The National Franchise show
October 1st 2004 The National Franchise Exhibition incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition and Conference 2004 was praised by visitors and exhibitors alike as “the best ever,” when the industry event closed after two successful days at the NEC Birmingham.
The calibre of the 250 established and new franchises at the exhibition made a great impact, as did the quality of the informative seminars and speakers, including Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Founder of easyGroup, Karan Bilimoria, CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Cobra Beer and Mark Derry, Co- Founder and Group Managing Director of Loch Fyne Restaurants and Blanc Brasseries.
David Tuck, franchise sales manager at Venture Marketing Group says,“The National Franchise Exhibition incorporating The Growing Your Own Business Exhibition and Conference continues to go from strength to strength and we are delighted with this year’s event.” “The exhibition has been top notch – really fantastic. We have been bowled over by the amount of interest. The event is industry specific, visitors are genuinely interested and the response to our business has been superb. The number of leads we have generated has been astounding and we have had an exceptional show with a focussed response,” comments Steve Baker, Director and Owner of PlumbLocal.
“The exhibition has been very good, very busy and is getting bigger and busier each year. Our objective for the exhibition is to help people with finance in franchising. We are very impressed with the exhibition,” says HBSC Franchise Manager, Sej Bhabra.
Visitors were also impressed by the range of exhibitors and the variety of products, services,new ideas and solutions that were on offer.
“The exhibition has been very informative and there are lots of very good ideas here. The event is nicely laid out and we have been inspired by what we have seen.
Speaking to existing franchisees is a great way to find out about companies,” says Samantha Latham from Barnstaple.
“I came with no specific ideas and thoughts, yet found bags of information and three or four positive ideas. It has been very helpful to speak in person to franchisors and franchisees,” comments Paul Sanderson from Mansfield.
Future events: • Irish Franchise Exhibition - 19 & 20 November 2004, Royal Dublin Society, Dublin • The British Franchise Exhibition incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Showcase & Conference - 28 & 29 January 2005, GMEX,Manchester • The British & International Franchise Exhibition incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Exhibition & Conference - 1 & 2 April 2005, Olympia, London • The British Franchise Exhibition incorporating the Growing Your Own Business Showcase & Conference - 3 & 4 June 2005,SECC,Glasgow | 
