For Sydneysiders interested in buying a franchise the first franchising expo of 2009 was a great draw with more than 3,500 visitors attending the three day show at Darling Harbour from 20 to 22 March. The Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo attracted visitors from all walks of life, from young professionals to families, empty nesters and those looking to secure their future after redundancy.
Ben Galton, franchising development manager, at Caltex said “As the market leader in the retail convenience sector, it provided our organisation with the perfect opportunity to meet and speak face to face with a large amount of prospective franchisees who were considering a Caltex Star Mart franchise.”
Neil Welsh, JimÕs Test & Tag, said “It is becoming more evident that our attendance at the Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo is becoming a not to be missed event on our marketing calendar. The number and quality of prospects this year was exceptional and we would expect to sign several franchisees as a direct result of our presence at the Sydney show.”
Tim Blinco, director at ROC Coffee, agreed that interest was high. “The Sydney Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo was the first show ROC coffee has attended. It has generated above anticipated levels of hot prospects in our mobile cafes, espresso bars and coffee pod systems. It was great for potential customers to compare our non franchise model and pricing against our competitors.”
Visitors also made use of the free advice centre offering legal and business opinion, and flocked to the daily seminars to hear first hand how franchisees and franchisors have built their business and to gain insights into the franchising arena.
Franchising magazine hosted the networking lounge and the team was on hand to discuss issues with keen visitors considering buying a franchise.
“Bad news for the economy can often mean good news for franchisors. With the ongoing threat of job cuts and stock price plunges, more people are deciding that the best way to control their own destiny is through franchises and small-business ownership,” said Jon Perry, exhibition director, Franchising & Business Opportunities Expos.
Interest is also running high in the Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne legs of AustraliaÕs premier franchising exhibition series, as savvy investors look to escape the current trend of job cuts, foreclosures and stock market losses.
The 2009 Franchising & Business Opportunities Expos continues in Perth 23-24 May, then Melbourne in August and Brisbane in September. Check the events tab on this page for upcoming dates. For further information visit www.franchisingexpo.com.au