Hello and thank you for joining us for this week's Insider.

Today we bring you a mix of senior citizens, virtual reality and coffee (yes, really!) and we also hear about how tasty little purple cupcakes are changing the lives of children around the country.  

We also invite you to spend five minutes with a franchisee who tells us that to be successful you need to do the hard yards and be willing to get your hands dirty.

And in our Quick Shots Franchising News column franchising is booming in the Middle East; there's an invitation for you and your little black book; and we hear about a US franchise that made the Inside Franchising team stop and say hmmm ...

Read more about these stories, and more, in our News sections below.
And, if you are looking for a franchising opportunity, be sure to check out the new listings at our Franchises for Sale pages - there are hundreds of franchise locations to choose from !

Join us again next week, when we will be delivering the latest from Inside Franchising.

Have a great weekend!

Elderly and Young Unite for Virtual Sports

Elderly participants at Mt Barker’s Wundalea Day Centre are ditching bingo in favour of virtual boxing, ten pin bowling, golf, tennis and baseball using Nintendo Wii, thanks to a new project sponsored by Australian owned bb’s cafe.

The local Day Centre is one of the first of over 50 Australian facilities to receive a Nintendo Wii and Sports game to include as an innovative part of their residents’ activity program.

bb’s cafe Mt Barker owner Glennis Fantis said she was thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in such a unique project.

“No matter what your age or state of health, your playing days are never over,” Mrs Fantis said.

“Through clever use of game technology and the enthusiasm of young volunteers, this project has not only breached the age barrier, but the generation gap as well.”

Bbs’ café Mt Barker Manager Kylie Greening said the project had been such success, bb’s café Mt Barker donated a second remote control to the centre to make the game more accessible for participants.

“Nintendo Wii has been so popular at Wundalea Day Centre, the centre purchased a big screen TV to support it and some staff even use their breaks to have a quick game of virtual tennis or bowling with the participants,” she said.

“Wundalea Day Centre participants have even visited us at our bb’s café for lunch!”

The program has proved so successful, Wundalea Day Centre Coordinator David Kenning has been asked to do an organisational wide presentation on the benefits of using the Nintendo Wii and the fun and enjoyment it creates.

An initiative of Volunteering Queensland, the bb’s cafe Intergenerational Volunteering: Wii Sports Project involves primary or high school aged volunteers who teach elderly people the tricks behind good game technique, and who participate in mixed teams as part of regular competitions aimed at increasing physical fitness.

Information about how to become a participating facility is available on the Volunteering Queensland website at www.volqld.org.au or call 07 3002 7600.

There are more than 46 bb’s cafes operating across Australia, employing over 460 staff and serving over 3.3 million cups of coffee a year.

The bb’s cafe franchise network is owned and managed by Retail Food Group (RFG), a leading Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor. RFG is the franchisor and intellectual property owner of the Donut King, bb’s cafe, Brumby’s and Michel’s Patisseries systems. 

Click here for more information about bb's cafe and the RFG group of franchises

Michel’s Patisserie raises dough for sick children

Michel’s Patisserie has raised over $28,000 for Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia (CHFA), after Australians munched their way through almost 100,000 purple cupcakes in one month.

The money was raised through Michel’s Patisserie’s Purple Heart Cupcake fundraising campaign held nationwide in April.

Michel’s Patisserie Marketing Manager Tamarra Barrett said she was thrilled to be able to support such a worthy cause.

“Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia is a wonderful organisation that helps support hospitals across Australia with additional funding for research, patient and family services and volunteer services among other things,” she said.

“We were so inspired with the work CHFA does we wanted to help them support our community even more. So we decided to do what we do best – make thousands of delicious cupcakes to raise money.

“Cupcake lovers across Australia showed their support by munching through over 94,410 Purple Heart cupcakes in just one month! New South Wales were the clear winners, with sweet-tooths purchasing over 55,000 cupcakes.”

Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia Director, Nikki Johnston, said she was overwhelmed by the support that Michel’s Patisserie and its customers had shown.

“Michel’s Patisserie’s donation of $28,323 will go a long way towards helping sick children across Australia on to the road to recovery,” she said.

“Every dollar counts, and it is all worth it even if just one child gets to spend one less day in hospital.

“Many thanks must also go to Michel’s customers, many of whom I am sure would have been touched by the incredible work CHFA does every day,” she said.

The Michele’s Patisserie franchise network is owned and managed by Retail Food Group (RFG), a leading Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor. RFG is the franchisor and intellectual property owner of the Donut King, bb’s café, Brumby’s and Michel’s Patisseries systems.

 
Click here for more information about Michel's Patisserie and the RFG group of franchises.

