特許經營產業的前5個排名

特許經營產業的前5個排名
The Top 5 Franchise Industries to Watch

兒童Children
食品Food
健美Fitness
高級人士服務Seniors
電子Personal electronics

資料來源︰”Entrepreneur”, 30 December, 2013.

The Top 5 Franchise Industries to Watch

The companies that ranked in Entrepreneur's 35th annual Franchise 500® added a total of 8,725 U.S. franchise units between 2012 and 2013--a whopping 51 percent increase over the previous year's growth. They're spreading their influence overseas as well, with 8,332 new international units. It's a great sign that economic recovery is well on its way, and that franchises have an important part to play in it.

Here's a look at four franchise industries that are leading the way (and one that's up-and-coming), as well as the trends that are driving their growth.

Children

The continued success of kid-centered franchises over the past several years is evidence that parents are always willing to sacrifice in order to give their offspring a leg up. And thanks to franchising, they've got lots of options, from early-learning child-care programs to traditional tutoring to an increasingly diverse collection of fitness, recreation and enrichment businesses.

The big trend this year is science and engineering. Bricks 4 Kidz, a Lego-engineering program that has been franchising since 2009, jumped into the No. 1 spot in this year's Enrichment category amid several competitors.

Food

Food franchises dominate the Franchise 500®, making up half of the top 10 and more than a quarter of all ranked companies. It's no surprise, since the category contains some of the oldest and biggest franchises around. But there are plenty of newer, smaller franchises making their mark, too.

Mainstays like sandwiches, burgers and pizza are still going strong, and likely always will. But frozen-yogurt franchises, labeled a fad a few years ago, now appear to be here to stay; in fact, they are still growing at an impressive clip.

Another emerging trend is vending. It's an industry that has shied away from franchising in the past, but with three companies that started franchising only in the past few years--HUMAN Healthy Vending, Fresh Healthy Vending and IceBorn--making our rankings, we may soon see others follow in their footsteps.

Fitness

Twenty fitness franchises made this year's rankings, up from just 13 last year. (Perhaps even more impressive: almost half have been franchising for less than five years.) But the ultimate example of the health of this category is Anytime Fitness, our overall No. 1 company after just 12 years in business.

For many in the fitness industry, fast growth is fueled by business models that offer much lower startup costs for franchisees than old-school big-box gyms. They also offer more varied and unique fitness options to consumers, such as dance, martial arts and stroller fitness. Particularly popular right now are kickboxing programs, with several franchises currently duking it out for domination.

Seniors

With 21 companies making the ranking this year, and even more waiting in the wings, senior care has become one of the biggest categories in the Franchise 500®. And its growth shows no signs of stopping, well-supported as it is by the growing percentage of the population in the 65-and-older age bracket.

Nonmedical home care, meant to help seniors maintain their independence, is still the primary service offered by franchises in this category. In the past few years, however, several companies have added supplementary services to the mix, such as medical care and staffing, senior-living referrals and transportation.

Personal Electronics

The popularity of tech franchises has waned in recent years, but the rise of smartphone and tablet use has given birth to a new breed of businesses that are breathing life back into the category. There are only a few of them so far, but franchises offering sales, repairs andaccessories for personal electronics are growing fast and climbing up our rankings. More competition is sure to come in the next few years.

為什麼授權是能達到產品上架的最佳途徑

為什麼授權是能達到產品上架的最佳途徑
Why Licensing is the Best Way to Get Your Product on Store Shelves

“All in all, licensing gives you the best bang for your buck if you can make it happen with the right company.”

資料來源︰”Entrepreneur”, 30 December, 2013.

Why Licensing is the Best Way to Get Your Product on Store Shelves

So you have a genius idea for a new product that you believe will make you rich. But how do you bring your idea to life?

Your options fall into three categories: Start a company, and then make and sell the product; license your idea to a business with the ability to manufacture and distribute your product; or submit your idea to a crowdsourcing platform. Each has its pros and cons, but the most successful and easiest option is to get your idea licensed. This offers the most potential return on investment and has the greatest chance for success.

We recently licensed a product (the Hot Dog Slic'R) to a company already selling to Walmart. Within three months they sold it to Walmart, where it is now hanging next to the hot dog buns, selling like crazy. That kind of success would have taken years of intense effort to do on our own, but we did it without breaking a sweat. It's one of five licensed products we'll have in Walmart next year.

Starting your own company can sound attractive, but it's difficult, a big time investment and requires a lot of work to get your startup running efficiently and effectively. It can't be done casually and takes lots of resources. Your chances of success, especially if you're a neophyte, are statistically not the best. However, if you have a ton of passion for your product and are willing to live and breathe your idea, the possibility of making your idea a huge success can be great.

