Interview to Malene Thomassen, from Flexa

• How and where started making business?

Since 1972, FLEXA has manufactured functional and flexible children’s furniture made from high-quality solid wood. Our main office is located in Hornsyld, Denmark and we have factories in Estonia and China.
We also have subsidiaries in France, Spain and China. Through this network of subsidiaries, we sell children’s furniture in over 25 countries.

• Why decided to start franchising?

After many years of experience with producing and selling children’s furniture, Flexa has developed a comprehensive assortment of furniture. In 1972 the idea was to build a flexible bed, but over the years the concept has expanded to also contain wardrobes, chests of drawers, textile, lamps and much more. In the late 1990’s Flexa prepared a concept suitable for franchising and in 1999 Flexa opened its first franchise shops in the US and in Asia. The year after, in 2000, the first European Flexa shop opened in Nice, France. The concept has been further developed and expanded ever since, based on experience, market trends and demands.

• How many franchises do you have?

Today Flexa has 140 franchise shops worldwide and 40 of those shops are located in Europe.

• What makes you different from other competitors?
  

The core product at Flexa is the bed made of solid pine wood. The concept is that once you have purchased a Flexa bed, it grows with the child. The single bed stands on the floor, then it can be build up as a mid-height with a slide and tower, further up as a high bed with a desk underneath and then down on the floor again for the teenagers. The Flexa assortment also includes Oeko-Tex marked textiles, which are free of chemicals and other harmful substances. Furthermore, Flexa offers wooden furniture for storage and other accessories. Because of this concept, our customers are loyal and keep coming back to our stores to update the children’s rooms.

Flexa aims to be the preferred brand and partner for the furnishing of children’s rooms worldwide. To reach this goal we produce furniture of a high quality and provide a high service level which leads to satisfied and loyal customers.

• Why are you interested in franchising in Bulgaria?

The choice of Bulgaria as our next market for franchise shops is based on experience. Today Flexa has great experience with shops north of Bulgaria in Bucharest, Romania and south of Bulgaria in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece. We see opportunities in the Bulgarian market for quality products to the children’s rooms.

• Are you planning further expansion in other countries? If yes, which?

Flexa seeks to expand on both existing markets and in new markets.

• What are your expansion plans in Bulgaria?

Expansion plans are made together with our franchisors. One advantage of making franchise corporations is that our partners have the needed knowledge and experience on the local markets to make realistic business plans. Therefore, Flexa is interested in entering the Bulgarian market – but the extent and speed is not decided beforehand.

• What’s the profile of the franchisee/Master Franchisor are you looking for?

We are searching for partners who have:

• • The necessary market knowledge: We expect that our franchisees know the opportunities and threats on the local markets
  • The will and drive to start up a new business: We expect that our franchisees are willing to work hard for success
  • In depth retail knowledge and experience: We expect that our franchisees have learned about own strengths and weaknesses, through practical work within the retail business
  • The necessary capital: We expect that our franchisees are realistic about finance. The investment level depends on factors such as location and size of shop
  • A clear and concise business plan: We expect that our franchisees make a considered investment and take all factors into account
  • A shared understanding of our values: We expect that our franchisees share our values and that we work by them as a team

• In this economic crisis, what are the main advantages of a franchise like yours?

The main advantages are based on the fact that you will be joining a team with great experience to build up successful businesses, even in challenging times.

• We adapt our business to the environment we live in, crisis or not.
• We work with 140 shops in times of recession; we have experience with the crisis.
• We have tested the concept, less of a risk for you
• We focus on creating customers who are loyal, also during a crisis
• You get a persistent support from your country manager
• You can freely use our marketing department, free of cost
• You have a close relationship with our dedicated staff, not a call centre
• You are free to do local marketing, targeted your area
• Our concept is constantly developing to fit the supply and demand in our markets

Flexa4Dreams

The Franchiser talks

Since 1972, FLEXA has manufactured functional and flexible children’s furniture made from high-quality solid wood. Our main office is located in Hornsyld, Denmark and we have factories in Estonia and China. We also have subsidiaries in France, Spain and China. Through this network of subsidiaries, we sell children’s furniture in over 25 countries.