We invite you to spend 5 minutes with young and enthusiastic Trios franchisee Taylan Kaman who shares some of the ups and downs of a typical day in his franchise

How did you become a franchisee at 27 years of age?
After I completed my university studies, I started my career in the hotel industry. It was very demanding work that provided excellent training in systems and customer service, which is the cornerstone of my Trios business. For over six years I worked in a number of hotels.

I always envied people that owned their own business and at the age of 24, I set myself a three-year goal to have my own business.

Over the next three years, I did extensive research into different types of businesses. At 27 I purchased my Trios franchised business and have been running it for three years.

How does your day begin?
I start work at 7.30am, preparing for the lunch rush. Our staff progressively come in and attend to their respective checklists. Apart from the food preparation, there are also displays to be set up, menu boards updated, occasional ordering and before you know it, it’s lunch time. That the best part of my day where I love the interaction of dealing face to face with customers.

How many hours a week do you typically work?
My working hours can vary from week to week. My typical working week varies between 50 to 60 hours, but this is my livelihood, so like any other business owner, I am willing to put in the hard work.

How much marketing do you do?
Ideally, I dedicate most of my Wednesdays to marketing. I walk the local streets, dropping off special offer pamphlets and customer loyalty cards. The franchisor provides us with the local marketing initiatives and tools. Using these, I can gather up information about the local area to help me target my marketing efforts.

Which parts of the business do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy running my own business and welcome the challenges thrown at me every day. The work can be hard and the hours long, but it is rewarding and I live a comfortable lifestyle. The most enjoyable aspect of my business is the interaction with my customers whilst serving them good, tasty and healthy food.

And the less enjoyable aspects of the business?
My single biggest challenge, like everybody else in this retail environment, is finding the right staff that fits our culture. I keep a positive attitude with my staff, and I find if they feel they own part of the business they are more motivated at work. I encourage a fun, energetic team spirit amongst them all. They are the ones who serve the customers all day every day, and it is their enthusiasm and attitude that will keep the customers coming back!

Where do you turn for guidance and motivation?
I try and deal with most issues myself. I’m a highly motivated and positive person, but if I need guidance, I call the franchisor; building a strong relationship with your franchisor is essential to your success.
Ultimately, my drive comes from wanting to be successful for myself and to help my parents and family.

What do you know now that you wish you knew at the start?
Basically, I knew very little about running a business when I started. I quickly realised the importance of quality service, dealing with staff and suppliers. I am committed to learning, and learn something new every day. I believe I will still be learning in 10 years.

What makes a successful Trios franchisee?
I think there are a number of factors that contribute to being a success as a Trios franchisee. Firstly, you must be actively involved in the business. And you must be 100 per cent committed. Don’t expect to find a manager to run your business for you as well as you will. You have to be present at all times, doing the hard yards and be willing to get your hands dirty during busy periods. The franchisee needs to be in tune with all aspects of the business, especially ideas to increase average customer spend and how many times I can get that customer to come back every week. The best part of the TRIOS menu is that we have 30 different meal choices from hot and cold Laffé Wraps one day, to a fresh salad or a baked spud on another. This give us a competitive edge during the week.

Secondly, a strong relationship with the franchisor is paramount, I can’t see how you can remain motivated and committed without having faith in your franchisor.

Thirdly, you must be able to laugh, or else you’ll go crazy.

Fourthly, as I said earlier, you have to be willing to learn and keep learning every day.

Finally, you have to absolutely love what you do. You can’t just do it for the money; you must be passionate about your business, and you must believe in the product you are selling to customers.

Any words of wisdom for a new franchisee?
Choose your business carefully, stay positive, enjoy what you do, work hard to achieve your goals, and the rewards will follow.

* This is an extract from an article by Sergio Alderuccio.  Click here to read the full article.

Crazy John’s gets Jim’s Group mobile

It was announced this week that the Jim’s Group has chosen mobile phone experts, Crazy John’s, to deliver a customised and integrated business mobile solutions package to improve its service and reliability. 

Franchising booming in the Middle East

According to the fifth edition of the Franchising Middle East exhibition survey, more and more young businessmen and women are starting up their own companies in the Middle East by taking on a franchise operation.  Franchising has witnessed a 20% increase in the Middle East in the last five years, with local and international brands looking for greater market penetration.

First Bloomtools franchisee hits the ground running

Gold Coast Central is the first Bloomtools franchise to launch in Australia.  According to Bloomtools Managing Director James Greig, their website development franchise opportunity is already attracting some very talented people, with another franchisee waiting in the wings to launch soon.

