FDS Further Commits to Health of Franchising with Website Launch

Franchise Development Services Ltd (FDS), one of the longest established and most prestigious franchise consultancy groups in the UK and publisher of The Franchise Magazine (TFM), has committed further resources to the long-term health of the UK franchise industry with the launch of a free online magazine (www.thefranchisemagazine.net), widening the scope and reach of its printed publication.

Since its foundation in 1981, FDS has shown continued commitment to the development of franchising through its franchise consultancy services and printed publications and maintains a strict policy of only accepting advertising for TFM from British Franchise Association (BFA) members or Business Format Franchises. With the launch of www.thefranchisemagazine.net, the company aims to spread its message of ethical and effective franchising wider.

The site was unveiled with the October/November edition of TFM to celebrate the magazine’s 20th anniversary. It already contains more than 200 articles – free to all web surfers interested in franchising. It is updated regularly with news and views, contains advice and guidance, company profiles, and features from the printed magazines presented in a web-friendly HTML format.

Director of FDS Christian Seaman, who’s spearheading the project, says the site has already received a positive response from visitors and search engines with more than 100 registrations before the official launch. “The site’s technology, which was developed in-house, is exciting in itself,” he says. “It integrates the latest features such as CSS layout; RSS feeds, which alert users to new entries on the site; high accessibility and a clear, user-friendly design. The aim is for our RSS feed to become a valued source of franchising news for our readers and anyone interested in franchising.”

According to the latest NatWest/BFA UK Franchise Survey, magazines remain the most useful method of recruiting franchisees, but use of the internet has seen a fairly dramatic increase. The key to TFM’s 20-year success story is the marriage of high quality features and advertising with effective UK distribution through channels including newsagents, JobCentres, banks, resettlement centres, hotels and exhibitions. www.thefranchisemagazine.net is the latest addition to this arsenal and will bring even greater brand exposure for TFM advertisers.

FDS specialise in providing advice and guidance to prospective and existing franchisees and franchisors worldwide through its network of 14 Franchisees and Associates. Its publications, which include The Franchise Magazine, European Franchising and The United Kingdom. Franchise Directory, are industry leaders with TFM heralded as the “UK’s Best Selling Franchise Magazine” by WHSmith.

FDS Managing Director Roy Seaman comments, “The launch of www.thefranchisemagazine.net is an exciting development in the history of TFM, which has grown to 150 plus pages in each edition. With the magazine now also available online, we hope to educate more people and facilitate the recruitment of franchisees for even more franchisors.


More Information

Please contact Christian Seaman on: T. 01603 620301 E. pr@fdsfranchise.com

The new website can be viewed at: www.thefranchisemagazine.net

High resolution photographs available on request

For further details on Franchise Development Services visit: www.franchise-group.com


High res image can be downloaded from: www.clickintopr.com/editors/articleDetail.asp?pjID=219