Flexa4Dreams A/S
Contact Data
Addres:	Hornsyld Industrivej 4, DK-8783 Hornsyld, Denmark
Web:	www.flexa.dk
Email:	mst@flexa.dk
Phone:	+45 2467 3113
Fax:
Contact Person:	Malene Thomassen
Bulgaria
Franchises in Bulgaria:	0
Owned in Bulgaria:	0
Total in Bulgaria:	0
Costs
Total Investment	Approx 1.300 EUR per m2
Franchise Fee:	10.000 EUR
Ongoing royalty fee:	None
Marketing fee:	Local marketing
Term of agreement:	Franchise Contract
Others:
PoS Requirements
Surface:	The Flexa Shop Concept
Special requirements:	Minimum 100 m2
Min. Population:	500 000
International
Country of origin:	Denmark
First establishment (year):	1972
First franchise:	2000 in Europe (1999 in USA and Asia)
Establishments (total):	800 BTB customers/franchise shops
Franchises (total):	40 shops in Europe (140 Worldwide)

Interview to Patrick Lahoud, from Colombiano Coffee House

We are pleased to introduce you Patrick Lahoud, Sales & Marketing Manager at Colombiano Coffee House. Patrick decided to answer some questions about his franchise and the bulgarian market. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from him.

Patrick Lahoud’s Biography

Patrick Lahoud (Colombiano Coffee House Sales & Marketing Manager)

With 10 years experience in Sales & Marketing, an University Degree in Business Management, Patrick is an experienced Business Developer for International Franchises in the Middle East & Arab Countries and he has presented Colombiano Coffee House in the most reputable leading Franchise exhibition of the World. Additionaly, he has leaded Franchise Workshops in various Franchise conferences.

Also, here is some other information useful about Patrick:

• Diploma of Leading & Communicating & Time organizing & Groups Motivation & Decision Making & Generating Meetings Skills.
• Certified as an International Mystery Shopper for International Brands in F&B field.
• Events Management Consultant/10 years of experience
• 8 years experience in directing rehabilitation centers for drugs addicts programs.

Interview to Patrick Lahoud

BFN: How and where started making business?

Patrick Lahoud (PL): “Colombiano Coffee House”, more affectionately referred to as “CCH” or ““CCH Colombiano House”, is based on a Mythical and Old Love Story that brought together the Ambition , Love, Faithfulness and Gratitude shared among Coco, a young and beautiful woman from the area of Costa Playa,  her Grand Mama Lomalita, an excellent cook who devoted her life to teach Coco the art of preparing great tasting Food & Beverages with passion and Love ,  & the love of her heart, the Italian gentleman Fabiano who helped Coco realize her Dream of leaving her village to the city and opening her first Food and Beverage Store, a Love Story that immortalized the beautiful emotions shared between Coco,  Lomalita and Fabiano and  helped create Co.Lom.Biano , by the joining of their names.

“Colombiano Coffee House” first started franchising in the Middle East almost 3,5 years ago, as the Middle east presented a MORE  attractive economic ground for the growth of the Bistro /Cafe concepts .

Today , “Colombiano Coffee House”, is operating in Lebanon, Qatar, UAE and KSA and soon Syria, Kuwait, Cyprus.

Why decided to start franchising?

Patrick Lahoud (PL): Franchising is an excellent business model to help grow a succesful food and beverage concept

How many franchises do you have?

Patrick Lahoud (PL): 25 Branches – between opened & planned to be opened - in Lebanon, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh)

What makes you different from other competitors?

