FRANCHISE IRELAND

Summer 2005

(The online newsletter of the Irish Franchise Association, 30 Tolka Valley Business Park, Ballyboggan Road, Dublin 11. Tel - 01 4991091. Email - michaelbradley@irishfranchiseassociation.com
Chairman - John Green; CEO - Michael Bradley)
www.irishfranchiseassociation.com)

Welcome to the Summer 05 edition of our newsletter, to update IFA members and others on activities in the franchise sector in Ireland. Franchise Ireland is also published to raise the profile of business format franchising, particularly as a means of starting or expanding a business. The IFA committee is pleased to update you on our main activities since our Spring 05 newsletter (see www.irishfranchiseassociation.com for more information or to join our free mailing list):

Nominations are open until 23 September for the Irish Franchise Awards 2005, which celebrate the best in franchising on the island of Ireland. They will be presented at a reception and dinner at the Hilton Hotel, Dublin on Friday 4 November which will be attended by leading figures from the franchise and business world. See our website for more details and nomination forms for the six categories.
The 2004 winners are pictured above with Mr Micheal Martin, TD, Minister for Enterprise & Employment and IFA Chairman, John Green.

A regional seminar/franchisors’ forum, "Franchising – all you need to know", was held at Tralee in May with Kerry County Enterprise Board and attracted almost 100 prospective franchisees and franchisors. See our website for details of similar events planned for Cork (20 September), Carlow (20 October), Galway, and Belfast.
We have also offered workshops on "Starting a business as a Franchisee" to employees facing redundancy in Waterford Crystal, and Cambridge Diagnostics and Crown Controls in Galway.

A seminar for business owners looking at franchising as a means of expansion, entitled "How to franchise your business – an introduction", will be held in Dublin in September – details on our website.

The Irish Franchise Exhibition 2005, scheduled for 4/5 November at RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, promises to be the showcase for franchising in Ireland, with some 50+ franchises on offer and information seminars. See our website or www.franinfo.ie for more information or to reserve a stand.

The increasing interest in franchising as a means of starting or expanding a business is reflected by recent requests for Presentations on Franchising from Third-Level Colleges such as The Dublin Institutes of Technology and University College Dublin, at business conferences such as the recent Cross-Border Business Forum and at the new Franchise Development Course run by Ortus (Belfast) and Donegal County Enterprise Board.

Our membership numbers continue to grow – see our "New Members" section herewith, and we would encourage more ethical Franchisors to join us. This can be done online at www.irishfranchiseassociation.com. On behalf of our members we have requested a meeting with The Minister for Enterprise & Employment to discuss the role of the franchise sector in the economy going forward.

Franchise Options magazine, dedicated to Ireland’s thriving franchise sector, was launched earlier this month and will be published again later this year. See www.franchiseoptions.ie for more information.

Thank you for your continued support.

JOHN GREEN, Chairman
Irish Franchise Association

New Members

We welcome -

Fast.net business services - provides a range of professional reprographics, digital imaging and communication services. Using modern office equipment fast.net supplies the smallest to medium sized businesses in rural towns with personalised stationery, marketing material and a wide range of administrative services. At fast.net we are very customer orientated and use an easy accessible high street location and a unique and open interior designed to welcomes our customers in.
For more details on opportunities in your area visit http://www.myfast.ie.

Husse Ireland - seeks independent Franchisee partners to sell a complete range of super premium dog and cat food with free home delivery. The Scandinavian design products are of the highest quality and are backed by a complete guarantee. The ideal franchise partner is a mature pet lover with some storage space who wants to make a substantial income working from home. Technical, nutritional and sales training and support is based in Ireland and there is a nominal franchise entry fee.
Contact Eric McClintock on 1800 750750 or visit www.husse.com for information.

Prontaprint - provides the opportunity for highly motivated, sales driven professionals with a broad management background to establish and grow their own profitable business. Servicing the local B2B marketplace with on-demand print services, the Prontaprint franchise allows entry at various investment levels starting at € 42,000 as part of a total investment of €138,000. Full initial training and on-going development training is provided as well as field based operational support to help you apply your skills to this profitable marketplace.
For further information contact Louise Robertson at franchise.sales@prontaprint.com or call 00 44 8457 626748

News from the U.S. Commercial Service, Dublin

To view American franchises that have expressed an interest in entering the Irish market, visit www.buyusa.gov/ireland. The majority of these franchisors are either looking to identify master licensees while others have already signed agreements and are now looking for franchisees.
For more information contact Finola.Cunningham@mail.doc.gov

News & Views

Horwath Franchising seek representative here - IFA members Horwath Franchising are looking for a full-time franchise consultant for Ireland. Brian Duckett, M.D. says that applicants are required to have at least five years operational experience in at least two franchisor organisations. Duties would include assisting potential franchisors with structuring and launching their offer; assisting existing franchisors with improving their operations; assisting franchisors to move into and out of Ireland; and marketing Horwath’s suite of training courses for franchisor's staff, which lead to the Diploma in Franchise Management.
Those interested should send their cv, in confidence, to brian@horwathfranchising.co.uk having looked at www.horwathfranchising.ie