Big Profits for McDonald’s

McDonald’s Australia Holding has posted a 30% increase in its full year profit for 2007. The establishment of 78 new McCafe stores, as well as extra chicken and children’s meals lifted net profit to $150 million, an increase from the $115.6 million for 2006. Total sales were $1.1 billion, compared to $979 million the previous year.  The company made a $90 million principal repayment of a loan to Barclays Capital in March this year, and paid $74.7 million to its parent, McDonald’s Corporation.

Interested in the latest news from the ACCC?

Click here to visit the ACCC news centre.

Franchising Event

The Women In Franchising Qld Committee is organising a unique networking experience, in a relaxed, social setting.  Make sure you take this opportunity to meet other women in the franchising sector and add them to your little black book of business contacts!  Friday 11 July, Boardwalk Bar + Bistro, Brisbane.  email events@franchise.org.au for more information.

From the Inside Franchising
“Things that make you go hmmmm ..." Department:

America's Top Franchise Brand Builders `Flip' Over Retail Niche in $20 Billion Industry

In a recent American news article, the well known Aussie icon “the thong” was described as “once reserved only for poolside or beachwear, flip flops have grown to become the "global youth uniform," as well as accepted footwear for anyone ranging from surfers to high-level corporate executives. In fact, flip flop sales exceeded those of athletic shoes for the first time in 2006, and flip flop fever has continued to build momentum ever since.”

A group of major US franchise players (one of whom helped build Nike as a household brand name) have "joined toes" in a new franchise venture with powerful potential in a flip floppin' $20 billion industry.  In the US fans of quality ‘flip  flop’ brands, such as Reef, havaianas, Roxy and OluKai, are limited to shopping either online or finding a rare few independent stores that carry their favourite brands.

Flip Flop Shops recently announced a US nationwide expansion plan to take it from seven stores to a potential 236 within 5 years!

"Flip Flop Shops is more than a store—it's a lifestyle," said Brian Curin, Flip Flop Shops President.

Click here to read more about this ‘high stepping' US franchise …  what they will think of next?!

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Is there an opportunity available? What kind of experience is needed?

Simply click here to visit us at Inside Franchising to view our full list of opportunities!

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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.

Ella Baché Age Protection

Ella Baché’s new range of age defying treatment products provides a fusion of nature and technology. Combining active ingredients including White Lotus, French Lavender Oil, Hazelnut, Wheat Germ, Musk Rose Oil, Olive Squalane and White Tea; each chosen specifically for its ability to act in synch with the skin’s natural function to correct the signs of fatigue, wrinkles and a dull complexion.

Combined with an exclusive 3D Shield, our Age Protection range protects during the day against environmental aggressors like pollution, smoke and free radicals that cause oxidative stress resulting in premature aging. The skin regains its energy and resilience against the damages of time. Your youthful glow is restored!

Ella Baché’s Age Protection range includes 4 retail products:

• Bulle d’Energie Anti-Temps Smoothing Energy Booster – a silky smooth, intensive treatment to re-boost the skin’s energy, delivering immediate re-plumping and smoothing effect. Visible results within 15 days! 20ml $99.
• Bulle de Jour Anti-Temps Age Protection Cream – a rich comforting cream that corrects and protects the skin from external aggressors. Nourishes, smoothes wrinkles and gives the skin a radiant glow. 50ml $114.
• Bulle de Nuit Anti-Temps Intensive Relaxing and Renewal Night Cream – a rich velvet-textured cream that relaxes, de-stresses and deeply regenerates the skin, reducing the appearance of wrinkles. 50ml $116.
• Bulle Regard Anti-Temps Eye Contour Gel – a delicate, anti-puffiness, anti-dark circle, wrinkle smoothing eye gel that provides instant results. 15ml $90.

Key Active Ingredients:

White Lotus Eauligo: Energising liquid from the petals of the white lotus flower. It revitalises skin, stimulates cellular metabolism and facilitates oxygenation.

MG-relax ®: (Magnesium and Blue Lotus) A natural stress reliever that helps to fight fatigue and smooth out lines and wrinkles.

Glycofilm®: Acts as a physical barrier against the harmful effects of pollutants, heavy metals and tobacco.

Quintescine® (peptide): Anti-free radical that fights against UVA rays and protects
cellular DNA.

The unique action of each ingredient works to protect and repair against lipoperoxidation (attacks on the cell membranes), protein oxidation (enzymatic attack on collagen and elastin fibres), DNA alteration (due to cell membrane breakdown) and protects against sun damage to the cells.

By day the skin is protected and signs of ageing corrected, resulting in a youthful glow. By night the skin relaxesand stress diminishes, while a deep regenerating process begins...

For skin good enough to eat.

Ella Baché Skincare is available from Ella Baché salons and David Jones stores nationally. For stockists call 1 800 789 234 or visit our location finder at www.ellabache.com.au.

*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.