More visitors, sealed deals conclude franchise expo

CEBU, Philippines - An increased number of visitors plus signed agreements for franchise opportunities was what concluded the three-day RK Franchise Cebu Expo in SM city Cebu.

Rudolf Kotik, owner of RK franchise, a leading franchise consultant company in the country, said that the expo last March 2-4, 2012 was one of the most successful expos they have had so far.

“It was excellent,” said Kotik who explained that there was about 40 percent more visitors this year compared to the last expo they had in Cebu.

He said last year, headcount was around 5,000 but now they had over 8,000 visitors.

Kotik also explained that there were a lot of companies that had agreements signed with franchisees during the three day event, even the first time participants of the franchise expo who just opened up their business for franchise.

Also, he said that since they had so much interested participants for their franchise seminars during the expo, they needed to organize another one on March 17 to accommodate those who were not seated for the first seminar.

The expo had 44 participating companies, with a wide mix of old and new businesses and medium and large companies.

There were returnees from previous expo like: Aficionado Germany Perfume, Andy Hotel, Botoy’s Litson Manok BBQ and Liempo, Crystal Clear, Delos Reyes Optical, Digital Paradise Inc., Netopia and EGG, Figaro Coffee Systems, Generika Drugstore, Jolliant foods, Julie’s Franchise Corp, LBC Express, Living water systems, Mandarin Tea Garden, Medicus Philippines, Myface ‘N Mynails Salon, New Datche Philippines, Nice Day Car Wash, O’Hair Salon, Peraion Corporation(Shao-Mai Dimsum), PLDT SME Nation, Premium Graphics Asia Center, Remarkable Laundry and Dry Cleaning, San Miguel Foods Inc., Seaoil Philippines, Southern Synergy Sales Mktg., Happy Haus Donuts, TBS Beauty Products, Trademarks Intellectual property services, Transfer it!, and Worldbex Services International.

First time participants were Brothers Burger, Bubi Trampoline, Concept Specialist, Copylandia, Dok Alternatibo Franchising, Inc, Econcept Business Consultancy, Mr. Inkredible Ink and Printing Solutions, Penong’s Barbecue Seafood and Grill, Precious Pillow, Real Health, Skin and Body Center by Zen Institute, Skin City Facial Center and Nail Bar, and Tubo Cane Juice.

Kotik said that there is definitely an increasing number of interested franchisees in Cebu, and in some of the neighboring cities and provinces like Ormoc, Iloilo and Negros who showed up during the expo.

For some known names in the industry like Figaro coffee, they can attest to the increase of potential franchisees.

Mike Barret, Franchise Manager of Figaro Coffee Systems Inc., said that 60 percent of their shops are franchise owned and they expect this to grow since they have been getting numerous inquiries.

He said that currently 80 percent of their Coffee shops are in Manila but those in other cities like Cebu have grown tremendously, with another one possibly opening within the year.