Spotlighton franchisingat ‘jobsshowcase’
WOULD-BE Wexford entrepreneurs flocked to the Talbot Hotel last week to see first hand some of the new franchises up for grabs in the Model County as part of the campaign to boost jobs here.
Wexford Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Irish Franchise Association, hosted the inaugural South East Franchise Showcase, billed as a unique event which provided attendees with an opportunity to meet with 10 members of the Irish Franchise Association, who were looking to bring their proven business models to County Wexford.
More than 50 existing and prospective business owners from across the county attended this event with a view to exploring the new business opportunities offered by the franchise sector.
Pitches from each of the exhibitors, coupled with an address from the Chairman of the Irish Franchise Association, David Killeen, ensured that all of thise attending were fully briefed on the benefits of operating a franchised business model.
The CEO of Wexford Chamber of Commerce, Madeleine Quirke, explained the importance of promoting the advantages associated with franchising.
‘ The number of start up businesses which fail within the first few years of trading are quite high, however, franchising offers a low-risk alternative for owning a business and we were delighted to be able to promote this option through the South East Franchise Showcase,’ she said.
The South East Franchise Showcase, which was sponsored by Wexford County Council, is one of a series of initiatives which Wexford Chamber hopes will bring new businesses and jobs to the county.
The President of Wexford Chamber, Karl Fitzpatrick, highlighted the positive impact which new franchised business concepts could have on the local economy. ‘ The proven business model which defines all franchises means that franchise owners can lay the foundations for sustainable business growth and ultimately create more jobs for County Wexford,’ he said. ‘Judging by the level of engagement between the exhibitors and attendees on Thursday night, I am confident that some of the featured franchises will soon have a presence in the Model County.’ Spanning a diverse cross-section of sectors, the companies that exhibited at the South East Franchise Showcase included: Cleaning Doctor, Camile Thai Kitchen, SNAP, Action Coach, Stretch ‘n’ Grow, Chemdry, Munster Tool Company, Business Cost Management, Right at Home and Petsitters Ireland.