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In The News

Learning from lockdown: one franchisor's story 4th August 2020

4 August 2020 - Keeping things humming even during lockdown was a top priority for business owners, so Westpac asked Brad Jacobs of The Coffee Club to share the story of how they temporarily shut down 66 franchises and built an online presence in just one week.

Franchise education for young lawyers 4th August 2020

29 July 2020 – In a New Zealand first, AUT is offering an undergraduate level paper in franchise law

Franchisee ‘perhaps NZ’s worst employer?’ 4th August 2020

August 2020 - A recent news story about a Bottle-O franchisee has again demonstrated the risk to franchise brands of franchisees breaching their employment responsibilities to migrant workers

Free webinar: Business after Redundancy 31st July 2020

30 July 2020 - With unemployment on the increase, many people are facing the prospect of redundancy through no fault of their own. One option to consider is buying your own business – but how do you make a safe and sensible decision? To help you, we’re running a special webinar session on Tuesday 11 August.

National suggests unemployed should access KiwiSaver funds to start up businesses 29th July 2020

29 July 2020 – A National Party plan to allow unemployed workers to access their KiwiSaver retirement fund to start a business has been criticised by a KiwiSaver provider

'Simply not fair' - Franchise sector renews calls for action on rents 21st July 2020

The Franchise Association has renewed calls for action to force landlords to negotiate on rents, saying that some very successful long-term businesses are facing bankruptcy owing to the actions of a few landlords who are not prepared to make allowances for cashflow damage caused by lockdown. If well-supported franchisees are having such issues, how much harder must it be for independent business owners? Listen to this morning's RNZ interview with Kathryn Ryan of Nine to Noon featuring Robyn Pickerill of FANZ, Brad Jacobs of The Coffee Club and Bird on a Wire, and Stephen Mansfield of Quest Apartments.

Burger King US urges diet change for farting cows 17th July 2020

Burger King has released an advertisement encouraging US farmers to change cow diets in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The controversial video ad features children in cowboy hats singing about the impact methane gas emitted due to cow flatulence has on global warming.

Burger King claims adding lemongrass to cow diets could ease digestion and dramatically reduce methane emissions, but farm leaders say the ad is 'condescending and hypocritical'. Some scientists also criticised Burger King's message and its focus on cow flatulence, with one saying that early all enteric methane from cattle is from belching. 'Suggesting otherwise turns this serious climate topic into a joke.' The advert has already been watched over 3 million times on YouTube.

Online forums address franchisor team roles 29th June 2020

June 2020 – New online forums offer a fresh approach to the professional development of franchisor teams

Private company invests in Caci franchisor 28th June 2020

29 June 2020 – Caci have announced a new partnership with the country’s leading private company investor

Franchise Summit launched for October 26th June 2020

June 2020 - A one-day Franchise Summit planned for October will help franchises re-focus

Speaking terms - buying and selling a franchise 25th June 2020

What happens to the franchise agreement when you buy or sell an existing franchise? Michael Bright provides a brief guide

Rent negotiation bill stalled again 24th June 2020

25 June 2020 – Franchisees could lose their businesses and staff their jobs after long-awaited rent relief legislation delayed again

Four Square franchisee is local business hero 15th June 2020

16 June 2020 - Four Square Waikanae Beach franchisee Quoc Tran has been named the National Winner of the Prospa Local Business Hero Awards. Tran has run the store for nine years, with wife Thuy Vu. Tran says it feels good to help the community in the same way others have helped him. That includes helping elderly people do their shop and carrying their groceries out to the car, and treating local kids to a free ice cream on their birthday.

Tran fled Vietnam in 1988, spending six years in refugee camps in Hong Kong and the Philippines before finally arriving in New Zealand in 1994. He told Stuff that he doesn’t dwell on it too much, but says it was 'a very hard life' and it has fired his determination to work hard and embrace all that being a Kiwi has to offer.

