Macao Franchise Expo (MFE), in its sixth year, attracted greater numbers of exhibitors from both home and abroad than in previous editions.
Franchisors said that they attended the event with the purpose of expanding their market opportunities in Macao, Hong Kong, Mainland China and other parts of Asia. From contacts made at the event, franchisors said they believed there would be a good chance of finding ideal matches and realising new business opportunities.
Attendees said consultation services had been effective in assisting investors as well as enterprises. There was an acknowledgement among visitors that MFE had created exceptional opportunities.
This year the overseas exhibitors included a hair salon brand from Malaysia, which said it already had franchisees in six jurisdictions and is expecting to expand into three more this year. The franchisor concerned said it sets up a clear system for its franchisees, assisting them with opening stores, doing promotion, training and ongoing support. The franchisor said it had moderate success in finding potential partners during the course of 2014MFE.
Also at the expo was a Latvian skincare brand that features natural products. The brand has 12 franchisees in Mainland China and expects to recruit 20 more in Mainland China this year. It is targeting expansion in Macao and Hong Kong. The firm was upbeat about business opportunities although it had not received a lot of inquiries.
A Japanese company specialising in comic characters and animation said it already has a good reputation in Macao and Hong Kong but has not yet recruited any franchisees in these regions. It wishes to expand in Macao, Hong Kong, Mainland China and other Asian markets via franchising. The firm said it had achieved satisfactory outcomes in terms of levels of interest among attendees.
Local exhibitors at the expo included a photography studio specialising in portraits of children. The business is making its third appearance at an edition of MFE. It wishes to recruit franchisees via a range of franchising models. The studio offers to assist franchisees in opening chain stores by providing operational training. The firm is also willing to consider partnerships with investors that already have a photography studio, and can also link franchisees with clients seeking photography services in Macao. The studio also recruits franchisees in the distribution of children's clothing.
The franchisor accumulated experience from past MFE events and designed its own franchising model, hoping to find ideal matches. It achieved the desired outcomes this year, with a number of visitors showing interest in becoming franchisees.
A catering company had its first exhibition this year, hoping to network with other exhibitors, accumulate experience and develop its reputation. It is still exploring the options in franchising and chain operations. As a result, it has not done any deals so far. The exhibitor believed it had met its objective of obtaining experience through the expo, and this will help the company's future expansion.
Professional visitors said that MFE had achieved a sustained growth in the number of exhibitors year–on-year, with increased international exhibitors and a wider variety of sectors.
Local visitors also indicated that not only does MFE provide co-operation and franchising opportunities, but also expert consultation services this year, assisting enterprises intending to expand their market through franchising and chain operations. The event gives a better understanding to visitors about franchising prospects in various sectors, bringing business opportunities to business starters.
