Suppliers compete for excellence awards

Source:	The Sunday Age The Sunday Herald
Date:	29 June 2008

Suppliers compete for excellence awards

The Franchise Council of Australia has received a record field of entries for this year's Excellence in Franchising Awards.

For the first time, the awards will recognise service providers and suppliers.

These are the lawyers, accountants, advisers, IT and HR people - in fact any person or company that adds value to a franchise system's performance.

The winner will receive a new award Supplier of the Year at the premier franchising event of the year, the National Franchise Convention 2008, in Sydney in October.

The Supplier Award acknowledges the important role advisers play in helping franchisors and franchisees to innovate, broaden their horizons or sharpen their business performance.

Every FCA award across the board has tangible, measurable value beyond the recognition and thrill of winning.

If a company is turning a corner in the right direction, the award helps it accelerate down its new road, telling the staff they are doing something right, and making their phones ring with new callers and new business.

It also attracts applications from bright new talent to come on board.

A winner's outbound communications, from stationery and livery, to media coverage and advertising, show peers and the public a fresh smiling face.

Award recipients have reported experiencing an upward spiral in their image, which strengthened their brand.

Some companies have told the FCA that participating is a prize itself, regardless of who wins the award.

Meeting the disciplines required by the submission throws light on business strengths and weaknesses, enhancing the possibility of self analysis benefits, and potentially saving on the cost of using external consultants.

The Awards are a worthwhile endeavour for any company looking for that competitive advantage.

What last year's winners said:

Andrew Robertson, Worldwide Online Printing, Franchisee of the Year 2007:

News of the win is starting to spread through recent media coverage, particularly in national business magazines.
It's vindicated some of the scarier BHAGS (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) that we've taken on as a team. Winning the award has boosted my energy levels and motivation.
I 'm also more confident that much bigger things are possible than many people may allow themselves to believe.
The award is proof that the Worldwide franchise system works.

Michael Paul, CEO - Pack and Send, awarded Franchisor of the Year:

(From winning the award) our brand awareness indicators (website visitors, customer phone traffic, sales revenue etc) are all at record levels.
The increased profile of the brand has led to higher levels of franchisee inquires.

Dirk Spence, Howard's Storage World, Aust. Export Franchise of the Year:

A rewarding experience at both a local level and in the global business arena.
Since winning we have received franchising inquires from all over the world.
Adds further credibility to Howard's Storage World's international franchise model.
We are being recognised as a successful global brand.

Image Caption:
Above: 2007 award winner, Worldwide Online Printing of Mt Waverley, is following up by going green. All 88 centres nationwide will soon be selling environmentally friendly products, including the recycled and sustainably sourced paper pictured.