Will Your Franchise Network be a Winner
or Loser in the Online Retail Revolution?
Yes, there is a revolution and we are all experiencing it. Whether we like it or not, changes in customer buying behaviour are creating new opportunities and threats for franchise groups. This Forum will equip franchisors with vital information to help protect their brands, customer base and franchise relationships in this new world.
Keep Up With the Trends
Just having a web site with some product and store information won't cut it anymore. Franchisors need to have a credible online strategy. Those that don't are putting their brands at risk and are likely to face outbreaks of conflict with franchisees who want to know what is happening around this issue.
For “C Level” Franchisor Leaders
This Forum will deliver meaty, high level content on how to combine an e-commerce platform with a physical distribution network so everyone wins — customers, franchisees, franchisor and suppliers. To participate you should be a CEO or a divisional or regional head of a franchise network.
Engaging, Cutting Edge and Strategic
Case studies, panels, round tables and expert Q & A sessions will be used to explore:
- How franchisors are integrating online sales and service with a retail presence.
- Lessons from overseas markets and how to capitalise on these.
- Strategies for dealing with the fear factor and getting franchisee buy-in.
- Alternative models for distributing online revenues between stakeholders.
- Legal implications of introducing new distribution channels into existing networks.
- Emerging technologies and how to use them to attract your target customers.
- How to ensure your customers' online experience is a good one.
- Solutions for tackling important logistics and product delivery challenges.
Note, we are going “inch wide, mile deep” on these issue and will not be straying into unrelated franchising or marketing topics.
Who Will be Sharing their Insights and Experience?
We have assembled an impressive list of experts and franchisors:
Tommy Clark Senior Consultant, iFranchise Group, (the USA’s leading franchise consulting company) — commercial strategies used by USA franchisors in the operations of their online and physical distribution networks.
Sandra Fairchild CEO, Axima — addressing the vital freight and logistics issues that can make or break your online strategy.
Matt Forman Managing Director, Traffika (leading consultants in e-marketing strategies for franchise groups) — how to integrate your social media and e-commerce strategies so they work together to make money for you and your franchisees.
Karli Furmage Chief Executive Officer, Franchise Relationships Institute — pulling the day together and helping to join the dots with expert facilitation and commentary.
Stephen Giles Partner, Norton Rose and Chairman, Franchise Council of Australia — how e-commerce is impacting on the franchising sector and important legal considerations when embarking on a bricks and clicks strategy.
James Horne Director, Balance Internet (leading consultants in online retail strategies for franchise networks) — what you must consider when designing and constructing a stable online sales and delivery system that complements existing retail channels.
Arthur Mitroulas Chief Executive Officer, Hairhouse Warehouse (2012 Franchisor of the Year) — developing and executing an online strategy that drives traffic to stores and balances the needs of franchisees, suppliers and customers.
Lee Moore Chief Marketing Officer, PoolWerx — how they are protecting sales and market share for their retail stores and mobile network through an integrated online strategy.
Greg Nathan Founder, Franchise Relationships Institute — research and recommendations on what franchisors can do to successfully engage franchisees in the online journey.
Michael Paul Founder, Pack & Send — the journey in researching and developing an online ordering and quoting system that delivers customer value while also protecting the interests of franchisees.
David Rivers Managing Director, Harvey World Travel — how one of the largest and longest standing franchise systems in Australia is competing in the fastest growing online space of all — travel.
Paul Uniake Chief Executive Officer, Franchise Entertainment Group (Video Ezy, Blockbuster, Ezy DVD) — hard earned lessons trialling various bricks and clicks strategies in an industry that is going through a virtual revolution.
Robert Wong Chairman, AIMIA Online Retail Industry Group, (peak industry body for digital media) — what is really going on and where things are heading with online retailing, digital media and blended bricks and clicks strategies.
PLUS You! As with all our events, sessions will be highly interactive and provide plenty of opportunity for you to ask questions and share your company’s insights and experience. Speaking of which, if you believe your company has something unique on the topic to share we would be pleased to hear from you. Call Greg Nathan on 0418 157701.
