Were you at the International Franchise Show at ExCel in London last weekend? If not, you really missed out. It has a reputation for being one of the most important dates in the franchising calendar, and this year really showed us why.

Me and the team at The Franchising Centre have been attending these kind of events for more years than I care to mention, but there was something really special about this one. Over the last year or so, we’ve all noticed a positive shift in the franchising world with these events properly starting to return to their pre-pandemic intensity, but last weekend really blew our minds.

The sheer buzz and excitement really had to be seen to be believed. My seminars on Franchising Your Business were standing room only, and it was a real pleasure to meet so many successful business owners who were interested in how to use franchising to supercharge their growth. Not just in the UK, either, but around the world.

I’ve talked before about how clear it is that franchising is booming, but the atmosphere at the event proved to me that this rising tide is not slowing – quite the opposite, in fact: this is just the beginning!

We’re not the only ones who see a bright future ahead of us…

Earlier this month I attended a webinar with a leading economist from HSBC. This is something I regularly take part in, and I am especially glad I made it for this one, as the speaker painted a picture which so perfectly matched what we experienced at the event:

• The cost of living squeeze is definitely easing
• Consumer confidence is increasingly steadily
• Inflation is decreasing and should continue to do so
• Inflation expected to settle at or just above the Bank of England target of 2%
• The first drop in interest rates is predicted for June or July
• A gradual, but consistent reduction in interest rates is predicted over the next 18 months

Good news for all of us, but especially for franchisors, or those considering franchising, as this will greatly help in attracting franchisee investment. Not to mention, ease capital expenditure for those thinking of launching as a franchise for the first time, or enhancing their offering to stay ahead of the curve.

What all this means for you in the year ahead

The TFC stand was swamped all day. While our team of consultants and specialists was out in force, I found myself wishing we had more people to field everyone who came up to us. It’s obvious that this is going to be a very busy year for us!

So, if you were one of the literally 100s of people we spoke to at the event, now is the perfect time to book a call with me to follow up on what we talked about and get ahead of the game on your growth strategy for 2024 and beyond.

Likewise if you couldn’t make it to the event, I’m still happy to share all the info from my presentations and talk you some more about how franchising can work for you and your business.

Either way, the next step is as simple as clicking the button at the bottom of this email to schedule a call. You can also download our free ebook: Making Franchising Work for You & Your Business to learn more about the steps involved.