Patrick Lahoud (PL): The advantages of “Colombiano Coffee House”, with regard to the consumers (the end users)  are as follows :

• “Colombiano Coffee House” is not a coffee shop.
• “Colombiano Coffee House” is not a Sandwich shop.
• “Colombiano Coffee House” is not a pastry shop

The “Colombiano Coffee House” Concept can be easily considered as a fusion between some of the better known COFFEE  concepts in the world and  famous SANDWISH & SALADS concepts  and Well established PASTRY & ICE CREAM concepts .

At “Colombiano Coffee House”  , we serve Hot coffee based beverages (“Calientes”) , Frozen “Picoccinos” , Refreshing Fruit based Drinks (“Frescatas”) , Mouth watering pastries ( “Joyas de Luna”), Yummy ice Cream (“ Crema Divina “ ) or Healthy sandwiches & salads ( “ Bocadillos & Ensaladas”) , and in some areas , our special alcohol based cocktails .

Further , our Euro Latino / Spanish image always adds a unique flavor to the “Colombiano Coffee House” experience.

The advantages of “Colombiano Coffee House”, with regard to the Investor  are as follows:

We offer

• Two in One Concept
• Full Service OR a Self Service approach to customers
• Concept Standardization & Documentation advantage
• Standardized Store Design advantage
• Continuous Support
• Training & Training & Training & re-Training Support
• Freedom to Purchase various Raw material locally, with our support and from or approved suppliers.
• Advantage of a relatively low Construction cost of a typical coffee shop
• Flexible structure of the Franchise fees
• WIN-WIN attitude that we practice with “CCH” Franchisees

Why are you interested in franchising in Bulgaria?

Patrick Lahoud (PL):

Bulgaria has:

• A  strategic location in the center of  Europe.
• A high Tourist number in the country.

Bulgaria will have a brilliant future and we want to be a part of it

Are you planning further expansion in other countries? If yes, which?

Patrick Lahoud (PL): We look forward expanding in eastern & western Europe and the Mediterranean.

What are your expansion plans in Bulgaria?

Patrick Lahoud (PL): We look forward to working with Franchise consultants and to participate in the franchise exhibition in Sofia to promote the brand and find out the appropriate Franchisee

What’s the profile of the franchisee/Master Franchisor are you looking for?

Patrick Lahoud (PL): Regarding our business development model, we, at “Colombiano Coffee House” (“CCH”), are not interested to simply sell the “Colombiano Coffee House” franchise to the highest bidder.

We are rather interested in finding the appropriate strategic allies, dynamic partners and brands developers who have a clear vision for the growth of the business, in order to create a win – win situation for all, whereby both parties can help build the “Colombiano Coffee House” trade name successfully and further expand our Euro Latino / Spanish culture, and, thereby, generate the maximum profit possible to all concerned.

In this economic crisis, what are the main advantages of a franchise like yours?

The bistro/Coffee Shops business wasn’t affected seriously by the last and recent economical crisis, because the Bistros/ Cafes have the lowest average ticket that customers would pay, and by contrary in the time of crisis we faced increase in sales, because people would rather choose going to the lower average ticket restaurant than the higher ones.

Are you offering any services/support for international companies if they are willing to penetrate the Arabian, GCC, markets?

Yes, for sure.

We, as Accelerate S.A.L, are specialized in the franchise business in the MENA and GCC Region.

We are proposing our headquarters in Lebanon as a logistical platform for many international franchises, to benefit from our Franchise development experience in our region.

At present, we offer Operational, Technical, Financial, Marketing and Advertising professional services, in addition to the after sales Audit, Support and Re – Training.

Thank you very much.

Thanks to you Patrick! And good luck with your business in Bulgaria!

If you are interested in franchising with Colombiano Coffee House, or making business with Accelerate S.A.L., take a look to their franchising sheet.

