Franchise exhibit slated this month in Parkmall
By Jen F. Vega
CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu Franchise Exhibit is poised to attract franchising prospects, giving them a heads up on business system, trading concepts and corporate branding as well as mall-based franchising opportunities.
With 30 exhibitors that enlisted for this three-day business showcase slated on August 27 to 29 at the Parkmall in Mandaue City, the first Cebu Franchise Exhibit organized by Filipino International Franchise Association (FIFA) and RK Franchise Consultancy will gather different homegrown brands that present attractive franchise packages to local potential franchisees.
The exhibit will launch new franchisers such as Da Vinci’s Pizza, Jones Brothers’ Pizza and Acebedo Optical. Three water businesses have also registered: Add-On Systems, Aquahealth and Living Water.
The food business exhibitors are Aling Cora Lutong Bahay from Butuan, Big Joe’s Café from Dipolog, Botoy’s Litson Manok which has more than 50 franchisees nationwide from Cagayan de Oro, Dr. Pearl Cooler Shop, Handuraw Pizza, Jo’s Chicken Inato, Magic Melt Foods, Mr. Softy Ice Cream, Shao-Mai Dimsum from CDO, Uncle Sam’s Burger & Steak, Vienna Kaffeehaus and Yasai Chikara Takoyaki from Davao.
On the other hand, the non-food exhibitors are O’Hair Salon, Bluewater Day Spa, Medicus, Inc. which is the first medical laboratory franchise in the Philippines from Iloilo, Mini Me Is That You, Nail Treats (salon from Manila ) and Nice Day Car Wash from Cebu.
Franchising experts are on hand to give important advices to interested franchisees.
“Franchising up to now is still the most popular way of doing business. In the past years, franchising keeps on growing and growing beneath the bounds. The market is far from saturated because there’s still growth potential in the Philippines,” said RK Franchise Consultancy founder Rodulf A. Kotik.
Kotik, however, emphasized that this year’s exhibit is not the usual expo that they hold yearly dubbed as Cebu Franchising Expo. In fact, the organizers will still launch the 11th Cebu Franchising Expo on March 2011 in SM City Cebu. “This (Cebu Franchising Exhibit) is relatively smaller, petite franchise exhibit,” Kotik pointed out.
“This is also to help them (Parkmall) to fill up the mall with prospective franchisees from the event,” added Kotik.
The different franchise associations nationwide have recently converged during the Philippine Franchise Conference and Expo in SMX Convention Center, SM Mall of Asia two weeks ago. And according to Kotik who is a member of FIFA, that the industry is finally having regulations in franchising.
“Right now we’re working out with the Department of Trade and Industry to curb the scammers in franchising. There are people who sell franchises who are not actually franchisers. They collect money and give you a non-existing location,” explained Kotik.
DTI will require all the franchisors to provide Franchise Offering Circular (FOCs) which entails the legal aspect of the franchise. This is standard in a lot of countries according to Kotik. This development is supported by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), FIFA and Association of Filipino Franchisers Inc. (AFFI).
“This is not yet official but it will definitely come before the end of the year. The rules will particularly tackle on how you offer your franchise by providing honest information. I would say that the franchise business is 90 percent serious people and serious companies. But there’s a small share of scams going on.” Kotik concluded.
Kotik who has earned an expertise in franchising through his 30 years of immersion in this field will conduct a franchise seminar on August 31, 1:30PM in Montebello Villa Hotel to share his knowledge in franchising, as well as trademarking which, according to him, is one of the most important aspects of the business. (THE FREEMAN)
source: www.philstar.com