Submitting to a crowdsourcing platform (such as Edison Nation) is very low cost, but you have to be chosen through the platform's selection process, and your success is pretty much out of your control. Another thing to keep in mind: the submission company is going to take a big chunk of the income (if any) generated by the idea. It's the best option for people who don't have the time or money to invest up front, or have more ideas than they can afford to invest in.

Related: 5 Steps to Get Your Product On Store Shelves

For many people and products, licensing offers the best balance of characteristics. Why? You can get a more-than-desirable return on your investment in both time and money (more than 20 times is possible), while doing relatively little work, and mostly the fun stuff. Licensing offers a balance of risk and reward, because it allows you to leverage the success of an already established company for distribution.

Getting your product on the shelves in a retail store is by far the hardest part of any product venture. And managing the logistics and technicalities of selling to companies such asWalmart and Target is definitely not what one would define as "fun." Larger retailers generally don't buy from individuals. On the flip side, if you license a product to a company already doing those things, you can take a shortcut, and work your way into major retailers without as many hiccups.

How does licensing work? You come up with a great idea, not just a pretty good one, and turn the idea into a product. In most cases you file for patent protection, and then you find a company willing to make the product and pay you a royalty. A typical royalty is 5 percent of gross wholesale sales, the price to the retailer from the manufacturer. Many inventors, at first, feel like this number is low, but it's actually a good deal for the inventor. Based on market data, a well-run manufacturer makes around 10 percent profit bottom line. That's only twice the return the inventor is making at 5 percent, even though they have all the ongoing expenses and investments, massively more risk and infinitely more effort. Meanwhile, the chance of success is much higher since the hardest part -- getting into distribution -- is already handled. 

What are the downsides?

1. You may not be able to license your product. A lot of stars have to align within a potential licensee to get a "yes" and it takes lots of effort and perseverance to find the right one.

2. You typically lose most, or all, control of the invention. The licensee gets to call the shots and you may not agree with all of their decisions. Your idea may fail due to poor strategy or execution, so it's really important to work with a company with a great track record as your licensee.

3. Compared to crowdsourcing, licensing is more expensive as you'll likely need to invest in your invention to make it license worthy.

All in all, licensing gives you the best bang for your buck if you can make it happen with the right company. It keeps you free to pursue other ideas, keep your day job and relax more. It gives you the quickest path to great distribution and provides a very comparable return to manufacturing with far less effort and risk.

第三屆亞洲知識產權營商論壇

第三屆亞洲知識產權營商論壇

香港特別行政區政府、香港貿易發展局及香港設計中心攜手合辦

由香港特別行政區政府、香港貿易發展局(香港貿發局)及香港設計中心攜手合辦的第三屆亞洲知識產權營商論壇，於2013年12月5日及6日假香港會議展覽中心舉行。今屆乃特區政府首次成為主辦機構之一，突顯特區政府對發展香港作為知識產權貿易中心的決心。今年的論壇由過去的一日擴展至兩日，邀請到近60位星級講者和專家作分享，預計將吸引超過1,600位知識產權擁有者、使用者及服務供應商參與，共同探討企業如何保護知識產權及如何透過知識產權貿易開拓商機。

今屆「國際中小企博覽」以「特許經營機遇」為焦點，新增設「特許經營館」，雲集來自香港、內地、新加坡、馬來西亞、以及英國和美國等地超過60家特許經營品牌、協會及機構，展示不同類型的特許經營商機，與參觀人士洽談特許經營合作，共同開拓商機。當中不少特許經營品牌更是首度來港參展。而今年首辦的「特許經營高峰論壇」，分為「大中華篇」和「海外篇」兩個環節，邀請到中港台、以至美國、印尼、菲律賓、新加坡等業內專家，分析各地特許經營的發展和商機。

國際中小企博覽2013

知識產權營商論壇

知識產權營商論壇

知識產權營商論壇

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什麼是特許經營？麥當勞的特許經營協議有何特別？

什麼是特許經營？麥當勞的特許經營協議有何特別？
What is a franchise and how do McDonald’s franchise agreements work?

「麥當勞現有80％的餐廳以特許經營方式運作，其餘的是由公司本身擁有及運作。」
"McDonald’s has franchised about 80% of its restaurants, while the remainder are owned and operated by the company."


資料來源︰Smita Nair, "marketrealist.com", 25 December, 2013.

What is a franchise and how do McDonald’s franchise agreements work? (Part 2)


Continued from Part 1: McDonald’s global business model, the “three-legged stool”


Currently, McDonald’s has franchised about 80% of its restaurants, while the remainder is owned and operated by the company. Each of the company’s franchisees usually has a standard 20-year franchise license. A franchise license is an authorization granted by either a company or a government body to an individual or a group that enables them to perform specific commercial activities. For McDonald’s, the franchise model has led to years of profitability, growth, and risk mitigation.



