services to become more eco-friendly. For those short on innovation but interested in becoming part of the green movement, eco-friendly franchises provide a multitude of options, from the selling of low eco-impact goods and services to environmentally-friendly concrete cutting businesses and beauty salons. Everywhere you turn, there is a eco - solution. CleanLife is an Eco-Ganic Consultancy that provides simple effective strategies for maintaining a ‘CleanLife’ for yourself and your family. They advise you on everything from cleaning products for the home to personal care products. Since 1997, Greenfleet has planted over three million trees on behalf of Australian motorists and businesses to offset the emissions generated by air travel, household and business energy use. |
ecowash mobile began as a two car operation – my business partner Stewart Nicholls and I out there on our own washing cars without water. In four years we have grown to over 50 franchises throughout Australia and now have operations in 10 countries including some of the world’s most famous cities – Paris, Dubai and Athens for example. This is a global trend and indicates that people are wising up to the potential in going green. Being green is also being business savvy
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From copycat concepts to scathing media coverage and litigation, ex-franchisees can be a destructive force for any franchise system. With franchisors now required to disclose contact details of former franchisees under changes to the Franchising Code of Conduct, ex-franchisees have more scope than ever to influence the success of a franchise brand. This free franchise sector briefing, presented by Franchising Australia Survey author Griffith University Professor Lorelle Frazer and Franchise Advisory Centre Director Jason Gehrke, will cover:
Griffith’s new Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence will also be launched by John O’Brien, Chairman of the Franchise Council of Australia at the seminar. The Centre will provide a new resource for the franchising sector offering a range of services, courses, research and partnership opportunities. |
This is a perfect opportunity to network with franchising executives from a range of local franchise organisations and consultancies.
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There are many local community-minded businesses and Aussie Pooch Mobile is no exception. The Aussie Pooch Mobile (APM) philosophy of ‘We Care’ not only relates to cleaning and caring for dogs, it is strongly tied to caring and helping the community, with APM operators throwing themselves relentlessly into many events to help raise money for charity. A popular eventis the Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash Bath-a-thon. A team of operators get together and raise much needed funds for local charities, schools or clubs. People are encouraged to bring their pooch along to be washed and the proceeds are donated to the event holders. With a long-standing affiliation with the RSPCA, APM operators in all states participate in the RSPCA Million Paws Walk, where a major dog bath-a-thon is also held. APM also provides adopted dogs with an initial discounted APM service to help their new owners establish good canine cleanliness and are actively involved in helping care for abused and rescued dogs. |
Each year APM are involved in the Variety Children’s Charity Jet Trek and in 2008 raised over $100,000. Other partnerships include the Animal Welfare League, Lions Hearing Dogs, Assistance Dogs and Breast Cancer Awareness. “I know I speak for all APM franchisees in saying that we are so fortunate to be doing something we love that we want to be able to give back to the community,” says founder, Chris Taylor. “Over the next 12 months we plan to raise more funds through our different events for Variety including helping another child receive an assistance dog. We are also working closely with the Lions Hearing Dogs and will be fundraising for them. “We encourage everyone to help in any way they can and donations can be made via Aussie Pooch Mobile, so make sure you’re community conscious and keep an eye out for these upcoming local events: MILLION PAWS WALK This annual event is run by the RSPCA to raise much needed funds to help create awareness, educate the community, prevent acts of cruelty to animals and to protect all creatures great and small.
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Queensland based Big Dad’s Pies continues to expand their retail offer with the opening of their 39th store at the St Ives Shopping Centre Goodna, west of Brisbane. More on this story in next week’s Edition.
Congratulations to Australia’s Howards Storage World, which will open its first Irish franchise in Carrickmines, Dublin on May 24th.
US fast-food giant McDonalds has announce its plans to expand its franchise into Kosovo. At the moment Kosovo and Albania are the only two countries in the region where McDonalds does not operate. It is hoped that McDonalds franchising in the country will encourage other US companies to invest in Kosovo as well.
Interested in the latest news from the ACCC?
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Fitness industry franchise Beach House Health and Fitness is embroiled in claims it has sold private information about its members, has failed to pay out employee entitlements and has had legal action taken against it to reclaim unpaid debts.
Victorian-based jeweller, Kleins, collapsed with debts of $20 million. As the administrators of collapsed Kleins jewellery business look for a buyer for the $40 million revenue business, questions are being asked by franchisees about why problems were not flagged earlier.
Franchising Event 2008 Qld State Franchise Conference or phone 1300 669 030
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Everyone loves a freebie, and to get your hands on Worldwide's free guide to 25 Ways to Amaze Your Customers all you need to do is click here to visit the Worldwide Online Franchise System Profile and follow the links. |
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*The content of all news items published in this newsletter are published in good faith and are reproduced from information provided by the individual companies the subject of said news items. Inside Franchising Pty Ltd takes no responsibility whatsoever for information and content being true and correct. |