Colombiano Coffee House

Colombiano Coffee House is based on a mythical and Old love story that brought together Coco from Costa Rica, her Grand Mama Lomalita & the love of her heart, the Italian gentleman Fabiano, and helped create Co.Lom.Biano , by the joining of their names (for more information about our love story, pls visit our website at www.colombianocoffeehouse.com)

Whether serving Hot coffee based beverages (“Calientes”) , Frozen “Picoccinos” , Refreshing Fruit based Drinks ( “ Frescatas”) , Mouth watering pastries ( “Joyas de Luna”) , Yummy ice Cream (“ Crema Divina “ ) or Healthy sandwiches & salads ( “ Bocadillos & Ensaladas”) , our Euro Latino / Spanish image always adds a unique flavor to the coffee house experience.

In practice, one of our various advantages is that we can be considered as being a “two in one” concept, instead of just being just a Coffee Shop or a Tea shop or a Donut shop:

• We offer an extensive experience in the Coffee & Beverage category like other super well known coffee shop concepts.

• We also offer an extensive experience in the Sandwiches and Salads category like other super well known Sandwich & Salads outlets.

• For more information about the conditions you can take a look to these documents:
  • Introduction.
  • Franchise Information Memorandum.

Colombiano Coffee House
Contact data
Address	Beirut - Lebanon
Web	www.colombianocoffeehouse.com
Email	pl@colombianocoffeehouse.com
Phone	+961 1 285 080
Fax	+961 1 284 930
Contact person	Mr. Patrick Lahoud
Franchises in Bulgaria	0
Owned in Bulgaria	0
Total in Bulgaria	0
Costs
Total Investment	100.000$ - 300.000$/Per Shop
Franchise Fee part 1	Multi- Unit(territory) fee: 150.000$(for 1 to 5 shops)
Franchise Fee part 2	opening, operation & administration fee 30 000$/per shop
Ongoing royalty fee	7.5% of gross sales
Marketing fee	0% of sales to Franchisor- 5 % of gross sales , recommended to be spent by Franchisee on local store marketing
Term of agreement	10 years renewable
PoS requirements
Surface	100 - 300 square meters
Special requirements
Min. Population	50.000 people/outlet
More information
Country of origin	Colombiano Coffe House is based on mythical Love story originating in Costa Rica
First establishment	UK - Lebanon
First franchise	Lebanon
Establishments (total)	15 shops
Franchises (total)	3 (Lebanon - UAE - Qatar)

Fornetti will open a 6 million euros production plant in Bulgaria

Through Seenews (quoting Pari) we know Fornetti plans to make an investment of 6 million € along this year, in autumn, to build a factory. It will be located close to Sofia, in Ihtiman.

This won’t be a surprise for our readers, because we talked about this in our report about franchising in Bulgaria.

All of you who read it will know Fornetti is a leading Hungarian company in the pastry food. Its main competitor is Lakis (its Bulgarian equivalent). If you didn’t know this (or rembered) you can check again our report, in the Fast Food section.

Original news source: Seenews.

Romstal plans further expansion in Bulgaria

As we can read in Wall-Street, the romanian company is expanding in eastern Europe. The company already counts with 90 own shops and 110 franchises, in several countries of Eastern Europe (including Bulgaria) and Italy.

In Bulgaria, according to their Website, they have two franchises, both in Sofia.

Their activity sector is sanitation equipment distributor.

Here is the original article.

You can find more information about the company in their website (only in romanian) and in Wikipedia.

Image: Romstal website.

Coldwell Banker

 

The Franchisor talks

COLDWELL BANKER is the world’s highest revenue generating real estate service brand and twelfth overall amongst franchised businesses pursuant to Franchise Times rankings. The system offers prospective local investors an array of patented programs and packages which distinguishes its affiliates from others in the industry, and therefore helps increase market share standing in any local market. The COLDWELL BANKER system is built on specialization, where specific service lines are independently divested. COLDWELL BANKER network is comprised of 3600 offices and 110,000 sales associates, all of whom are integrated in a powerful global system, which is tailored to support international business, and affiliations with top organizations, who very much trust our brand. For investors seeking a highly profitable business with high equity appreciation potential and flexible means for inexpensive expansion, our franchise programs shall surely capture your interest.