How much does it cost franchisees to start a McDonald’s franchise?

According to industry sources, the down payment required to start a new McDonald’s franchise is about 40% and the down payment required to purchase an existing franchise is 25%. The down payment must come from non-borrowed personal resources, which can include cash, investment securities, vested profit sharing (net of taxes), and business or real estate equity (which doesn’t include your primary residence). This generally amounts to $300,000 of capital to open a franchise. In addition to monetary capital, significant human capital is required in the form of business experience and customer service experience along with business planning and accounting skills. Also, significant time is required, including formal training in company policies and procedures.

Breaking apart the conventional franchise agreement

Under the conventional McDonald’s franchise arrangement, franchisees provide a portion of the capital required by initially investing in the equipment, signs, seating, and decor of their restaurant businesses, and by reinvesting in the business over time. The company owns the land and building or secures long-term leases for both company-operated and conventional franchised restaurant sites. In certain circumstances, the company participates in reinvestment for conventional franchised restaurants.

Conventional franchisees contribute to the company’s revenue stream through the payment of rent and royalties based on a percent of sales, with specified minimum rent payments, along with initial fees received upon the opening of a new restaurant or the granting of a new franchise term. The conventional franchise arrangement typically lasts 20 years, and franchising practices are generally consistent throughout the world. Over 70% of franchised restaurants operate under conventional franchise arrangements.

Development license arrangements

Under a developmental license arrangement, licensees provide capital for the entire business, including the real estate interest. While the company has no capital invested, it receives a royalty based on a percent of sales, as well as initial fees. The largest of these developmental license arrangements operates over 1,900 restaurants across 19 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Affiliates

The company has an equity investment in a limited number of foreign affiliated markets, referred to as “affiliates.” The largest of these affiliates is Japan, where there are nearly 3,300 restaurants. The company receives a royalty based on a percent of sales in these markets and records its share of net results in equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates.

Collective purchasing agreements to assure price and quality

The company and its franchisees purchase food, packaging, equipment, and other goods from numerous independent suppliers. The company has established and strictly enforces high quality standards and product specifications. McDonald’s has quality centers around the world to ensure that its high standards are consistently met.

The quality assurance process involves not only ongoing product reviews, but also onsite supplier visits. A quality leadership board—composed of the company’s technical, safety, and supply chain specialists—provides strategic global leadership for all aspects of food quality and safety. Plus, the company works closely with suppliers to encourage innovation, assure best practices, and drive continuous improvement. Leveraging scale, supply chain infrastructure, and risk management strategies, the company also collaborates with suppliers toward a goal of achieving competitive, predictable food and paper costs over the long term.

Distribution

Independently owned and operated distribution centers, approved by the company, distribute products and supplies to most McDonald’s restaurants. Also, restaurant personnel are trained in the proper storage, handling, and preparation of products and in customer service.

Key risks of the franchise model

The risks associated with McDonald’s franchise business model include whether its franchisees have the experience and financial resources to be effective operators and remain aligned with the company on operating, promotional, and capital-intensive initiatives, and the potential impact on the company if they experience food safety or other operational problems or project a brand image inconsistent with the company’s values—particularly if its contractual and other rights and remedies are limited, costly to exercise, or subject to litigation.

2014年2月21日與生產力培訓學院合辦：特許經營之道

2014年2月21日與生產力培訓學院合辦：特許經營之道

香港專利授權及特許經營協會致力搜羅特許經營的相關資訊，是次將與香港生產力促進局於2014年2月合辦兩場研討會，為中小企業提供最新的市場情報和經驗分享。有興趣報名的人士，請直接與生產力促進局聯絡或向本會查詢。

詳情按此︰
http://www.hktrainingonline.com/eng/training/coursedetail/40186090.PDF

2014年將會是很適合創業的一年

2014年將會是很適合創業的一年
2014 Will be a Great Time to Start a Business
「如果你認為你有創業動力和勤奮的精神，並計劃於2014年創業，傳統或microfranchising是一個值得考慮的途徑。」
“If you think you have entrepreneurial drive and a resilient spirit and would like to start your own business in 2014, traditional or microfranchising is a route to consider.”

香港專利授權及特許經營協會(HKLFA)連合有志於專利授權及特許經營方面突圍的企業，分享大家的經驗、行業資訊，向企業及創業者推廣利用專利授權及特許經營的成功模式。如欲了解更多資訊，請瀏覽︰www.hklfa.org

資料來源︰Michael L. Evans, “PR Web”, December 16, 2013

2014 Will be a Great Time to Start a Business - Newport Board Group, a CEO Advisory Firm Serving the Middle Market, Advises Entrepreneurs in the New Year
Starting a business in the New Year may not be as difficult as you think!


