A queue of keen visitors waiting for the Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo in Melbourne to open signalled a revitalised interest in business ownership.
There was a steady stream of visitors to the two-day expo on 6 and 7 May 2023, and franchisors reported a strong level of interest and engagement from attendees.
Feedback from franchisors
Mike Geddes at Poolwerx said “It was great to see interest post-Covid, good foot traffic and good quality leads. We are looking forward to the Sydney show.”
CouriersPlease had a strong expo, with plenty of interest from visitors. James Hucker, head of franchising, said “This is the best show we’ve attended. There has been unbelievable attendance, and representation from the industry. We are very happy with the leads.”
Celebrity Ink CEO Andrew McCulloch said the expo had been “good brand exposure”.
“We have been able to reach people we wouldn’t otherwise connect with,” he said.
Good for exposure
Newcomer Kerry Thurrowgood launched the Lokahi wellness treatments franchise at the expo.
“It’s been phenomenal,” she said. “There are more people clearly interested in opening a business. We made some great connections with other franchisors too. It has been very positive.”
A number of brands new to the franchising sector included Lokahi, The Cocktail Queen Mobile Bar, and Secure Cash.
Established brands exhibiting included Quest Apartment Hotels, United Franchise Group, Appliance Tagging Services, Foodco, Bedshed, Gelatissimo, TaxAssist Accountants, The Drug Detection Agency and Aramex.
Malaysia pavilion at the expo
A Malaysian pavilion introduced a variety of brands to the Australian landscape, with Marrybrown and Smart Reader Kids already operating here.
Jim Penman of the Jim’s Group was a keynote speaker on both Saturday and Sunday; the free seminars were well-attended throughout the two days.
Next expo in Sydney
Exhibition manager Fiona Stacey told Franchise Executives “It’s been fantastic to see people coming through the doors at 10am, and we have had a steady flow all day.
“The feedback from exhibitors was very positive; they are talking to people who are eager to find a new opportunity for a better lifestyle.”
The Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo is in just two cities this year; Melbourne, and in Sydney on 12 and 13 August.