Licked - icy end for breakaway ice cream franchise 15th June 2020

16 June 2020 - Core Enterprises, the master franchisee for ice cream retailer Shake Shed, has gone into liquidation. The company was created when Chang Xi, the New Zealand master franchisee for Wendy's Supa Sundaes in New Zealand, decided to split from Wendy's owner GFRG following a change of supplier and persuaded his franchisees to follow him. In 2018, the High Court in Tauranga found that Xi and the franchisees had breached their franchise agreements with GFRG and Shake Shed was ordered to pay $5.5m to GFRG for the breach. Read more.

UK company prevents ex-franchisee copying system 11th June 2020

12 June 2020 - Water Babies International has obtained an interim injunction in Wellington against a former franchisee and her cousin who established a business with a similar name, systems, locations and schedule. It's the latest example of franchisors taking court action to protect their Intellectual Property, and a reminder to franchisees that they can't just change the name and carry on in the same business. We will look at other recent restraint of trade cases in the next issue of Franchise New Zealand magazine.

Rent action update: start negotiating now 9th June 2020

10 June 2020 - What do the Government's proposed measures to force commercial rent negotiation actually mean, and when can franchisees start to use them to bring landlords to the table?

Taco Bell to open second NZ store 9th June 2020

10 June 2020 - Taco Tuesday is about to get real for Auckland urbanites. Taco Bell will open their second New Zealand restaurant in the heart of the Auckland CBD at midday on Tuesday 16th June.

McDonald's axes Georgie Pie 8th June 2020

9 June 2020 - Seven years after McDonald's brought back Georgie Pie to widespread excitement, the company is taking them off the menu again due to lack of demand. 'We know there will be disappointed Georgie Pie fans out there, and this is not a decision we have taken lightly,' said Dave Howse, McDonald’s New Zealand’s managing director. Existing stock of the single flavour offered, Steak Mince 'N' Cheese Pies, will be run down over the next few weeks. They have already been withdrawn from some outlets.

'It's the brand that, for many people, defined a Kiwi childhood,' we wrote back in 2013, when the return of Georgie Pie made the front cover of Franchise New Zealand. A campaign to bring it back attracted over 57,000 likes on its Facebook page, and when McDonald's launched its initial trial, 'The hordes rushed in and we got absolutely slammed,' reported Mark Rush, who owned the Queen Street, Auckland, franchise. But, like the original Georgie Pie concept which lasted barely 20 years, it wasn't sustainable in the long term, even though the pies were sold through existing McDonald's restaurants rather than stand-alone stores. Tastes have moved on, and further 'Bring back Georgie Pie' campaigns seem unlikely to succeed. Read our original coverage of the return of Georgie Pie here.

Keep NZ safe - get official QR tracer code posters 8th June 2020

New Zealanders have taken a big hit to get on top of Covid-19, but now there are no live cases and we're returning to Level 1. It's up to businesses and people to play their part in staying on top of it, though, and contact tracing will be vital in the event of a new outbreak. Businesses should still display the official NZ Covid-19 Tracer QR code posters wherever customers or visitors enter the premises - get your posters here.

Understand what you're signing up for 6th June 2020

The story of a franchisee who feels let down by his franchisor over the terms of a work guarantee shows that you need to take advice and understand what you're signing up for when you buy a franchise. The lawnmowing franchisee says he expected a guaranteed income of $1000 a week, but had earned less than half that. The franchisor says it had offered him work opportunities in excess of an average $1345 per week which he had refused or not submitted quotes for. Susan Edmunds of Stuff talked to both parties, plus franchise experts.

