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

In today's news:  The champagne was flowing in Sydney on the weekend with the announcement of the winners of the 2008 MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards - we have the full list of category winners.  The ARA also joins us today urging the state and federal governments to ease off pushing through new legislation that will burden retailers.

Quick Shots News: One franchise acknowledges the need for an increase in casual workers' wages; we reveal the latest private equity-owned company to cull senior staff; inflation predictions from the Reserve Bank of Australia and, for something a bit lighter, don't miss your chance to win a trip for four to Melbourne for the best New Years Ever!

All of this, and much more of the latest news and opportunities from around the globe in this edition.

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AUSSIE INNOVATIONS CONQUERING THE GLOBE - MYOB EXCELLENCE IN FRANCHISING AWARDS

Innovation and continued technological improvements were the themes of the MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards announced in Sydney on Saturday night.  

The pioneering internet based communicator and trainer – aptly named “Gloria” - developed by Gloria Jean’s Coffees earned the company the award for Franchise Innovation of the Year.  With master franchise partners in 35 countries Gloria Jean’s Coffees have addressed the need for a unified training and development program to deliver consistent results.  In response to this they have created a world first in global communications that allows them to contact and train, one on one, every member in their team, worldwide. “Gloria” has tremendous functionality designed to facilitate communication, deliver consistent training and provide a 24 hour a day resource of manuals and tools to all team members globally. “Gloria” has fundamentally changed the way Gloria Jean’s Coffees communicates as an organisation driving consistency and best practice across the brand.

The MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards are the peak small business awards for the $130 billion franchising sector. 

 Other category winners awarded on the night included: 

 > Franchisee of the Year - Mark Maumill and Jason Love of Banjos Corporation

According to Steve Wright, Executive Director of the Franchise Council of Australia “The annual Awards recognise and reward hard working Australians in the small to medium sized business sector and provide a platform for these companies to showcase their products and services on the national stage.”

“The robust state of franchising is clearly evident in the calibre and quantity of all submissions received.  Nominations in all categories were up on last year’s figures with the Franchisee of the Year Award attracting the highest number of entries.”

“The Minister for Small Business, Dr Craig Emerson, awarded the franchising sector a mark of 8.5 out of 10 at Friday’s opening to NFC08 – this year’s national conference for the franchise sector.  These awards are the outstanding examples that underpin such a strong endorsement and provide ongoing encouragement for the continuing high achievement of Australian franchise systems both here and abroad” said Wright. 

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.

Inside Franchising congratulates all of the finalists and winners of this year's Awards!

RETAILERS URGE GOVERNMENT TO PUT THE BAKES ON COSTLY LEGISLATION

- ARA SAYS "WALK THE TALK, MR RUDD"

Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has urged state and federal governments to ease off pushing through new legislation that will burden retailers with added compliance costs during the period of economic crisis.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said during one of the hardest economic times for retailers, decision makers are continuing to push through legislation across the country - including unit pricing, plastic bag bans, emissions trading schemes, parental leave, award modernisation and tobacco control - ensuring additional burden to retailers with compliance and other associated costs.

"The Rudd Government needs to walk the talk. It has made a great move to stimulate consumer confidence with the Economic Security Strategy. Now is not the time to burden retailers with new legislation and compliance costs adding to trading stress. Now is the time to let retailers get back on their feet and allow this injection of dollars to flow through the economy. 

"However, in South Australia there is a plan to ban plastic bags by May next year - increasing costs for retailers. In Victoria we're waiting to hear if the month-long trial that placed a 10 cent levy on plastic bags will be rolled out across the state - once again increasing costs for retailers. There is a lot of uncertainty for retailers at the moment and the threat of new legislation is an encumbrance for retailers who are struggling.

"For example, instead of holding a steady hand to the wheel of legislation at a time where retailers are struggling after successive months of stagnant and declining growth, the NSW and Victorian governments are now pushing through new laws restricting the sale and display of tobacco products. Smaller retailers simply cannot afford to comply with the new legislation at the moment," Evans said.

"Retailers are supportive of government goals to reduce tobacco-related harm. Retailers are committed to reducing the environmental impacts of plastic bags. We're simply urging decision makers to put the brakes on penalising retailers for responding to consumer demand in what is a very stressful time for the sector.

"It's not enough to inject funds. The Rudd Government now needs to consider business economic impacts upon its planned legislative program. Working families include retailers and they need support right now - not heinous increased compliance costs," Evans said.

For over 104 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA supports and represents over 5000 members throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

BAKRES DELIGHT TOPS EXCELLENCE IN FRANCHISING MEDIA AWARD

- Commitment to sport in the community & leadership in marketing support recognised

Bakers Delight’s commitment to the community and leadership in the area of franchise marketing support has been recognised by the Franchising Council of Australia, picking up Media Campaign of the Year at the MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards 2008 for its Top Sports community engagement program.

The Top Sports campaign was entered as an example of a truly integrated marketing approach designed to make an impact at a local community level for Bakers Delight’s 630 Australian franchisees.

The award winning campaign highlights Bakers Delight’s position as a leader in engaging franchisees in marketing initiatives and offering ongoing support to its stakeholders.

“As a franchise business it’s important that we invest in programs which make a difference to our franchisees. The Top Sports program allowed each and every franchisee to make an impact within their local community,” said Chris.

Nominees in the Media Campaign of the Year Award included Autobarn, Brazillian Beauty, Caltex Australia Limited, CHOOKS fresh & tasty, Hairhouse Warehouse, Hotondo Homes, Jim’s Mowing and Mr Rental.

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Gourmet pizza franchise Pizza Capers has raised the wages of its casual delivery drivers by 20 percent after the company realised the high price of petrol was affecting recruitment.

Pizza Capers Human Resources Manager Kathy Patterson said the company had introduced a wage increase in order to retain its current drivers and attract new ones.“The increase in fuel prices has really affected our ability to recruit delivery drivers so we have raised the rates of our casual delivery drivers from $5 to $6.50 in addition to our usual $10 shift allowance,” she said.

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Mortgage Choice congratulates the Federal Government on its momentous step to increase the First Home Owners Grant to $14,000 for all first homebuyers and to $21,000 for those buying new housing as their first home. 

The Housing Industry Association expects the initiative to boost the number of dwellings built over the next year by 15,000. At present, building activity has been on the decline for the past nine months.

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ACCC NEWS

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According to the Australian Financial Review, MYER is the latest private equity-owned company to cull senior staff, amid speculation of cost cutting triggered by a slump in spending at its stores.They include store interface and buying finance director, Alison Smith, who joined the company two years ago from Nike, and men's wear business manager Simon Winter.

> Click here for more about this story

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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 or their agents, the subject of said news items. News items from other publications are linked to original source.  Inside Franchising Pty Ltd takes no responsibility whatsoever for information and content being true and correct.

NEWSLETTER EDITION 123 - FIRST PUBLISHED 21 OCTOBER 2008

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