FRANCHISE IRELAND

Winter 2006

(The online newsletter of the Irish Franchise Association, 30 Tolka Valley Business Park, Ballyboggan Road, Dublin 11. T- 01 8134555. E- michaelbradley@irishfranchiseassociation.com
Chairman - John Green; CEO - Michael Bradley)
www.irishfranchiseassociation.com

MESSAGE FROM JOHN GREEN, CHAIRMAN, IRISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION –

“Welcome to our last newsletter of 2006. The Irish Franchise Association continues to enhance the profile of franchising as a means of starting or expanding a business through its current activities –

Regional seminar – an information seminar was held at Naas, with Naas Chamber and Kildare Co Enterprise Board in November. Our 2007 schedule commences with Tralee, with Kerry Co Enterprise Board and Tralee Chamber, in February and Limerick, with Limerick City Enterprise Board in March – and details will be posted on our website. Our regular seminar for business owners - “How to Franchise your Business – an introduction” - with Bank of Ireland was held in November in Dublin and a further one will be held in March – with details on the “events” section of our website in early 2007.

The Irish Franchise Exhibition 2006 – was held in November at the RDS, Dublin, with some 50 exhibitors and over 5,000 visitors. Details of the 2007 Exhibition will be added to our website as soon as they are known.

Irish Franchise Awards 2006 – were presented by Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, at the Awards dinner in November at the Davenport Hotel, Dublin, attended by some 250 people. The winners are –
Retail Franchise of the Year - O’Briens Sandwich Bars
Service Franchise of the Year – Cartridge World Ireland
Retail Franchisee of the Year – Gareth and Nicola Jones, The Bagel Factory, Grafton Street, Dublin and Blanchardstown SC
Service Franchisee of the Year – Keith Kenneally, Cartridge World, Naas and Newbridge
Best Emerging Franchise – Home Instead Senior Care
Franchise Person of the Year – Fiacra Nagle, CEO, O’Briens Irish Sandwich Bars
(more details appear in the “news and views” section)

Franchise Education/Training Courses for franchisors – were held in November at the National College of Ireland, IFSC, Dublin, organised by the Franchise Training Centre. They plan to run programmes in Dublin next year – w/c February 19th and w/c October 15th. Details are available at www.thefranchisetrainingcentre.com.

IFA review/strategic plan – was adopted at a Committee meeting in September. The plan outlines key strategic objectives to improve the Irish Franchise Association’s structure, standards and effectiveness and is being implemented immediately. Our first formal AGM will be held on 17 January 07, at which the new Board of Directors will be elected, and all members will receive notice.

Publicity – recent publicity included features in three national newspapers and two radio programmes.

To members of the Irish Franchise Association - thank you for your continued support. To other franchisors – why not contact us about the benefits of Irish Franchise Association membership to your business? And to all our readers - thank you for your interest. See www.irishfranchiseasociation.com for further information on all aspects of franchising. And a happy Christmas and prosperous 2007 to all”.

John Green, Chairman, Irish Franchise Association

NEW MEMBERS

We welcome the following to membership of the Irish Franchise Association:

On the Grapevine- was set up in Dalkey, Co Dublin in 1999 with the aim of providing a relaxed and informative store with a very clear focus on quality, both in product and service. The business has grown and developed and a second store was opened recently in Booterstown, run by Bill and Jennifer Walsh. They normally have around 500 wines in stock, all tasted by staff and approved before being listed and they import many wines directly from small, quality-driven producers. Contact Gabriel Cooney, 01 2353054, sales@onthegrapevine.ie.