Protex™ Tyre Sealant expands across Ireland - Success has never come so easily, as Protex UK Sales Ltd (PUKL) continues to grow at a phenomenal rate across England, Wales and Scotland the opportunity to be part of this success is now available across Ireland.
With national coverage in place across England Wales and Scotland ‘Protex Tyre Sealant’ is now receiving huge acclaim from a huge number of major fleet operators resulting in vast levels of sales. It is expected that Ireland will enjoy the same levels of success with the franchisee network growing swiftly to manage the demand for the product. IFA members, PUKL, are now avidly seeking an Irish entrepreneur with the skill set and determination to become the Irish Master Franchisee throughout Ireland.
Protex™ is a van based franchise providing a unique puncture protection system designed to permanently seal punctures in the tread area of any pneumatic tyre without causing wheel imbalance, from a penetrating object of up to 6mm in on-road vehicles and 15mm in permanent off-road vehicles. Speed rated to 150M.P.H. Protex™ is not a rubber based solution, but made of natural fibres and as so fully biodegradable. It is simply applied through the valve core of the tyre applying itself to the inner tread area of the tyre as the tyre revolves, there sitting in suspension until a penetrating object causes a puncture, the escaping air then applies Protex™ to the damaged area of the tyre causing a chemical reaction that then permanently repairs the tyre. Other benefits include fuel economy and reductions in commercial vehicle downtime and cost.
For further information call 0845 658 2820 or enquire on line at www.protex.uk.net

Four new Days Hotels in 2006 - Days Hotel Galway brings to four the total number of Days Hotel franchises operating in Ireland, which include two in Dublin, and one in Tullamore. However PREM Group have announced that they expect to add further to that franchise with the opening of Days Hotels in Castlebar, Kilkenny City, Santry Cross, and Park West in Dublin in 2006. They are also at advanced states of negotiations for at least four other locations in Ireland.
Days Hotel Castlebar will be the first of the franchise to be based in Mayo and is being developed next to the TF Royal Theatre in the town, an impressive concert and event venue with capacity for 1,300 people. The hotel will comprise 90 bedrooms.
Days Hotel Kilkenny will be located at Kilkenny Retail Park, just five minutes drive from Kilkenny City. It too will operate as a premium three star hotel and will offer 85 bedrooms.
Days Hotel Santry Cross is part of a groundbreaking €2.5 billion development at Ireland’s newest and most radically transformed regeneration area, just off the M50 at Ballymun. The hotel will comprise 88 bedrooms. Days Hotel Park West will open in July 2006. It will be situated within the award winning Park West Business Campus, located just off the M50 on the Naas Road, offering an excellent location, close to all the major road networks.
All hotels are now under construction, and will be built in accordance with Days Hotel brand standards. They will be designed in contemporary style, to a premium three star level. All the hotels will offer conference and meeting facilities, with stylish bars and restaurants.
For information: Contact Joanna Doyle, Franchise Development Manger
Tel. 01 6391229
jdoyle@premgroup.com
www.days-hotels.com

Signs Express - Ireland’s largest sign company, had cause for celebration following the National Sign Industry Awards where Signs Express founding directors David Corbett and Frank Eliel were presented with a Special Achievement award from the British Sign & Graphics Association. Presented by the Chairman of the British Sign & Graphics Association, June Robinson, this was the first time the award had been presented by the sign industry’s governing body. When presenting the award June said, "The award is recognition of the business partners who, through their entrepreneurial spirit, have made a special contribution to and have had a major impact on the sign industry". Signs Express also received two highly commended awards on the evening for projects completed by the network.
Commenting on the award win, Managing Director David Corbett said, "To receive such a prestigious award was a great honour for the both of us. The recognition also reflects the desire and determination of the entire network and support staff at Head Office and we are all looking forward to what the future will bring."
  This is the fourth year Signs Express has been recognized in the awards, winning the 2004 Digital Sign Of The Year award and also receiving highly commended commendations in 2004 and previous years.
Signs Express will be exhibiting on stand C20 at the Irish Franchise Exhibition, looking for enthusiastic business professionals to add to their growing network. Log onto www.signsexpress.ie for further information.