Coldwell Banker
Contact Data
Addres: 66 Zahrat el Maadi Tower Cairo, Egypt
Web: www.cb-ia.com
Email: mohamed.amin@cb-ia.com
Phone: +20225258111
Fax:  + 20225258666
Contact Person: Mohamed Amin
Bulgaria
Franchises in Bulgaria: 0
Owned in Bulgaria: 0
Total in Bulgaria: 0
Costs
Total investment: 2 million Euros
Franchise Fee: Negotiable
Ongoing royalty fee: available upon request
Marketing fee: available upon request
Term of agreement: 20 years for exclusive partners

Contours Express

The Franchisor talks

We began franchising in 1998 in the United States, and internationally in 2003.  We currently have over 500 franchises, with almost 200 franchises in the US, and over 300 franchises internationally in 27 different countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, India, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom- and we are expanding rapidly worldwide!  Women across the world, many whom have never even been to a gym before, are embracing our concept.

Contours Express is a ladies only fitness club that offers women both a comfortable and fun place to exercise and easy to follow weight loss program.  The exercise program only takes 29 minutes, three days per week. Our clubs are especially designed for women, regardless of their skill level, who prefer to exercise in comfort and privacy.  Club members receive personal attention and enjoy fun social experience as they realize their fitness and weight loss goals.  Our unique selling points include.

Our business model focuses on a huge and unserved market with little competition.  Our competition is not a full service coed gym.  Our franchisees’ customers include an enormous market sector of women who would not visit a full service coed gym.  Most Contours Express members have never exercised before, are older, or simply prefer to exercise in a comfortable, fun environment where they receive personal attention and full support to meet and exceed their fitness and weight loss goals. Our franchise offers a fitness program that is safe, fun, effective, which alternates between cardio vascular (aerobic) exercise and weight training.  All of our equipment is specially designed to better fit a woman’s body and our program also allows women of all skill levels to exercise together in a positive and supportive environment.  Our weight loss program stands alone as effective, safe, and thorough.  We do not rely on the use of drugs, chemicals, or fad technique diets. Instead, we offer a trusted and proven program that works!

The cost to purchase a franchise and enter into your own business is extremely low in comparison to the cost of starting your own business independently.  Not to mention, out initial start-up costs are extremely low compared to the costs of other franchises.  The costs include a full training course, equipment, wall charts, and cue tapes.  A franchisee would expect to spend between $30,000 and $50,000 to become fully operational and can become profitable in as little as four months.  The royalty payments are not only low, but are fixed.  Therefore, you do not pay for your success—you keep your profit.

Contours Express
Contact Data
Addres:	156 Imperial Way Nicholasville, Kentucky 40356 USA
Web:	www.ContoursExpressIntl.com
Email:	Julia@ContoursExpressIntl.com
Phone:	+1 859 241 2230
Fax:	+1 859 241 2234
Contact Person:	Julia Fogle
Bulgaria
Franchises in Bulgaria:	0
Owned in Bulgaria:	0
Total in Bulgaria:	0
Costs
Total investment:	$50,000 USD
Franchise Fee:	$35,500 USD
Ongoing royalty fee:	$395 a month (Fixed)
Marketing fee:	0
Term of agreement:	10 years
Others:
PoS Requirements
Surface:	120 square meters
Special requirements:	None
Min. Population:	10 000
International
Country of origin:	United States
First establishment (year):	1995
First franchise:	1998
Establishments (total):	1
Franchises (total):	500

Naturhouse opens its first store in Bulgaria

As we say in our report, Naturhouse, the diet-food Spanish franchise, was very interested in the bulgarian market.

At the beggining of this year, they opened its first shop in Burgas, and they plan to open 129 more in the next 7 years.

The master franchise in Bulgaria is Ivaylo Roussinov.

Source: Tormo (Spanish).

Logo and image: Naturhouse

Trial

 

    

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