Franchising is an increasingly important part of the American business landscape. It already comprises about 5% of businesses in America and generates about 8% of all private sector jobs.

Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010, the first report drawn up by the Bureau that gathered information on franchises, says that franchises made up 10.5 percent of business across 295 industries in 2007. Franchises accounted for $1.3 trillion in revenue and $153.7 billion in payroll disbursed to 7.9 million workers.

Franchising offers grass roots entrepreneurs a chance to get into business for themselves. The franchising model combines a potent mix of capital, brand and initiative. On the other hand, the cost of getting into a franchise business has risen steeply in recent years.

A new concept, which started in less developed countries where it has helped to lift millions out of poverty, is microfranchising. Micro-franchising is a business model that applies traditional franchising to very small businesses. It is a systemized approach to replicating micro-enterprises like drive-in coffee kiosks, mall products and services, food stands and just about any other type of business that sells low cost products or services, primarily in high traffic areas.

For a very small investment, entrepreneurs can now become micro-franchisees in proven businesses without having to make high upfront investments.

How Franchising Works

Let’s define the core concepts of franchising that are at the heart of micro-franchising. A firm with an established product or service (the franchisor) enters into a contractual relationship with other businesses (the franchisees). Franchisees operate under the franchisor's trade name and guidance--in exchange for a fee.

The contract defines franchisor and franchisee responsibilities. The franchisor provides a business model and marketing strategy that specifies segments, products/services and brand positioning. The franchisor also provides advertising, marketing, training and support. The franchisee is responsible for the local facility and management of daily operations. In microfranchising, the franchisee buys a kiosk or cart and generally rents a location in a mall or store.

When the franchise model is executed well, it yields a high degree of alignment between franchisor and franchisees. Not only do franchisees have “skin in the game” because they have invested and own a share of the upside but royalty payments to the franchisor require the franchisee to generate profits above their break-even point. The result? This creates positive pressure to focus hard on being efficient and maximizing cash flow.

Advantages of Franchising

Besides avoiding the high cost of starting a business from scratch and the risk of having to test it, franchising can offer several advantages over starting your own business.

Product RecognitionA franchise business generally offers a product or service that many people are already aware of, often in a market that is fragmented, with few well established brands. Examples include dry cleaners, car washes and other firms that are typically “one off” businesses without name recognition.




Marketing SupportFranchises benefit from established and proven marketing programs and materials. The marketing and advertising campaigns created by the parent company and supported nationally through advertising helps increase sales for your franchise.




Single or Area FranchisesIn many instances, particularly for new franchise operations, the franchisee may purchase rights to a single franchise or to an entire geographical territory. Consider walking before running and starting with a single franchise, and try to get the option or rights to develop more “stores” in your geographical area.




Back-office and Administrative SupportMost franchise companies offer systems support such as information technology services and support, billing processes, accounting systems and call center and customer support at a much lower cost than if you were to create your own business from scratch.




SuppliesKey national contract terms are available through most franchise organizations at terms that you could not negotiate without the buying power of a much larger organization.




Financing the FranchiseObtaining financing for franchised business ventures is often challenging for entrepreneurs. From the startup phase to growing the business, entrepreneurs face difficulties meeting the requirements of traditional bank loans. The SBA 7(a) Program is the SBA’s primary and most popular program. With a demonstrated need for funds and a sound business purpose, an entrepreneur may be eligible for the SBA 7(a) Loan Program.



Successfully Operating a Franchise

There are several guidelines to creating a successful franchise. Failing to meet them is the downfall of many franchisees.

1. Build scale by adopting the defined business model. The franchise model reinforces a meticulously defined business system. Franchise companies drive marketing and product development centrally. As a local franchisee, the entrepreneur must be disciplined in adopting the franchisor’s established strategy to the local market.

2. Get employee buy in. Define and enforce the system to employees as rigorously as the franchisor defines it to you.

3. Be prepared to sustain marketing and advertising efforts. In tougher market conditions, non-franchise companies often reduce marketing and advertising to maintain quarterly bottom line performance. Franchise contracts require spending either a flat dollar amount of marketing/advertising or at least a fixed percentage of revenues.

When the franchise model is executed well, it yields a high degree of alignment and shared commitment between franchisor and franchisees. Franchisees have “skin in the game” because they have invested their money and sweat and own a share of the upside.

If you think you have entrepreneurial drive and a resilient spirit and would like to start your own business in 2014, traditional or microfranchising is a route to consider.

Michael L. Evans is the Managing Director of the Northern California practice of the Newport Board Group. Michael.Evans(at)newportboardgroup(dot)com.

