Franchise winners recognised as best in business

Franchise winners recognised as best in business

Twenty franchisors, franchisees and service providers from across New Zealand were honoured on 12 November at the 22nd Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards held at The Grand Millenium Hotel Auckland. Over 200 franchisors, franchisee owners, industry support businesses and their colleagues attended the Awards presentation and Gala dinner.

The Supreme Winners were SKEW NZ Ltd - Mister Minit St Lukes, Auckland for Westpac New Zealand Franchisee of the Year and Signature Homes for Westpac New Zealand Franchise System of the year.

New Zealand success Traffic owners of Refresh Renovations won the BEST EMERGING FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR with their new franchise

Zones Landscaping Specialists.

The company has only been established for 18 months but already has offices in Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Palmerston North, Wellington and Hamilton.

“We have been able to utilise best practise systems already developed by Refresh Renovations and combined with kiwis love of landscaping built a great business” said Matt Steele, Director of Zones Landscaping Specialists.

There over 400 franchised businesses in NZ employing over 100,000 people and contributing over 20 billion to the NZ economy.

Hosts the Franchise Association of New Zealand, worked in collaboration with the Business Excellence Foundation, to evaluate entries against the Baldridge criteria which is recognised as a very comprehensive business standard.

This year the Franchise association celebrated 20 years in New Zealand, promoting best practice franchising. The association offers educational, networking and mentoring opportunities enabling clients to establish their own business with the support of a larger, experienced franchise network with a history of success.

Paramount Franchise Services Director Paul Brown said of their success “I think we won the award for FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR CATEGORY BUSINESS SERVICES because our franchisees are very customer focused and we are very focused on our franchisees. We provide a lot of mentoring to them to ensure their success and they are all part of our family".

Paramount has 167 franchisees nationwide, including the Chatham Islands.

MYOB Head of SME NZ Ingrid Cronin-Knight, winner of the Service Provider of the Year Category mentioned in her thank you speech a similar theme. “This event is one of the most authentic business experiences I’ve had recently. People have been talking about having 40 year friendships and we have been sharing pictures of our families at our table”.

The Franchisee Association of New Zealand (FANZ) also undertakes Government advocacy on behalf of their members, representation through a collective voice to media to ensure that franchising is positively promoted There is an extensive network of franchise support professionals, lawyers, consultants, accountants, HR advisors, publishers and business advisors who specialize in supporting the franchise area.

The Hon Paul Goldsmith Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Associate Minister for ACC attended the event and commented “that there is no simpler form of public service than being involved in business and congratulated the nominees on making peoples live better by doing so”.

The FANZ Conference and the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards, plus the regular Speaker Breakfasts and After 4’s are all key events of FANZ, which encourage, sharing and learning, the promotion of Best Practice Franchising.

“When you are in a franchise you are in a business for yourself but not by yourself” says Brad Jacobs, Chairman Franchise Association of New Zealand.

FANZ is a member of the World Franchise Council and the Asia Pacific Franchise Council and continually works to network and stay informed on franchising issues around the world.

“I congratulate all the winners and acknowledge the time and effort required to enter the awards but hope that the process itself has given each entrant some time to focus on their business and make adjustments for continual improvement. The Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards is a stunning evening to celebrate excellence in Franchising. Westpac has been a true supporter of franchising and the Franchise Association with a strong depth of commitment for which we wholeheartedly acknowledge them” says CEO of the Franchise Association of New Zealand, Robyn Pickerill.

If you are considering purchasing a franchise always look for the Franchise Member association logo, as part of your due diligence. “It is a sign of the Franchisors commitment to Best Practice Franchising and your journey to success, with our support” says Pickerill.

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WINNERS OF THE WESTPAC NEW ZEALAND FRANCHISE AWARDS

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT - FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR Fastway Couriers NZ

FIELD MANAGER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY

HOME & LIFESTYLE UNDER 500K

Sofia West Green Acres Franchise Group

HOME & LIFESTYLE OVER 500K

Brad Hay GM Super Liquor Holdings Ltd

RETAIL, FOOD & BEVERAGE OVER 500K

Greg Hoar National Operations Manager Super Liquor Holdings Ltd

BUSINESS SERVICES OVER 500K

Sangeetha Shaikh - Paramount Franchise Services Ltd

BEST EMERGING FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR

Zones Landscaping Specialists

MASTER FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR

Oporto Franchising NZ Ltd

EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT - SYSTEM OF THE YEAR

Dream Doors NZ Ltd

MEDIA CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

The Coffee Club Franchising (NZ) Ltd

SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

MYOB

FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR CATEGORY

BUSINESS SERVICES

Fastway Couriers (Wairarapa)

RETAIL, FOOD AND BEVERAGE

SKEW NZ, Mister Minit, St Lukes

HOME SERVICES

Vogue Homes t/a Signature Homes Bay of Plenty

LIFESTYLE SERVICES

Just Cabins - Northland

FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR CATEGORY

BUSINESS SERVICES

Paramount Franchise Services Ltd

RETAIL, FOOD AND BEVERAGE

Mister Minit NZ Ltd

HOME SERVICES

Signature Homes Ltd

LIFESTYLE SERVICES

Just Cabins

SUPREME AWARDS

WESTPAC FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR

Skew NZ LTD - Mister Minit - St Lukes

WESTPAC FRANCHISE SYSTEM OF THE YEAR

Signature Homes Ltd

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What does it mean to be a member of the Franchise Association of New Zealand?

A member of the Franchise Association of New Zealand offers a high level

of credibility as they have submitted their documentation for scrutiny to ensure that their Franchise Agreements contain all the elements required under the Association’s Codes of Ethics, Code of Practice and Rules. Some of the key elements required are:

All franchisor members must provide you with a disclosure document containing all the key details about the franchise.

1. You will receive the necessary information in good time to make a sound decision.

2. You will be encouraged to take proper legal and financial advice, and asked to provide evidence that you have done so, or if you decline to take advice you will be asked to sign a statement to that effect.

3. All franchisor members offer a seven day cooling-off period, which means that you have seven days after entering into the agreement to reconsider and formally withdraw.

4. All franchisor members offer a simple dispute resolution process in their agreements to protect the ongoing relationship.

5. A member also signs up to the requirement to alternative dispute resolution options, which may result in the appointment of a mediator.

6. Only Franchise Association members are bound by the Franchising Code of Practice and the Code of Ethics.

For more information refer to www.franchiseassociation.org.nz

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