From the stages of the world to the cakes of the world, an ex-professional ballet dancer from Shanghai, China has brewed up a new Michel’s Patisserie store in Chadstone Shopping Centre.

Michel’s Patisserie Chadstone, set to open on Friday 29 May, will offer high quality coffee, sweet treats and scrumptious savouries as part of Chadstone shoppers’ daily grind.

A graduate from the Australian School of Ballet, Michel’s Patisserie Chadstone owner David He said dancing on the world stage had fuelled his hunger to open a speciality patisserie.

“I came to Australian over a decade ago to study ballet at the Australian School of Ballet in Melbourne. It was an amazing experience, and when I graduated I moved to Hong Kong to pursue my dancing dreams,” he said.

“After an incredible career dancing on stages in France, Denmark, Austria, the USA, Korea and Swaziland, I retired and moved into the hospitality industry. I worked as the general manager for one of the biggest restaurant bars in Hong Kong called Queens. It was challenging and hectic, but I loved it.” 

David said sweet dreams of becoming part of such a successful cake patisserie

had been brewing in his mind for years.

“Situated in Chadstone Shopping Centre [outside Aldi], Michel’s Patisserie will help Chadstone shoppers celebrate the good things with quick pick-me-ups for people on the go, or the perfect place for shoppers to relax and recharge with our unique Michel’s Espresso blend of coffee,” he said.

“At Michel’s Patisserie Chadstone, we offer over 200 tantalising bakery items and provide a catering service to suit your every occasion.

“And with winter just around the corner, we’ve got plenty of treats to help you entertain and keep warm. Our wide selection of delectable cakes can be made to order in a variety of sizes, and can incorporate personalised messages and themes for that special someone.

“We cater to all budgets and can personalise cakes for any occasion including weddings, children’s birthdays and anniversaries and we also offer the exciting option of personalised photo cakes.”

“Besides sweet treats, we also offer a wide selection of pies, sausage rolls, filo pastries and quiches in a range of sizes including cocktail, individual and family.”

There are more than 340 Michel’s Patisserie stores operating across Australia, employing about 3,100 staff and serving around 26 million cups of coffee and 9.5 million slices of cake each year.

The Michel’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 the Michel's Patisserie Franchise Opportunity

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has called on the Rudd Government to bring retailers and landlords together at a Retail Tenancy Crisis roundtable to help restore the balance in leasing negotiation and break the retail code of silence.

ARA's Executive Director Richard Evans said the ARA had called on Federal Ministers Craig Emerson and Chris Bowen to step in and facilitate an environment where retailers, who often remain tight lipped about unviable leasing conditions, are provided a platform to voice their concerns.

"Many retailers, particularly smaller retailers, subscribe to an unwritten law to remain silent about spiralling occupancy costs and unfair leasing conditions out of fear they will be penalised by self-serving landlords who can refuse to renew their lease," Evans said.

"The proposed Retail Tenancy Crisis roundtable would allow landlords and retailers to come together and work through long outstanding issues from Productivity Commission's (PC) Market for Retail Tenancy Leases final report (August 2008).

"With almost 40 percent of retailers paying occupancy costs greater than 15 percent of their turnover*, which is never sustainable for a small business, one of the issues retailers would bring to the table is a code of conduct for major shopping centres to help curb robust behaviour from landlords.

"The idea of a national register detailing all commercial lease terms (including inducements) is also supported by over 80 percent of retailers* and would help restore some balance to the negotiation table," Evans said.

General Manager (Property) of national franchise retailer Bakers Delight, Gerry Gerrard, agreed a code of conduct for major shopping centres would be beneficial and a national register detailing commercial lease terms would arm retailers with vital facts required for fair lease negotiation.

"It is vital for retailers to stand their ground when negotiating lease terms and conditions but this requires a lot of quality data-gathering including comparable rents of other tenants in the vicinity, traffic data, sales growth and talking to other retailers.

"Under current leasing laws retailers can be forced to relocate, issue notices of decline for lease renewals and they can be prevented from having any options on a lease term. The single biggest challenge is ensuring rental costs reflect current trading conditions and a target (of rent as a percentage of turnover) must be set for lease withdrawal," Gerrard said.