Topps Ltd 宣布推出迪士尼公主卡片遊戲系列

集換式卡片遊戲一直深愛年青人所歡迎，但針對男性市場佔了絕大多數，Topps Ltd 宣布推出迪士尼公主卡片遊戲系列，希望以此打開女性玩家市場。

資料來源: Licensing Today Worldwide

Girl Power!

Topps Launches First-Ever Disney Princess Trading Card Game

Topps Ltd is delighted to announce the arrival of an all-new collection: the eagerly anticipated Disney Princess Trading Card Game.

A first for the leading collectibles company, the new trading cards series launches tomorrow (12th December) and promises to offer Disney fans the ultimate fairy-tale experience.

The collection features all 11 Disney Princesses from the silver screen and is full of scenes, images and activities that truly capture the magic of movies.

There are over 170 Disney Princess cards to collect, including ‘colour-me-in’ cards, as well as heart-shaped and storytelling cards, enabling children to collect all their favourite characters and play the fun-filled trading card game with their friends.

Louise Ramplin, Entertainment Marketing Manager for Topps, comments: “Children will be enchanted by the glittering dresses depicted on beautiful glitter cards, which are the shining stars of this brand new collection. We hope it will bring a fun and magical experience to fans.”

特許經營：消閒娛樂行業的國際化拓展之路

特許經營：消閒娛樂行業的國際化拓展之路
Franchising: the route to international expansion in the leisure sector

「特許經營行之有效，因為這個制度提供了實實在在的好處，不僅對品牌持有者，也對其加盟商。」
"Franchising works because it offers real benefits, not only to the brand owner but also to its franchisees. "

香港專利授權及特許經營協會(HKLFA)連合有志於專利授權及特許經營方面突圍的企業，分享大家的經驗、行業資訊，向企業及創業者推廣利用專利授權及特許經營的成功模式。如欲了解更多資訊，請瀏覽︰www.hklfa.org

資料來源︰Babette Märzheuser-Wood, "Dentons"

Franchising: the route to international expansion in the leisure sector

• Dentons
• Babette Märzheuser-Wood
• Global
• December 17 2013
• 
  

Franchising is a proven route to the successful international expansion of leisure businesses such as fitness studios, golf clubs and tennis schools. In the leisure sector global brands such as Curves International and Gold's Gym have used franchising successfully to grow in both traditional economies and emerging markets.

However, franchising is not the exclusive preserve of US franchise brands. A franchise strategy can also work for companies that have never franchised before. Some hospitality and leisure companies use franchising as an alternative to direct investment when it comes to expansion in the lucrative but high risk emerging markets of South- East Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

A healthy way of doing business

Franchising is an established way of expanding a business internationally. Annually it accounts for turnover of USD$300 billion in Europe, USD$850 billion in America and USD$130 billion in Australia. Together with management agreements, it is the preferred form of international expansion for many successful leisure brands. The success of fitness franchising in the USA has demonstrated that international franchising works for the sector. In Germany fitness franchising is the number one growth area for the industry. This is why brands such as Fitness First, Gold's Gym and LA Fitness use franchising as a tool to expand business internationally.

Benefits for Franchisor and Franchisee

Franchising works because it offers real benefits, not only to the brand owner but also to its franchisees. It offers a number of clear advantages to fitness companies looking at global markets. For the franchisor, it removes the need to invest capital and other substantial resources in the venture. It uses the local know how and connections of the franchisee to secure good sites. A franchise strategy will see the local partner make the bulk of the investment whilst benefiting from the knowhow, good name and quality assurance program of the fitness company acting as franchisor. Franchising enables companies to access the required capital and grow the business internationally without significant expenditure or external funding. Franchising also allows companies to attract high quality local investors. These investors are highly sophisticated and have a great incentive to make the project a success in their local market. They also have a strong understanding of the local market. So franchising not only enables you to grow your business internationally by taking advantage of the capital and resources of local investors, but also enables the local investor to have access to the blueprint of a strong proven concept with a known reputation. Few local investors have the resource and time to research their own specialist know how to put together an innovative and successful new fitness concept for the local market that would generate attractive levels of income without the trial and error that goes into building a successful new leisure business.

Preparing to Step up

However, in order to take advantage of the potential that franchising offers, one needs to plan the approach carefully. Successful leisure businesses often receive a multitude of offers from foreign real estate developers interested in taking a franchise for Russia or China or the Middle East. Whilst this may be very flattering, it is important to be discerning as many of these would be franchisees will not have the required operating experience in the sector. A franchise which has been well planned, structured and executed can have a substantial positive impact on a business but one that has been done as a response to an opportunistic approach from a foreign developer can be catastrophic. The reality is that on those relatively rare occasions where international franchises fail, this is usually due to lack of due diligence regarding local partners.

