This blog post marks the beginning of our new monthly feature, which will analyse some of the biggest news stories from the franchise industry in South Africa and beyond. This month's edition includes the exciting events organised by the Franchise Association of South Africa in June, along with updates from some of our favourite brands.
The Franchise Association of South Africa's Events
The Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) held two significant events this month. The FASA Awards for Excellence in Franchising recognised the industry's key franchisors and franchisees and the important role these brands play in creating jobs within South Africa. The annual awards, sponsored by Sanlam, took place in Gauteng on June 7th. FASA also held their annual Franchise Convention and Franchise Expo in June. The Franchise Convention preluded the Expo events and featured over 50 speakers discussing how successful franchising can be, with each speaker tackling a different aspect of the industry. The Franchise Expo, held in the continent's largest shopping mall, Gauteng's Mall of Africa, featured displays from franchises from all across the industry. Over 17 different sectors were widely represented, including home improvement, retail, food and business-to-business franchises. The Expo also featured many informative events, including 21 seminars which were open to the public. These three FASA events all highlighted the viability of the South African franchise industry; the country has consistently demonstrated that it is a fertile environment for prospective franchisees and business owners.
A New Look for Eazi-Apps
Eazi-Apps allows franchisees to create apps for businesses in order to increase sales and reduce costs. Eazi-Apps recently announced that the franchise was to undergo an exciting rebrand, and this rolled out across all Eazi-Apps franchises at the end of May. The existing design was six years old and has been refreshed, featuring a modern blue colour palette, new font and improved logo. These changes were implemented in an effort to reflect the exciting developments that have affected the Eazi-App franchise over the course of the last six years, including expansion into new markets, improved technology and the introduction of new products and services to Eazi-Apps customers. The fresh new logo was created to embody the dynamic, modern aesthetic and smart approach to business, technology and product design that Eazi-Apps exudes.
A+ Students' Summer Clubs
The A+ Students franchise helps children to learn important maths skills, starting with students as young as two. A+ Students held holidays clubs during the month of June for students who missed classes during the school term, or simply wanted to do some revision. These clubs are set to continue throughout July to maximise the availability for students. Children who are not currently enrolled with A+ Students can also avail of the holiday club services and enjoy a free A+ Play introductory lesson. These holiday clubs create a positive environment for children to socialise during the summer, while also fostering important education skills.
New Locations for Jon Smith Subs
The Jon Smith Subs franchise network continues to expand, providing fresh and delicious subs and grilled sandwiches to customers all over the world. The brand recently opened its first location in Las Vegas and celebrated the occasion by offering free subs for a year to the first 50 customers. The franchise is set to open 13 more locations throughout America, including stores in Florida, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. In other exciting news, Jon Smith Subs is also set for international expansion; the franchise is due to open its first location in Australia. The move was announced at the recent Sydney Trade Show. Jon Smith Subs stores are set to open in all major Australian markets, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin. The master franchise rights for the UK, Portugal, South Africa and Colombia have also been secured.