How the Day Will Work
8.30am Trends, Opportunities and Threats in Online Retailing
Stephen Giles, Robert Wong, James Horne, Dave Hood
- Experts in online retailing and franchise strategy will share data, trends and best practice
- Hear insights into the current state of play
- Find out about emerging global and Australian trends
- Consider the implications for your franchise network
11.35am Lessons from the Frontline — Franchisor Case Studies
Michael Paul, Paul Uniake, Lee Moore
- Case studies from established franchisors at the frontline of online
- Learn why certain strategic decisions were taken
- Hear about the challenges faced
- Benefit from the lessons learned
- Consider how all this could be applied to your franchise network
1.30pm Integrating E-Commerce and Social Media Strategies
Matt Forman
- Maintaining control of the customer’s online experience with your brand
- Integrating the various platforms and pieces into a seamless experience
- Using social media to drive traffic to your e-commerce offer
2.05pm Developing a Bricks and Clicks Strategy — Panel
Karli Furmage, David Rivers, Arthur Mitroulis, James Horne
A facilitated panel and open forum where experts and practitioners will tackle questions on the red hot issues around designing and implementing a successful Bricks and Clicks strategy.
- How are franchisors dividing the costs and profits of their brand’s online retail presence with franchisees?
- What sort of sales can realistically be expected from a central e-commerce platform?
- How much control and involvement should franchisees have? Or should the franchisor do everything?
- What can a franchise network expect as it rolls out its online retail strategy?
- How do you best coordinate the input of key stakeholders (e.g. marketing, web design, franchisees, IT, logistics)?
- What reputable suppliers, consultants and technology platforms are out there?
3.10pm Digging into the Practicalities — Round Tables
These sessions will explore specific areas associated with online retailing in a franchise setting such as:
- Integrating social media into your e-commerce strategy
- How to staff and manage your e-commerce strategy
- Legal implications in a changing distribution landscape
- Ensuring existing product suppliers enhance and don’t compete with your strategy
- Alternative technology platforms and what works best for what
- Covering the critical logistics issues
- Coordinating online issues with franchise operations
- Manage franchisee expectations and involvement in the process
- PLUS lots more
Dig deeper into what all this means to your company. Each round table will be led by an expert practitioner or franchisor who is doing interesting things in this space.
4.40pm Tackling the People Issues
Greg Nathan
While online retailing is largely being driven by technology changes, success will largely come down to how well you engage key stakeholders, especially franchisees. This session will provide insights and tips on how to manage the psychology of change and get greater buy-in to your online initiatives.
5.15pm Close
Event Partners — Supporting the Forum
We greatly appreciate the support and involvement of the following organisations with our Bricks & Clicks Franchisor Forum.
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Forum Location
This Bricks & Clicks Franchisor Leaders Forum will be held at:
Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne
630 Little Collins Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000
t: (03) 9622 8888
w: Vibe Savoy Hotel Melbourne
Accommodation is available at the Vibe Savoy Hotel for Forum registrants at the special rate of $189.00 per night (room only). Contact the hotel directly and quote group name “BRICKS & CLICKS” to receive the special accommodation rate. Limited parking spaces are available at the Vibe Savoy Hotel, from $15/day.
Some Other Things You Need to Know
To ensure we maintain quality, high level discussions we are limiting participation to “C level” franchisor executives (e.g. CEOs, COOs, Regional GMs, National Marketing, IT or Operations Managers).
The Forum will include break out sessions and round tables. Some of these may be restricted to specialised groups.
We expect this event to be booked out so register promptly to avoid disappointment. Because of space limitations, the organisers reserve their right to restrict registrations.
To Register
Complete the registration form below. Registration per delegate is $495.00 (plus GST). This includes all catering and hand outs.
If 3 or more registrations are required, please call Rob Camm, Events Manager on 0401 045 959 (or by email at rcamm@franchiserelationships.com). We will email a Tax Invoice to the Registration #1 email address.
We will email a Tax Invoice to the Registration #1 email address.