Bill Holohan and Associates - following the purchase of new offices premises in both Cork and Dublin, Bill Holohan and Associates are expanding. The firm, headed by the eponymous Bill Holohan, are the only firm of Solicitors, Notary Public, Trademark Agents and Chartered Arbitrators with offices in both Cork and Dublin.
In the course of the past year, the Firm has been busy. Bill Holohan has added to his list of achievements, having been appointed by the Private Residential Tenancies Board to its Mediator and Adjudicator Panels, and having sat as an Adjudicator on claims in both Cork and Dublin. He also recently co-presented a Seminar on Directors’ Duties and Corporate Compliance to the Small Firms Association, along with former Sunday Business Post Editor, now Barrister –At-Law, Ted Harding.
As Legal Advisor to the Irish Franchise Association, he co-presented seminars on Franchising in Limerick, Dublin, Athlone and Tralee, with seminars in Cork and Carlow planned for the coming months. Bill also acted as the MC for the Irish Franchise Association Annual Awards Dinner held in the Burlington Hotel last November, when fellow Corkman Mr Michael Martin T.D., Minister for Enterprise and Employment presented the awards which were designed and crafted by Cork silversmith Don O’Mahoney, whom it transpired was a school classmate of the Minister. Small World.
Not content with conquering the Republic, the firm has been asked by ORTUS, the NI business development agency, and Donegal County Enterprise Board, to assist with Business Mentoring for their programme.
John Lane Solicitor has joined the firm as a Senior Associate, having previously practised with Brian O’Donnell and Associates and Amy Shine as a Junior Associate. Aoife Rooney and Joseph Peters have both started training contracts in the firm.
Contact Bill at 01 8898597 or 021 4300734

Computer Troubleshooters Ireland - has opened its 6th office in Clare under the management of Barry Fitzgerald. He will support business and residential customers in Ennis, Shannon and other centres of County Clare. Barry has many years of deep and broad experience in both technical and senior management roles most recently with Dell in Limerick and is well positioned to offer a premier service to clients in Clare.
Founded in Australia, Computer Troubleshooters is a unique computer service franchise specialising in helping home, home office and small businesses with all their callout/onsite computer-related needs: software/hardware troubleshooting, upgrades, repair, consulting, anti-virus/spyware, networking, broadband/internet, website design, made-to-order new & refurbished systems, service/maintenance contracts and training services. Only eight years old, Computer Troubleshooters has expanded rapidly to become the World's #1 Technical Support Franchise (Entrepreneur Magazine, January 2005) with 420 offices in 21 countries across the world.
Computer Troubleshooters Ireland plans to open as many as 15 additional offices in the Republic and Northern Ireland over the next 2 years and is seeking potential franchisees in all parts of Ireland, both North and South.
For a service call or more information, call Barry Fitzgerald, 087-9047030 or email: bfitzgerald@comptroub.com
National Master Franchisor: Enda Folan, 091-580058, 086-8108118; email: efolan@comptroub.com or visit the company's web site, www.comptroub.ie

Gloria Jean's Coffees - has appointed Noeleen Duffy, Glorjean Ltd Cork as master franchisor in Ireland. They currently have five stores in Dublin and Cork and ambitious plans to open in Limerick, Waterford, Galway and Belfast. Worldwide Gloria Jean’s Coffees operates in 13 countries and will open in a further five countries this year.
Gloria Jean’s Coffees is the world’s largest specialty coffee franchise organisation. It sells hand crafted espresso coffee drinks, signature espresso based cold drinks, a range of blended and estate whole bean coffees and specialty teas, along with pastries and coffee accessories.
Contact Noeleen Duffy at 087 2521423 or gloriajeans@eircom.net

Keyman Insurance

(Contributed by IFA Member Imelda Prendergast, OSK Accountants & Business Consultants. www.osk.ie)

All companies insure against fire, theft and public liability but few companies insure against losing a key employee or director. If one of these key people were to die suddenly the company could be threatened by the sudden and permanent loss of that persons skills and experience. In such circumstances, the company could be interrupted and threatened by:

• The calling in of bank loans, for which the deceased had given a personal guarantee.
• The reduction or withdrawal of credit facilities by banks or suppliers worried about the future profitability of the business as a result of the death.
• The loss of the individual’s management expertise.
• The loss of the individual’s business contact i.e. loss of goodwill.
• The need to commit resources to recruit a suitable replacement.

What is Keyman Insurance?

• It is life cover taken by the employer on a key director or employee to protect the employer from the financial consequences of that individuals’ death.
• It can insure the company against the cost of business interruption resulting from death of a key director/employee in the same way, as a company will insure against loss of profits resulting from fire.

Benefits

• The company will receive a lump sum payment on the death of the key individual.
• The company can use the funds to pay off outstanding loans, recruit a suitable successor, invest the fund or invest in the business.

Who should be insured?

• The company should consider insuring any director or employee on whom the business depends for its continued success and whose death could result in the business suffering an interruption of business and financial loss.

How much cover?
In determining the amount of life assurance cover needed on a particular individual, account needs to be taken of the following:

• Loans personally guaranteed by the individual, if not covered by life policy
• Loans made by the individual to the company, if not covered by life policy
• Estimated loss of profits resulting from death of the individual insured
• Costs of recruiting a replacement

The management of the company should consider who its key people are and if the company can continue undisrupted after the sudden death of these individuals or whether it would be prudent to have keyman cover to assist the transition.
This is one of a number of insurance policies designed to deal with changes in the management or ownership of a company due to a death of an employee, director or shareholder.

Thank you for reading FRANCHISE IRELAND.