Emerson French Consulting - offers a complete consultancy service for start up and established Franchisors. With many years experience of growing businesses through franchising, we can take the client through the entire process, quickly and efficiently, to make it a success. We advise on everything from franchise agreements, fees and royalties, manuals, lead generation, PR, advertising, marketing, and franchise support.
Apart from setting up the system, we provide ongoing management of the project and actively negotiate with potential franchisees to make the all-important sales.
Contact Tony Fitzpatrick, Senior Partner, 0872449186; info@emersonfrench.com

Home Instead Senior Care - provide a wide range of services to the elderly allowing them to remain independent and live in their home for longer than would otherwise be possible. They opened the first of twenty Irish offices in Leopardstown in Dublin in June 2005. The services provided include - personal care (such as meal preparation, assistance with personal hygiene, grooming and medication reminders);
Home care (such as light housekeeping, laundry and any incidental transportation);
Respite and Convalescent care; Early Dementia and Alzheimer care.
Contact Ed Murphy 01 2068022, edmurphy@homeinstead.ie

News from Commercial Department, US Embassy, Dublin

American franchise concepts are now the dominant source of franchises in Ireland and over the last few years, the U.S. Commercial Service at the U.S. Embassy, Dublin has helped several American franchisors identify master licensees and franchisees for the Irish market. For additional information on the U.S. Commercial Service visit their website at http://www.buyusa.gov/ireland

NEWS and VIEWS
The Irish Franchise Awards 2006 –

Retail Franchise of the Year 2006, O’Briens Sandwich Bars - Established in 1998, by Brody Sweeney, Founder and Chairman, O’Briens has more than 270 stores providing the healthy food option in 13 countries across Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, including 110 in Ireland. Fiacra Nagle, former Managing Director, became CEO of O’Briens in January, 2006, and the group has rolled out a third generation store concept over the past eighteen months to ensure that they can continue to compete effectively in a very competitive market.(Picture L to R – Fiacra Nagle, CEO, O’Briens Sandwich Bars; Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland)
O’Briens are the Premier Worldwide Sponsor of the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation. Contact Elaine Mellon 086 8123704. www.obriens.ie.

Service Franchise of the Year 2006, Cartridge World Ireland - Gerry and Noreen Smyth acquired the master licence for Ireland in 2004 and now have forty-one stores around Ireland. They have brought international cartridge refill experience to all corners of Ireland, and further expansion is planned. Gerry Smyth, said 'the Franchise of the Year award recognises not just our efforts but those of the great team that makes up Cartridge World Ireland, namely our Franchisees and Head Office support staff who provide such a wonderful service to our customers across all sectors'. Our Cartridge World Refill Revolution really does create savings for our customers and benefits the environment - we encourage everyone to try our service! Contact - Gerry Smyth 091 764 044. www.cartridgeworld.ie

Retail Franchisee of the Year 2006, Gareth and Nicola Jones, the Bagel Factory - This brother and sister team took over the Grafton Street branch of the Bagel Factory in March 2005. Within six months they opened their second franchise of the Bagel Factory in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. They now generate a turnover of approximately €1 Million Euro per annum between their two outlets. The Bagel Factory was established in March 2003 by Graeme Beere & David Zebedee and there are now thirty two outlets including four in Northern Ireland. The concept of The Bagel Factory is to provide a healthy alternative product to the market, which are low in fat, salt and cholesterol, but yet high in energy giving carbohydrates.Contact Gareth 086 4062505, Nicola 086 8208547. www.bagelfactory.ie.

Service Franchisee of the Year 2006, Keith Kenneally, Cartridge World - He is one of the first Cartridge World franchisees to be trained in Ireland. Together with his partner, Deborah Jacob, they have built a successful multi store franchise, opening a first Cartridge World store in Naas in 2004, a second in Newbridge in 2005 and currently activating their third franchised store.
Contact Keith Kenneally & Deborah Jacob - Cartridge World Naas, Tel: 045 898662
Email: cwnaas@cartridgeworld.ie

Best Emerging Franchise 2006, Home Instead Senior Care - provide services to the elderly to enable them to live in their own homes for longer than would be otherwise possible. Services include personal care, which might involve assistance with walking, dressing, meal preparation, medication reminders and home care such as light housekeeping, laundry as well as bringing them to medical appointments and shopping. People with early Dementia or Alzheimer’s can also be assisted and convalescent care is available for those who have recently been in hospital.(Picture L to R – Ed Murphy, Home Instead; Frank Ryan, CEO, Enterprise Ireland; Michael Kearney, Home Instead).With its introduction to Ireland in 2005 Home Instead Senior Care introduced the new business concept of non-medical in-home care services for seniors. The success of Home Instead Senior Care has created a new industry in which 6 new franchise offices now offer in-home non-medical care. Contact Ed Murphy at 01-2068022 or e-mail edmurphy@homeinstead.ie

