EDITOR’S COLUMN


“A variety of franchised businesses thrive during bank holidays – particularly on a wet one”


I


All-weather friends


write this between two bank holidays – May Day and a day off courtesy of the Queen’s Jubilee (for which God bless you, ma’am) – and the sky is a murky grey, so I do hope the sun, if not quite had his hat on and come out


to play, has shone once or twice by the time you read this. There’s recently been mutterings in


the press that our beloved bank holidays may be a drain on the country’s produc- tivity. Franchising, however, counters that argument; its brands and services operate outside offi ce hours and cater to those who benefi t from our three-day weekends. In fact, a variety of franchised businesses


positively thrive during bank holidays (particularly on a wet one!), encompassing such rainy-day standbys as pampering, retail, entertainment, and good old home and garden improvements. Concerning the latter, come rain or


shine any weather can be good news for gardening-based franchises. Lawns and grounds, whether waterlogged or parched


will always require treatment – and owners are investing in their green spaces since the downturn has made new house purchases prohibitive. Gardening franchises and other outdoors-based enterprises are profi led on pages 26-27. Now I know what the words from the song mean: ‘Every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven’. Since the Budget and the subsequent


outbreak of silly season headlines (‘Pastygate’ anyone?) taxes, and those who raise, lower and collect them, have come in for some stick. You’ll fi nd plenty of valuable franchise- related fi nancial and tax advice throughout this month’s issue. For instance, what fi nancial data you should ask for before you invest and a guide to the various trading, tax and resale structures. Pay close attention and you may have enough left over for the odd (hot, of course) Cornish pasty yourself.


Annie Blinkhorn Editor


editor@businessfranchise.com


Business Franchise


EDITORIAL & PUBLISHING EDITOR


Annie Blinkhorn annie.blinkhorn@vmgl.com


SUB-EDITOR Alexis Thompson


alexis.thompson@vmgl.com DESIGN


Jane Lelence


DESIGN & PRODUCTION Tom Kilpatrick 020 8394 5272 production@businessfranchise.com


PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Tracy Shah


ADVERTISING


SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Nicola Angle 020 8394 5100


nicola@businessfranchise.com


ACCOUNT MANAGER Shila Mohammadian 020 8394 5281


shila.mohammadian@vmgl.com


ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Andrea Duffy 020 8394 5283 andrea.duffy@vmgl.com


SUBSCRIPTIONS 020 8394 5215


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BRITISH FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION 01235 820 470 www.thebfa.org


Editorial and advertisements for companies fea- tured in Business Franchise (BF) represent neither endorsement nor recommendation of such com- panies by VMG nor its employees. Readers are advised to seek franchising advice before enter- ing into any contract with companies or persons mentioned in BF editorial and advertisements.


6 | Businessfranchise.com | June 2012


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