GFL2004 GENERATES PROMISING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXHIBITORS AND VISITORS

As Global Franchising & Licensing2004 ends, exhibitors and visitors look forward to pursuing the promising business leads made at the show.

Global Franchising & Licensing closed today after attracting 8,021 visitors from more than 30 countries, registering an increase of 44 percent in overseas visitors. The three-day show ended after exhibitors spent productive time striking up promising leads with potential investors who found attractive business propositions at the show.

Having successfully established business contacts with numerous potential master franchisees and investors at the show, exhibitors not only commented on the show's highly international and enthusiastic crowd, but also reiterated their plans to participate in next year's show.

Dinamix, a first-time participant from Spain has had about 100 leads at GFL2004, mainly from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as Bangladesh, Vietnam and China.

"Hopefully we can appoint a master franchisee soon. The show is good and we are happy, no complaints! We have benefited from being part of the Spanish pavilion and we would like to come back again," said Jose Maria Neira from Dinamix.

Mr Danny Lim from Churro n Churro expressed similar sentiments: "This is the first time we've participated in GFL and we are very surprised at the number of interested parties. Our stock was almost finished by the second day. We were hoping to meet primarily Singaporeans who are enthusiastic and confident with our products for small business start-ups. So far there have been a lot of positive inquiries including overseas contacts. We have met visitors from Dubai, Kuwait, the Philippines, India, Malaysia, Europe, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong and Thailand."

Body Contours, a body wellness spa centre, managed to identify suitable franchisees for their concept.

Pushpa Tulsidas, Managing Director of Body Contours, said: "We are here at the show to identify suitable franchisees for our concept. We have established prospective contacts from Indonesia and India and we look forward to expanding our activities into these markets."

Repeat exhibitors such as licensing companies Empire International Merchandising Corporation and InterAsia & Associates found GFL2004 as rewarding as its previous shows.

"The show was good. We had serious enquiries from Indonesia, Thailand and India. We're very happy. The organizers are doing a good job and the show is improving. They have worked very hard to make it a more international event. We'll be coming back next year because it is the only international event of its kind in the region," Louis Lee, Chairman and CEO, InterAsia and Associates.

"This is the second time we are participating and we've met about five or six potential licensees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and India. Most of the visitors are serious investors, unlike other licensing shows that we attended, whereby the visitors were mostly end-consumers who wanted free samples," said Hubert S. Co, Empire International Merchandising Corporation.

Visitors waxed lyrical about the increasing variety of fresh business ideas that GFL had in store this year.

"I came to the show to source for new licensing properties. I visited GFL2003 and it is definitely a better show this year. There are some interesting interactive displays that caught my interest," said Mr Kuhan Foo, Managing Director, Hoofs Sdn Bhd Malaysia

Stefanus Lo, Chairman, Mondial Rare Jewels Pte Ltd added: "I visited this event two years ago, and this time it is bigger and has attracted more traffic. Some of the products and brands from the exhibitors do look very promising."

"Overall, the exhibition is much better compared to previous years. There is a wider variety of exhibitors and lots of new brands that were not available previously," said Mr Benjamin Foo, Director, F.F.N.E Asia Pte Ltd.

Trade organisations such as the Department of Export Promotion from Thailand and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) as well as many others used GFL2004 as a gateway to increase exposure of their countries' domestic brands.

"We brought 9 Thai franchise concepts to the show. Our exhibitors have been busy all throughout the event. Negotiation is underway and there is a good chance partnership agreements will be inked. The Thai exhibitors have had a good show, meeting prospects from Indonesia , Malaysia, Singapore and many more," said Sukanda Wongsawang, Department of Export Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand.

Ms Bing Limjoco, President of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) also commented on the good network opportunities for Filipino companies: "GFL is a good venue for networking by Filipino companies to source for partners from their target markets. On the other hand, we have also received many enquiries from interested companies and entrepreneurs who are looking to bring their concepts into the Philippines."

With all the positive feedback from exhibitors and visitors, GFL2005 will return next year from 21 to 23 September 2004 alongside RITE2004, a different trade exhibition that will showcase retail concepts and technology. The immense synergy from this strategic juxtaposition of the two events will no doubt yield better business opportunities for exhibitors and visitors.