Before Jumping in

Before entering into an arrangement with a local partner the leisure company also needs to ensure that its brand is fully protected by way of trademark registrations in the target market and that any franchise fees or royalties are structured tax efficiently so as to avoid withholding taxes. That requires some expert professional advice before negotiations start. There are countries where the registration of a trademark can take between two and four years. This can result in promising negotiations aborting because the trademark situation is unclear until registration has been achieved. Early planning is therefore key.

Structures

The basic structure for international leisure franchises is straightforward. The franchisor grants the local owner the right to operate a gym at a given location for a set number of years. A gym franchise agreement will usually be for between 5 and 10 years. Where the local partner does not have operating expertise, it may want to engage a local management company to operate the property for it. This is often seen for golf or tennis clubs. Which approach is adopted depends very much on the partner and their operating experience. If they already own and operate leisure businesses, they do not need to engage a third party manager. If, however, they are new to the sector, the franchisor should insist that arrangements for quality management are put into place. This can also take the form of appropriate external hires.

In addition to the plain vanilla unit franchise for a single property, more sophisticated structures are also available and should be considered. Whilst exercise studio systems with limited equipment costs are suited to Master Franchising and direct franchising, the investment required for a large leisure club, will exceed the resources of the typical unit franchisee. Instead companies should partner with an established player that has the resource available to it to construct multiple units over an agreed period of time. This is known as area development franchising.

Management Agreements can be another attractive structure where the leisure company is able to make senior management available to run the local licensed operations. Typically, the franchisee/local investor would pay the salaries of such senior managers as well as a success related incentive fee for the management services in addition to the royalty. Incentive fees are a proven method of permitting participation by UK entities in the profit of its foreign partners without the risk and complication that goes with an equity investment.

Practical Issues

Practical matters such as importation of the exercise equipment and local health and safety rules impacting weight loss programmes and exercise require a risk analysis for each market. If the importation of exercise machines requires additional expensive testing or certification, a market may not be suitable for franchise. In some countries the owner of a fitness venue needs to hold certain qualifications and this can be an obstacle to a franchise program as the franchisee may not hold the required qualification. Weight loss programmes may have to be supervised by a qualified dietician and this could impact the cost model. The use of electronic personalised calorie counters or training data may be affected by privacy laws. It is therefore vital to undertake market research into the regulatory environment before pushing ahead.

How about joint ventures?

Local partners will often suggest a joint venture. Typically, this involves taking an equity stake in the local business and a profit and loss participation. The obvious attraction would be a profit share. But, these structures are high risk and should only be attempted by experienced global organisations with access to funding and a large budget for legal and consultancy fees. Joint ventures can result in the total loss of the cash invested and significant management time being diverted from the UK operations without any financial reward. Empirically most joint ventures fail and more recently many companies in the global sphere have converted their problem joint ventures to franchise and management type arrangements
.

四個原因為什麼In-N-Out漢堡無法擴展到東岸

四個原因為什麼In-N-Out漢堡無法擴展到東岸
Four Reasons Why In-N-Out Burger Won't Expand To The East Coast

1。品質管制 Quality control
2。獨家性 Exclusivity
3。競爭環境 Competition
4。沒有特許經營 No franchising

香港專利授權及特許經營協會(HKLFA)連合有志於專利授權及特許經營方面突圍的企業，分享大家的經驗、行業資訊，向企業及創業者推廣利用專利授權及特許經營的成功模式。如欲了解更多資訊，請瀏覽︰www.hklfa.org

資料來源︰HAYLEY PETERSON, "Buisness Insider "

Four Reasons Why In-N-Out Burger Won't Expand To The East Coast

Flickr/punctuated

In-N-Out, the cult favorite burger joint of the West Coast, has been teasing the East Coast with rumors of expansion for years.

The fast food retailer has slowly expanded eastward over its 65-year lifetime to Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and most recently Texas. The company has also been holding "pop-up shops" around the world, where burgers tend to sell out within minutes.

All signs seemingly point to a plan for expansion. 

But there are four major factors making it highly unlikely that East Coasters will get to experience the joy of an In-N-Out in their neighborhood any time soon. 

1. Quality control: There are no freezers or microwaves in any In-N-Out restaurants because the company has a strict policy of serving its food fresh. Therefore, all locations must be close to its distribution facilities, which are in Baldwin Park, Calif. and Dallas, Texas.

"At In-N-Out Burger, we make all of our hamburger patties ourselves and deliver them fresh to all of our restaurants with our own delivery vehicles," In-N-Out Vice President of Planning and Development Carl Van Fleet told Business Insider. "Nothing is ever frozen. Our new restaurant locations are limited by the distance we can travel from our patty making facilities and distribution centers."

In-N-Out owner Lynsi Torres says the burger chain's quality is what sets it apart from competitors. 

