Entrepreneurship is what makes the world go round.
You may, however, be concerned about starting a new business opportunity against a backdrop of international economic and financial turmoil.
Consider, though, that history has shown that recessionary times often serve as the incubator for innovative ideas.
There is often a new dynamism that emerges during and after tough economic times, which fosters the creation of new concepts and innovative services leading to new opportunities.
Franchising is traditionally the business sector that is the first to pick up a trend and to identify a gap in the marketplace.
It then forges ahead, perfecting and packaging concepts, ready to duplicate them and take them to the market through the franchise format.
Changes in lifestyle, whether influenced by economic upheavals and even environmental concerns, will affect people’s needs, and in this respect franchising is in the forefront of innovation.
According to Jan Davel, chairman of the Franchising Association of South Africa (Fasa), this bodes well for franchising.
“It is testament to the sound principles of the franchise business system that our sector is still flourishing, and, of course, to the entrepreneurial spirit of its franchisors and franchisees, he says.
“Our role now is to play our part in creating those five million jobs by 2020 that President Zuma and the cabinet are intent on achieving.”
Davel urges entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs to visit this year’s International Franchise Expo, which is on from today until Saturday at the Sandton Convention Centre in Joburg.
Who will be exhibiting at the franchise expo? A wide range of business sectors from fast food to automotive products; from home services to education; from business-to-business services to entertainment and leisure; from retail to real estate.
Why attend? You might be in a dead-end job, wishing you could start your own business but not sure how to go about it. The world may be in a recession but the cycle of recovery is never far behind and soon the economy will be growing and prospering. Now is the time to investigate the opportunities in starting your own business.
What can you learn from attending the expo? Assessing a business opportunity can be a time-consuming exercise.
The expo is your one-stop shop – from the exhibitor manual that gives you tips on what questions to ask to the various consultants on hand to the banks who will advise you on funding your business; from the lawyers who will help you follow the right legal path to the consultants and Fasa who will answer all your questions.
Be part of the conversation – a Speaker’s Corner within the IFE exhibition hall will hold ongoing presentations on various subjects ranging from tackling the challenge of change to making a success of your business.
All your questions will be answered at these sessions that are held daily. The talks are free.
Attend the Fasa Business Convention. If you want to know what is happening on the political front, find out when the economy will start growing, how new laws will affect your business and how to make a success of your retail operation, then the business convention is a must-attend event.
It takes place alongside the expo at the Sandton Convention Centre on Friday and costs R1 495.
Entry to the International Franchise Expo is R50.
l For more information, visit www.ife.co.za.
For bookings e-mail: giuli@gocomms.co.za.
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