Rent action: thanks for nothing 3rd June 2020

4 June 2020 - Proposed action on a deal to force commercial rent negotiations after months of inactivity is being condemned as 'too little, too late'

BurgerFuel and top chef launch new gourmet product 2nd June 2020

2 June 2020 - BurgerFuel has joined forces with Al Brown & Co. to create a limited edition burger with some New York deli flavour

Toyota offers free cars to get small businesses moving 1st June 2020

2 June 2020 - To mobilise and support small businesses impacted by Covid-19, Toyota New Zealand will provide 100 businesses with a free SUV for 12 months

Franchisees upset at lockdown fees 26th May 2020

Owners of Green Acres lawnmowing franchises are upset to have been been asked to continue paying weekly royalty fees during the level 4 lockdown, according to a report in Stuff. While some other franchises suspended fees and other levies altogether while franchisees were unable to work, a Green Acres spokeswoman said the company had frozen fees which franchisees could pay back later.

Economic outlook and the impact on franchising 14th May 2020

May 2020 - Westpac’s latest Quarterly Economic Overview suggests that Covid-19 will cast a shadow over the economy for years, but that recovery will be faster than after the GFC. What impact will this have on franchising?

Facing redundancy? The pros and cons of buying a franchise 12th May 2020

April 2020 - Redundancy could turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you, but don't rush into anything. Here are some tips on what to look for if you're considering buying your own business

From stress to success 12th May 2020

V.I.P. provides the tools, training and support to help you start a new life

Helping franchisees #10 – The rise of online shopping 12th May 2020

In the last of our lockdown case studies, we talk to InXpress about the impact of Covid-19, and the impact of the growth of online shopping

Helping franchisees #9 – taking social responsibility 11th May 2020

With all sorts of businesses facing unprecedented times, how are big franchisors helping both their franchisees and the wider community? We talk to one of New Zealand’s best-known brands (and least-known franchisors), Anchor

Survey shows need for action on commercial leases; is NZ First blocking Government approach?? 10th May 2020

10 May 2020 – Updated: NZ First said to be blocking Government action on commercial rents; new survey reveals extent of problem

Download a free contact tracing register 1st May 2020

As the nation’s businesses get back to work this week under Alert Level 3, CrestClean has produced some handy free resources to help them keep compliant. The franchise has taken the Government’s guidelines to design a Contact Tracing Register plus some useful signage. They are the basic signage requirements to equip premises to trade under Alert Level 3. You can print these highly visible aids to assist your organisation’s compliance; they are available to download here from the CrestClean website.

Redundancy – time to be your own boss? 29th April 2020

April 2020 – Facing redundancy? Simon Lord discusses the pros and cons of buying a franchise

PM promises action on commercial rents 29th April 2020

29 April 2020 – Jacinda Ardern has responded to requests from business and industry groups for Government action to bring landlords to the negotiating table

Helping franchisees through Covid-19 - case studies and further information 24th April 2020

How does being part of a franchise help when the unthinkable happens and the whole country goes into lockdown? We’ve been finding out what franchisors are doing for their franchisees.

Associations present united front on commercial leases 23rd April 2020

24 April 2020 – Business and industry groups including the Franchise Association are requesting Government action to bring landlords to the negotiating table

Helping franchisees #7 – Preparing to Re-open 22nd April 2020

How are franchisors helping their franchisees prepare to re-open once we move down from Level 4? BurgerFuel has been working on it from the start of lockdown – we asked them to tell us how they’ve approached a situation no-one ever expected

Relief for businesses - updated 22nd April 2020

Helping franchisees #6 – Home & Building Services 20th April 2020

When you’re running a small business, sometimes it’s hard to find the time to plan ahead. One of the benefits of being a franchisee can be that your franchisor has done that for you. We talk to Tony Burnette of Exceed about being prepared and how it’s paid off

Helping franchisees #5 – the Banker’s View 17th April 2020

Westpac’s Franchise Team has been working with franchisors and franchisees throughout New Zealand to find practical solutions to the cashflow crisis caused by Covid-19

Small business support inadequate, says FANZ 17th April 2020

17 April 2020 - FANZ demands consultation, more action to support small business

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