Evans continued, "The Retail Tenancy Crisis roundtable is the first step in breaking the code of silence and allowing retailers, who are struggling with spiralling occupancy costs, to put their concerns on the table. We look forward to hearing from the Government on this issue."

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 1.5 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 promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

FEATURED FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY

The Leather & Vinyl Doctor offers a comprehensive service relating to all things made out of Leather and Vinyl. Over the last 22 years our products and services have used by some of the biggest companies in Australia and our brand continues to be used by  hundreds every month.

SERVICE IS OUR TRADEMARK

The Leather & Vinyl Doctor is well known for its fast and professional service, product knowledge and image. When one of our Doctors arrives at a clients place they are there to resolve a problem, whether that be ink marks on a much loved leather lounge or a small rip on a BMW door trim to a full interior recolour – The range of services is comprehensive including:

Leather Care Products        Cleaning and conditioning leather lounges      Restoring leather in Motor Vehicles & Boats

Repairing scuffs, rips, cat scratches and cigarette burns      Recolouring leather         Vinyl, Plastic and Velour repairs

OUR DOCTORS STILL MAKE HOUSE CALLS

Every second home in Australia has a leather lounge, every car has either or both Leather & Vinyl, every boat needs attention – and they all need on going maintenance.

OUR MARKET

Our market we believe is nearly every household and business in Australia.

If it’s made out of Leather, vinyl, plastic or Velour – “WE CAN FIX IT”

TRAINING

The training is carried out on the Gold Coast by experienced people with many years experience, normally 3-4 weeks followed by another week in your area with one of our trained staff, where you will start making money immediately.

All aspects of your business will be covered, including marketing, advertising, book work and internet and email addresses will be set up.

Click here for more information about The Leather & Vinyl Doctor Franchising Opportunities

Available Australia-wide

The Food Police are headed your way …

The NSW Health Authority have advised that operators of food outlets in NSW will most certainly be the subject of a random health inspection this year.  Those which are not up to scratch will find themselves added to the ever-growing list on the Authority’s ‘name and shame’ website.  You might be surprised to see who is on the list, and why …

Click here to see the latest businesses added to the

name and shame list and what they did to get there

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Add a little O3 to your daily bread choice

Brumby’s Bakeries has become the first retail bakery chain in Australia to launch a freshly-baked Omega 3 wholemeal loaf catering to health conscious consumers.

While some breads featuring Omega 3 are available on supermarket shelves, this will be the first time consumers can access preservative-free Omega 3 wholemeal loaves direct from a bakery which are baked fresh daily.

Research has found that Omega 3 can reduce the risk of heart disease, asthma, allergies, blood clotting, and helps maintain a low blood pressure.   In babies and children, Omega 3 can aid the development of brain, eye and heart functions.

Click here to request more information about this story or for Brumby's Bakeries Franchising Opportunities

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No Kids Allowed

A Mackay shopping centre has been criticized for banning young people through its doors after 7pm, unless they are shopping or accompanied by an adult.

Click here for more about this story

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Kleenmaid director tries to jump debt queue

After offering his sympathies to those who lost money with Kleenmaid, director Andrew Young then made his move to jump the creditors’ queue by lodging a $9 million proof of debt via one of his other companies.  However, it is unlikely that Young, or any of the other creditors will ever see a cent of the monies owed. The company is in debt to the tune of more than $100 million. 

Click here for more about this story

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Mortgage and Finance body given greenlight

The ACCC has announced that a mortgage and finance body is able to discipline members engaging in misconduct. 

Click here for more about this story

ACCC News Centre

Interested in all the latest news from the ACCC, including details of a hair replacement ex-franchise who has been fined for providing false and misleading information.

> Click here to visit the ACCC News Centre.

NEW CLASSIFIEDS SECTION

NEXT WEEK!

Be sure to get in touch with for details on how to place your ad in our classifieds section.

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Did you know that Inside Franchising newsletter subscribers reside not only here in Australia, but also in countries around the globe including New Zealand, France, India, Malaysia, Italy, Greece, China, South Africa, UK, USA and more? 

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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. Inside Franchising does not endorse specific franchises. See our disclaimer for full information.

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newsletter edition 147 first published 28.5.09

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