Franchising gets a boost as thousands visit FBOE 2007
7,082 entrepreneurial individuals attended the Franchise
& Business Opportunities Expo (FBOE) at Gallagher Estate
in Midrand, between 7 and 9 September 2007. These
aspiring business owners came to see first-hand the wide
range of start-up business and large franchise
opportunities on show.
The inaugural Cape Town FBOE show, which took place in
August, was equally successful, with an impressive
visitor attendance over the three days.
The success of FBOE 2007 is hardly surprising in view of
the 40% growth in the number of franchising systems
operating in South Africa, in the two year period 2004
to 2006, and the industry’s 12% contribution to the
country’s GDP in 2006. These figures, from the Standard
Bank Franchise Factor report – conducted by Franchize
Directions, copyright Bendeta Gordon, October 2006 –
reveal that franchising is fast gaining popularity and
is playing an increasingly important role in the
country’s economy.
On show at FBOE were business opportunities that ranged
from vending machines to large franchised fast food
outlets and restaurants, like Something Fishy,
Blacksteer, Mochachos and The Brazen Head, among others.
Moreover, with prices starting from just R30 000, there
was without a doubt “something to suit every personality
and pocket.”
In addition to the exhibits, the shows also offered
visitors free access to business, investment,
entrepreneurial workshops from The Big Idea and
presentations at the Speakers Corner from industry
professionals for the duration of the exhibition.
Comments Wendy Graham, project manager of FBOE: “We are
most gratified with the outcome of FBOE this year, and
particularly pleased to have our decision to launch in
Cape Town, so thoroughly vindicated in the inaugural
year. Apart from the very positive feedback we received
from visitors, a measure of an expo’s success is always
in how many exhibitors sign up for the next year’s show,
and we are very happy to say that a number of exhibitors
signed contracts on-site, for 2008.”
FBOE exhibitors were certainly pleased with the results
they achieved at the expo. Cartridge Depot’s Peet
Hoffman felt the show generated good foot traffic and
says his company had “a very good show.” Legal Sense’s
Sunette Britz adds: “This expo has probably given us
more exposure than months of advertising in various
publications. The best decision we have ever made.”
Deon Louw, of The Coating Worx, professional paint
contractors, says his company enjoyed measurable success
from its participation in the Cape Town expo and also
acquired some high quality leads from the Johannesburg
show. He adds: “Capetonians seem to be very keen to be
in business for themselves and, as with our past forays
into that market, we again enjoyed great success at the
Cape Town FBOE. We have in fact already signed several
new franchisees as a result and have several more in the
pipeline. We are very happy with the outcome of that
show and hopefully can say the same for Johannesburg in
a few month’s time, should our leads come to fruition.”
Running parallel to FBOE in Johannesburg, was the Eskom
Small Business Expo (ESBE), hosted by the Eskom
Development Foundation. This expo provided close on 100
black-owned SMMEs with the opportunity to showcase their
products and services to buyers, with the assistance of
a 50% expo subsidy from Eskom.
Referring back to the Standard Bank Franchise Factor
report; additional data on the franchising industry
reveals that in 2006, the sector employed a total number
of 412 428 people; BEE parties comprise 32% of all
franchisees; and that the highest growth in the number
of outlets per franchised system, in the period March
2004 to February 2006, was in the categories
Entertainment and Leisure (25 outlets), Personal
Services (28 outlets), Real Estate Services (27 outlets)
and Telecommunications (52 outlets. These figures are
certainly indicative of the huge potential of this
dynamic sector, and the prospective growth and interest
in the Franchise and Business Opportunities Expo.
For further information contact Thebe Exhibitions and
Events on Tel: (011) 549 8300 or visit
www.fboe.co.za
Ends
Issued by ITP Communications (Pty) Ltd on behalf of the
Franchise and Business Opportunities Expo. For further
information please contact Leigh Angelo or Tondani
Luvhengo on Tel: (011) 450 2477; Fax: (011) 450 2476;
Cell: 082 954 7833; email: leigh@tradeprojects.co.za |
