Greetings Franchising and Business Leaders

I hope that you and your businesses are off to a great start in 2024.

We wish you all the best as you continue to take on 2024, a year with improved business sentiment but continued and similar challenges.

The week before last we presented a webinar on the 2024 New Zealand Franchising Sentiment and Trends survey. This was a survey that involved the input of New Zealand franchisors and service providers, who provided perspective on a number of areas including their outlook for a number of key franchising growth drivers, challenges, opportunities, and, trends impacting the franchising business model long-term.

This year we again provided five areas of suggested focus for New Zealand franchisors – while also emphasising some of those from last year (like looking after yourself as the leader of / within the business). Our top first suggested focus was working with company and franchise locations to optimise unit-level performance, in an environment with tougher competition, operating costs and resultant profitability outlook.

We are now well into the year and looking forward to continuing our support of prospective and established companies involved in franchising – as well as the work we do for the Franchise Association of New Zealand.

For companies considering franchising, we would note the importance of properly researching, structuring and implementing franchising. It is so important to set a franchise system up for the long-term. And for established companies, we are helping many with a number of bespoke services such as franchise system reviews, manual upgrades, ongoing strategy and support, franchisee research, franchise advisory council support, to mention a few areas.

As for many businesses, 2024 will be what we make of it. For many businesses, it will not be easy. However, the developments and improvements you undertake this year will help influence this and future years results. Those companies that take time to consider how they can make a stepped change will likely benefit most long-term.

Finally, this time last year I was in the US attending the 2023 International Franchise Association convention. That trip was very valuable, and I did take the opportunity to undertake some further research on two wheels, whilst there, including visiting the oldest surviving McDonald’s restaurant in Downey, California. If you’re interested in some of the insights from that trip, you can read the article entitled Big Lessons From The Big Country in Franchise New Zealand magazine.

Please always feel like you can reach out, at any time. I’d be happy to hear from you.

We thank you for your support and wish you all the very best for 2024!

Callum Floyd

PS: Never hesitate to call. We would love to hear from you.

2024 Annual NZ Franchising Outlook Survey Results

We always want to keep you up to date with the latest information and best practice relating to franchising, and dedicate considerable time and energy to providing important useful information. In January, we conducted our 44th NZ Franchising Outlook Survey and can now report on the results. Click here for a report on the results. The survey covers sentiment toward a number of key franchising growth drivers and outputs, and also provides a perspective into future challenges, opportunities and many other areas.

In the webinar on the survey we included our five suggested areas of focus for NZ franchisors in the year ahead. Attendees also strongly benefited from the insights of Brad Jacobs of The Coffee Club, Daniel Cloete of Westpac Bank, and Sally Knight of Franchise New Zealand Media. We thank Brad, Daniel and Sally for their insights.

We also thank the respondents to the survey. Once again, in recognition, we provided donations to both The Salvation Army and Women’s Refuge.

Spotlight on Services for Established Franchisors

Now is a great time to be considering work on your franchise system. We can help within anything from ad hoc advice through to a comprehensive full franchise system review. In the first instance, just make contact. We’ll be happy to take time to understand your objectives.

We have three specific one day (spread over two days) ‘building block’ courses for Field Managers:

• Franchise Field Visit Foundations – 12 & 13 June 2024 (1-5pm) – online – Register here
• Franchisee Business Planning – 24 & 25 July 2024 (1-5pm) – online – Register here
• Improving Franchisee Performance – 26 & 27 June 2024 (1-5pm) – online – Register here

We also have a two full day in-person Managing a Franchise System training programme, ideal for new franchisors and General Managers. This is held in-person in Newmarket, Auckland. The dates for the Managing a Franchise System course are 15 & 16 May. Both days are full days, from 9am to 5pm.

For more information on each, contact Julia (julia@franchize.co.nz or 09 523 3858) or visit our website here.

How can we help you?

Contact us if you’re contemplating franchising a business or would like help with an established franchised network. We’d be very happy to sit down with you to understand your situation and objectives and explain the supporting services we provide.

Motorcycle News

Recent rides included a quick day long mission around the East Cape, taking in the East Cape Lighthouse on the way around to Gisborne – so I could accompany a client who’d purchased a bike there and was keen for company on the way back. My friend Roger, a close riding buddy, and a leader of another licenced network, joined me for the full trip. The East Cape is stunning, but much flooding damage remains from last year’s cyclone.

Another trip late last year was in the Taranaki – taking in some of the many early tunnels, built to open up better access to farmland and small settlements mainly in the early 1900s. A number of those tunnels are quite remote and have faced the threat of closure due to instability. Many are quite iconic, with a gothic shape – reflecting the relative ease with which workers could cut through the hillside down there.

All the best from myself and the team at Franchize Consultants.

Callum Floyd

Contact us if you’re contemplating franchising a business or would like help with an established franchise network. We’d be very happy to sit down with you to understand your situation and objectives and explain the supporting services we provide.