62 PERCENT MORE EXHIBITING COMPANIES AND TWO NEW COUNTRY GROUP SHOWCASES AT GLOBAL FRANCHISING & LICENSING 2004

Fast-growing economies in Asia are embracing a new and wider scope of lifestyle choices, propelling consumer spending, and creating thriving franchising and licensing segments. These factors are contributing to the impetus for companies to use franchising and licensing as strategies to expand into the region. For companies that are unfamiliar with foreign territory, but at the same time, wish to seek out business opportunities, franchising and licensing offers them easier access to these emerging markets.

Global Franchising & Licensing (GFL) - Asia's leading trade show of its kind - returns to Suntec Singapore from September 15-17 with more than 230 exhibiting companies from 22 countries and country group showcases from Spain, France, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, USA and Singapore.

The growing popularity of adopting franchising and licensing as growth strategies is reflected in the higher uptake of booth space at GFL2004, which records a 10 percent increase in exhibition size from 1,341 nett sqm to 1,480 sqm this year. This coincides with the 62 percent increase in the number of exhibiting companies compared with two years ago. Expecting more than 10,000 visitors from over 60 countries, GFL is considered the most international trade show of its kind in the region with exhibitors from Australia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, USA, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Spain, Germany and France, to name a few. The show attracts top decision-makers, investors, entrepreneurs from a wide cross section of industries, with an estimated purchasing power of US$744 million, based on last year's figures.

Some of the key exhibitors at the show include Andersen's of Denmark, Empire International Merchandising Corporation, Mad Dogs and Englishmen, 7-Eleven, O'Briens Irish Sandwich Bar, Subway, the Athlete's Foot.

World-renowned brands and characters up for licensing are Vanity Fair, Champion, Arrow, b.u.m equipment, Pepsi, Hallmark, Blush!, Jeep, Rochas, Spiderman, Charlie's Angles, Terminator III, Star Trek, The Simpsons, Felix The Cat, Zorro, Christina Aguilera, Eminem, Beyonce, and many others.

Some European Concepts Available to Investors at GFL2004

Franchising concepts from France include dining concepts from La Boucherie Restaurants - a traditional french brasserie, and La Boite a Pizza is a highly original concept that marries Italian pizza with a twist of French taste. Physiomins International, a slimming centre and Epil Centre which specialises in waxing, health and beauty and weight management, are two beauty franchise concepts that will also be part of the French group showcase.

Dinamix, photography software developer from Spain is offering home based business licensing for use of its photography production software. Looxis from Germany, specialises in image enhancement technology for printing studios.

Asian-inspired Franchise & Licensing Opportunities at GFL2004

iDimSum, a first of a kind restaurant based in Singapore, breaks away from the conventional paradigm by utilising a special patented technology that keeps food piping hot on conveyor belts. The restaurant serves Korean, Japanese and Chinese food.

OP Natural Products, a company that originated from Thailand, creates and distributes beauty and healthcare products using natural floral plants and herbs.

Companies from Malaysia include footwear retail franchisor Harian Shoes Sdn Bhd, whose affordable and wide range of shoes brought in the company a revenue of RM20 million last year, and Maximum Recall IT, a learning centre promoting Memory Techniques.

Conferences and Workshops

A series of conferences and workshops targeted at budding entrepreneurs, senior executives, licensing agents, chain store operators and franchise development executives will be held concurrently with the exhibition. The Global Franchising International Conference will provide invaluable insights on the franchising issues and trends. Listen to case studies and tips on how companies managed to successfully penetrate franchising markets in India, China, and USA. Learn how to expand a franchise into overseas markets, localise it, and turn it into a lucrative business.

The Post-Conference Workshop on The Fundamentals of Franchising will address critical issues such as the dynamics of franchising, different types of franchise agreements, how to get your business off the ground, legal aspects behind franchise contracts and evaluating franchise offers.

The International Conference on Licensing Strategies will help franchising novices grasp the basic fundamentals and standard practices of licensing. The second day of the conference will tackle essential issues such as risk management, developing and implementing successful licensing programmes and strategies for growing a business through licensing.

Other Activities @ GFL2004

Visitors can receive complimentary consultation at Franchise & License Clinics at the show, from reputable and credible business consultancies that specialise in franchising, licensing, branding, financial and legal issues. Site visits have also been organised for visitors to provide a hands-on, on-site experience of different franchise operations.

At the FLA Gala Dinner, the who's who of the franchising industry will convene at the Franchising and Licensing Association Gala Dinner, in celebration of the association's 11th year anniversary.