"We're not changing things like many other companies do," she told The OC Register in a February 2013 interview. "That's kept us unique; it's kept the customers feeling like we're not a sellout."

2. Exclusivity: Everything has more appeal when it's not available to everyone, and the exclusivity of In-N-Out is what has helped the restaurant gain such a rabid following of fans.

In response to pleading from a local politician for an In-N-Out to open in Denver, Van Fleet made it clear the company isn't planning to expand.

"You continue to give us the biggest compliment possible with your efforts to interest us in Colorado,” he wrote in a letter obtained by The Denver Post. "That said, at this time, we’re still not looking to add a sixth state and we’re just focusing our growth efforts in the five states where we currently operate."

3. Competition: The East Coast has a number burger joints that would offer tough competition for In-N-Out, including Shake Shack and Five Guys.

4. No franchising: In-N-Out is a family-owned company that doesn't believe in franchising. A large-scale expansion without franchising would require a massive amount of up-front capital from the company.

"In-N-Out remains privately owned and the Snyder family has no plans to take the company public or franchise any units," the company reaffirms on its website.

加菲貓的授權業務將發展到智利和墨西哥

加菲貓的授權業務將發展到智利和墨西哥

資料來源: Licensing Today Worldwide

Garfield goes global

PAWS appoints P&L Global Network to expand Garfield Brand in Mexico and Chile

P & L Global Network announced they have been appointed by Paws as the exclusive licensing agency of evergreen property Garfield for Mexico and Chile. P & L Global network will be responsible for the implementation & launching of the Licensing and promotional program.

Garfield, the most famous cat ever, is an evergreen multigenerational brand, with over 35 years in the market that maintains the delicate balance of being cool and edgy with kids, while still widely accepted and loved by parents. With over 95 % of brand familiarity, two movies, a new TV show, over 135 Million Garfield books sold, and presence in 111 countries, Garfield has become one of the coolest and most important franchises of all times.

Karen Blank, Director of International licensing at Paws slated: “Paws is happy to have retained P&L Global Network as its agent for Garfield in Mexico and Chile. We are sure that under their direction, we will see broadened awareness at all levels of distribution for Garfield.”

Fanny Salazar, Head of Licensing Division of P&L Global said, Fanny Salazar, Head of Licensing Division of P&L Global said, “Is such a pleasure for us to capitalize on the strong awareness of Garfield through multiple generations and thanks to Paws confidence on us, be able to re-launch the licensing program in Mexico and Chile. Garfield’s undeniable strong appeal will allow us to reach to different demographics and assure the success of the program.”

The Garfield program branches out to the whole family, including our beloved pets! From baby Garfield art, to cool key art for young, and a vintage / Fashion look for adults, the brand has the capacity to successfully extend into all categories, as shown in other territories. 

From DTR programs to massive promotional campaigns, to co-brandings, P&L will look to aggressively grow the program reaching thus the real potential of such an important franchise.

香港專利授權及特許經營協會(HKLFA)受到媒體及業界人士的高度關注！

有賴香港貿發局團隊，今年國際中小企博覽會 2013 World SME Expo 圓滿閉幕！香港專利授權及特許經營協會(HKLFA)十分榮幸得到來自本地、國內及海外參觀人士及媒體的踴躍垂詢。並且，在專利授權及特許經營主題下，受到媒體及業界人士的高度關注！

了解更多HKLFA的資訊，請瀏覽︰www.hklfa.org

亞洲授權業會議 2014年1月6至7日

亞洲授權業會議
2014年1月6至7日

生產成本上漲，成熟市場需求放緩，OEM企業積極尋求轉型升級，以提升競爭力。品牌授權(Licensing)是關鍵的第一步。世界頂尖授權業專家及行業翹楚將於是次由香港貿發局(HKTDC)主辦的會議，分享授權如何幫助OEM企業升級轉型。

亞洲授權業會議 2014年1月6至7日

品牌授權 - OEM企業升級轉型新契機

生產成本上漲，成熟市場需求放緩，OEM企業積極尋求轉型升級，以提升競爭力。品牌授權是關鍵的第一步。此外，亞洲及中國內地中產人口快速增長，帶動零售業迅猛發展，消費者對授權商品的需求日趨殷切，亦為授權業務帶來種種商機。世界頂尖授權業專家及行業翹楚將于亞洲授權業會議分享授權如何幫助您的企業升級轉型!