Franchise Person of the Year 2006, Fiacra Nagle, MD, O’Briens Sandwich Bars - He is considered to have made a valuable contribution towards raising the profile of franchising in Ireland. Fiacra Nagle became CEO of O’Briens in January, 2006 and has driven the business forward. The Group has now has more than 270 stores providing the healthy food option in 13 countries across Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, including 110 in Ireland.
Fiacra Nagle said “The Irish Franchise Industry is one of the enterprise sectors which continues to drive the development of our economy, contributing to employment, new and innovative products for consumers, and general wealth creation”. Contact Elaine Mellon 086 8123704. www.obriens.ie.

And these winners were chosen from the following short-lists of nominees –

FRANCHISE – Retail/Service
Abrakebabra, The Bagel Bar, O’Briens Sandwich Bars, Snap Printing, Action International, Cartridge World, Cleaning Doctor, The Bagel Factory, Chemdry Ireland.

FRANCHISEE – Retail/Service
Franchisees from O’Briens Sandwich Bars, Eddie Rockets, The Bagel factory, Subway, Cartridge World, Ladies Workout Express, Ultimate Womens’ Fitness, Snap Printing, Contours Express, Pronaprint.

BEST EMERGING FRANCHISE
The Bagel Factory, Home Instead, Computer Troubleshooters, Ultimate Womens’ Fitness, Fastway Couriers, Munster Tool, Contours Express.

FRANCHISE PERSON OF THE YEAR
Gerry Smyth, Cartridge World; Ray Cowzer, the Bagel Bar; David Zebedee, Abrakebabra; Fiacra Nagle, O’Briens; Sean McGarry, Franchise Direct; Michael Bradley, Irish Franchise Association

The Franchise Training Centre - the first Dublin training workshops for Franchisors were well attended and attracted delegates from as far afield as Bantry and Belfast. Brian Duckett, managing director of Howarth Franchising, which runs The Franchise Training Centre, said, "We were delighted with the responses of those attending, many of whom asked about attending other workshops and going through The Diploma in Franchise Management Programme. We are hoping to run programmes at least twice in Dublin next year - week commencing February 19th and week commencing October 15th". Details of workshops are available at www.thefranchisetrainingcentre.com

Signs Express - has awarded the franchise territory of Sligo to Michael O’Hara.  Michael is currently on training at the franchise headquarters and with light industrial premises already found in Sligo, will begin trading in the New Year. With established centres already in Dublin and Bray in the South and Derry and Belfast in the North, Signs Express has committed itself to sizeable expansion in the Irish market over the next 12 months with territories available Countrywide. The recruitment follows a very successful Irish Franchise Exhibition attendance where Signs Express received much interest in the franchise opportunity. Further information can be found on www.signsexpress.ie

Ology - has become the world’s first and only Business Coaching franchise to offer an International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited training programme for its franchisees through a recently announced partnership with the world-renowned Adler School of Coaching, based in Canada. Ology specialises in coaching businessmen and women to achieve their full potential and help make their businesses more profitable. Arik Elberse, Ology’s Managing Director for Ology (Ireland) explains “No other franchise in the world offers its franchisees such a high level of training and expertise. We are helping to raise the bar for the whole franchising industry.” Contact Arik on 091 472125, arikelberse@ologybusiness.com, www.ologybusiness.com/ireland

Fastway Couriers – the 'Best Emerging National Master Franchise' award was presented to Gerry Riordan and Andy Hennessy, Fastway Couriers Ireland, for the second consecutive year by Fastway Global, and they were also given honours this year by Swords Chamber of Commerce when they won the overall Marketing Innovation Award. Established in Ireland in 2002, their business has grown rapidly to in excess of €1.7 million turnover a month and the Fastway courier system operates throughout the 32 counties in Ireland offering a next day delivery service for parcels and satchels up to 30kgs.Over one hundred Franchisees carry out the actual pick up and delivery service delivering in excess of 240,000 parcels per month, at extremely competitive rates. For further information see www.fastway.ie

