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Review of Irish Franchise Exhibition
Keen interest in Dublin
Eager investors invaded The Irish Franchise Exhibition, which took place in
November 2008 at the RDS, Dublin
� THE LENGTHY queues each morning outside inspiring personalities such as Brody Sweeney, Exhibitors were impressed by the positive
the RDS, Dublin waiting for the opening of founder of Café Bar Deli. attitude and interest of the visitors. Orna Stokes,
The Irish Franchise Exhibition conveyed a clear The Franchisee Forum also proved very senior manager, specialist sectors, Ulster Bank, said:
message; thousands of people in Ireland are keen popular with the audience. Providing the perfect “Visitors demonstrated real interest in franchising,
to buy franchises. fact- nnding oppording opporttunity funity for visitoror visitors, this allothis alloweded attendance at seminars was high and, overall, the
The aisles were packed and the exhibition them to question and network with existing exhibition was a great source of information for
stands were always busy with eager visitors franchisees from Complete
“Visitors demonstrated
prospective franchisees.”
wanting to ask about the host of exciting business Weed Control, énergie Gerard Ussher of Go Kart
opportunities available in the thriving Irish Fitness and Signs Express
real interest in franchising,
Party commented: “Given
franchise market. about how to make the
attendance at seminars
the current doom and
From the moment they entered the hall, the successful transition from
was high and, overall, the
gloom in all of the media, it
visitors met an array of colour. It started at the being an employee to was great to meet so many
registration area with the PHQ team in red working for themselves. The
exhibition was a great
budding franchisees. It was
hoodies with white faces and black lips – a striking visitors were keen to hear
source of information for
very heartening to see the
 rstst impression. impression. the highly revealing answers
prospective franchisees”
crowds of investors at an
That was just a taste of the many exhibitors. that the panel gave to event in Dublin.”
The choice for the visitors offered something for questions from Orna Stokes of Ulster Bank. Before the exhibition, John Green, chairman of
virtually every interest or taste including food The Irish Franchise Exhibition incorporated the Irish Franchise Association predicted a 22%
and beverage, health and  ttness,ness, cleaning,cleaning, prpriinting nting the Growing Your Own Business Showcase & growth in turnover in franchising in Ireland next
and home improvement. Companies exhibiting Conference. The conference featured some of year, 12% growth in franchisors and 24% increase
included Cartridge World, Energie Fitness, PHQ Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs, providing advice in employment.
(Godfather’s Pizza), Lasertech, Cash Generator, on all aspects of business including  nnancing,ancing, John Cronin was also optimistic at that time.
Salad Creations, Funky Monkeys, Dublcheck, strategic planning, sales and marketing. There were Director and master franchisor for Ireland of
The Zipyard, HDA Vitality, Photography for huge crowds thronging to hear speakers such PHQ – the international franchisor whose
Little People, Metro Rod, Signs Express, Quiznos as Alan Gleeson, of Palo Alto Software, Brody brands include Pizza Hut and which bought out
Corporation, Two Men in a Truck, and O’Briens Sweeney and Jay Bourke, the founders of Café Godfather’s Pizza in 2008 – Mr Cronin said that
Sandwich Bars. Bar Deli, Ruth MacPartlin of Fluid Rock, Peter he believed growth for the franchise in the coming
The exhibition also featured a free seminar Lawless of 3R Sales and Marketing, Orna Stokes of year will be between 10% and 15%.
programme and there was always a vast crowd Ulster Bank, Tara Wilson of Select Digital Print, Tara The crowds that turned out at RDS and the
spilling out of the theatre area. These sessions Dalrymple, founder of Busy Lizzie, Sarah Carroll of buoyant mood among them suggests that, despite
offered expert advice on the key aspects of Eventznet and Tony Fitzpatrick of Emerson French the economic climate, these positive predictions
franchising from some of the industry’s most Consulting. may be within reach. �
February 2009 www.businessfranchise.com
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