現在登記可享有 免費主論壇入場證！

馬仔、Rody錢途無限　品牌授權有門路 楊仕集團 從事OEM製作業的楊仕集團，經過升級轉型，成為品牌代理人，開拓品牌授權這門新業務，不單發展本地漫畫人物「馬仔」的授權生意，現在又取得意大利品牌彈彈馬「Rody」代理權，跟美國Fox集團、香港賽馬會、百老匯等大品牌合作。集團總裁楊志達早前接受《貿發局周訊》訪問，詳談如何透過貿發局的配對服務，成功升級轉型。 [了解更多]

亞洲授權業會議

會議日期: 2014年1月6至7日 (星期一至星期二) 會議時間: 第一天: 11:00 – 18:00 第二天: 10:00 – 15:15 會議地點: 香港灣仔博覽道一號香港會議展覽中心會議室N200 贊助機構:

亞洲授權商機

亞洲授權業會議是亞洲授權業界最大的年度盛會，有超過１０００多名來自全球的人士參與其中。會議集中探討快速增長的亞洲市場，尤其是中國內地與東盟各國的發展機遇，全球頂尖的授權業專家和行業翹楚將分享亞洲授權業的最新趨勢及經驗心得。會議亦提供一理想個平臺，讓參加者擴大業務聯繫，收集最新的市場資訊，並開拓跨行業的合作機遇，創造更多商機。

授權機遇 盡在亞洲

今年的會議主題為“授權機遇 盡在亞洲”，主論壇將集中探討亞洲授權市場的最新發展及亞洲原創品牌的授權機遇。會議更涵蓋了授權業多個範疇，包括中國授權商機、「時裝/生活時尚」品牌授權，以及「新媒體」品牌授權的趨勢等。

授權工作坊

授權工作坊在會議翌日舉行，旨在為剛開展授權業務的人士，尤其是製造商及零售商，提供實用的行業資訊。工作坊由三個環節組成，經驗豐富的業內人士將講解授權基礎知識，並透過成功案例，分享實戰技巧及最佳作業。讓參加者更容易掌握如何透過授權開拓產品類別及服務，增加市場份額，助企業升級轉型。

星級演講嘉賓包括：

Claire Gilchrist 女士 美泰東亞有限公司亞太區美泰消費品部副總裁 Stefano Saporetti 先生 法拉利品牌營運負責人 Melvin Thomas 先生 The Licensing Company Ltd. 執行總裁 Charles Riotto 先生 國際授權業協會主席 Darren Garnham 先生 Mind Candy Ltd. 首席業務發展總監/首席授權總監 王大為先生 NBA 中國全球營銷部門副總裁 Alessandro Traverso 先生 Outfit7 Ltd. 首席營運總監 Dan Amos 先生 Tinderbox Ltd. 新媒體主管

2014年會議議程

第一天 - 2014年1月6日（星期一） 時間 題目 11:00 – 11:15 開幕演講 11:15 – 12:50 主論壇 – 授權機遇 盡在亞洲 13:00 – 14:30 交流午宴 14:40 – 16:20 主題會議 – 中國： 推動全球授權業發展的火車頭 16:30 – 18:00 分組會議 (一) – 「時裝/生活時尚」品牌授權新趨勢 分組會議 (二) – 「新媒體」品牌授權 – 下一個新領域 第二天 - 2014年1月7日（星期二） 10:00 - 11:15 第一節 – 製造商和零售商如何爭取成為獲授權經營商 11:30 - 12:45 第二節 – 與授權代理合作的致勝之道 14:00 - 15:15 第三節 – 厘定品牌價值及保護知識產權

更多會議詳情，請點擊 這裡。

特別登記優惠

現在登記可享有 免費主論壇入場證！ 只需美金５０元 / 港幣３９０元便可享有以下優惠:

兩天會議入場證，參與會議及交流午宴 免費換領授權指南價值高達美金 ３０元 (數量有限，先到先得，換完即止)

名額有限，請即行動！

登記費用

A. 標準費用 i. 會議入場證   (美金150元 / 港幣1,170元) ii. 授權工作坊入場證   (美金65元 / 港幣500元) 所有亞洲授權業會議 三節授權工作坊 交流午宴 與會者可以獲取8 CPD 學分 (由香港律師會授予) Basics of Licensing by Gregory J. Battersby, Danny Simon 或 「品牌授權成功的秘密」中文版by Andrew Levy (數量有限，先到先得，換完即止。) 三節授權工作坊 與會者可以獲取3.5 CPD 學分 (由香港律師會授予)

B. 提前報名優惠(適用於2013年12月6日前登記人士) i. 會議入場證 (75折) ii. 授權工作坊入場證 (75折) 美金113元 / 港幣878元 美金49元 / 港幣375元

查詢

吳芷荍小姐 電話: (852) 2584 4510 電郵: gloria.tk.ng@hktdc.org 余珞媛小姐 電話: (852) 2584 4414 電郵: peony.lw.yu@hktdc.org

會議詳情: http://www.hktdc.com/asianlicensingconference