Ulster Bank - have launched a new business planning & advice guide. It is a good practical workbook and is available from rachel.killeen@ulsterbank.com

The Wine Buff - opened three new shops in as many weeks bringing the total number to fourteen. The Dungarvan shop was opened by existing franchisees Pauline and Michael Sheehan. Managing Director, Mike McDonnell said: “It is great to see existing franchisees opening a second shop, which is the result of the hard work they have input into the business since they opened a year ago in Waterford and a vote of confidence in The Wine Buff business model.” The Midleton shop is the second in Cork and the Drogheda outlet opened at the beginning of November. The Wine Buff opened its first shop in Limerick in November 2000 and was developed to meet growing customer demand for quality wines at affordable prices. Contact Mike McDonnell (061) 423904; info@thewinebuff.com.

Prontaprint - their Irish network currently boasts 7 centres in the Republic of Ireland with plans to expand their network to 12 centres before the end of 2008. With the introduction of new products like personalised direct mail literature and improved e-support, the new branding is one of the most significant events in Prontaprint’s 36 year history – it marks a transition to a fully-fledged business provider. See www.prontaprint.com

Kendlebell - is a Virtual Office service for small businesses. Using state of the art technology, Kendlebell provide effective personalised telephone answering, online diary management, order-taking, lead generation, non-geographic number provision and a host of other services designed for small companies that don’t wish to hire full-time or temporary staff. Contact Kendlebell on freephone 1800 848646 or visit our website www.kbell.ie to learn more.

Agency Express - with a rapidly increasing network of franchisees across Ireland, 2006 has been a record-breaking year for Agency Express with new centres opening at a rate of one or two a month. It has recently launched its service in Ireland and already has operational centres in Dublin, Kildare and Cork. These three new centres have received a very positive response from estate agencies in Ireland and plans are already in place for two further centres, which will be up and running in the near future. Northern Ireland is also enjoying its share of success with new centres in Belfast and Derry.
‘For Sale’ boards are the most important sales aid for estate agencies advertising properties for sale. At any one time there are an estimated 1.5 million ‘For Sale’ and ‘To Let’ boards on display, equating to a business worth £20 million per year. As an ex-estate agent, Stephen Watson saw the need for a nationwide professional and reliable service, and he set up Agency Express in 1997. Call Claire Lapping on 01603 620044 or visit www.agencyexpress.co.uk.

whichfranchise.ie - has introduced a "Franchise Self-Test", designed to help potential franchisees discover a starting point from which to commence their franchise research. The “Self-Test” has been a popular feature at recent franchise exhibitions.
The "Franchise Self-Test" is only one of many features of whichfranchise.ie designed to help the franchise decision-making process. Other features include, directory of Irish franchise opportunities, benefits of franchising, "Ask the Experts", raising finance, legal issues, evaluating the Irish market, assessing the franchisor, buying a resale, franchisee case studies, and much, much more. Packed with comprehensive information and step-by-step help and advice to assist you in buying a franchise in Ireland, whichfranchise.ie helps meet all franchise research needs free of charge.

Sage Payroll - tailored software solutions developed in Ireland for Irish Business needs. Sage Quickpay is designed for start-up and small Irish businesses with entry level payroll requirements. Quickpay is affordable, fast and easy-to-use, requiring no previous knowledge of payroll. Sage Micropay Professional is designed for medium to large Irish businesses with standard to complex payroll requirements. It offers your business maximum control with ease of use, saving time and increasing efficiency. For more information contact us now on: 1800 255 300 or visit www.sage.ie.

Franchise International (FI) is the world's only publication totally dedicated to international master franchising. In circulation since 1993 and now published quarterly, Franchise International is available online or in print, providing a valuable guide to investigating the franchise market, helping you to keep up to date with the latest master franchising news and linking to the most valuable franchise resources. See www.franchise-international.net

Thank you for reading FRANCHISE IRELAND.