The sixth BNF recorded a large number of entrepreneurs interested in opening up franchises and other types of busines

On this occasion, BNF counted 18,500 visits 330 exhibitors from the fields of franchising, licensing and other business activities participated in BNF 2006, which is organised by Fira de Barcelona The licensing sector is satisfied with the results

The 6th International Franchise and Licences Fair, which closed on Saturday, the 6th of May in Fira de Barcelona’s Montjuïc exhibition centre, recorded 18,500 visits. According to some participating companies, interesting contacts were made during the three day show which could lead to an increase in the number of franchise establishments in Spain and more international outlets in the Mediterranean for many brands.  As the president of the Organising Committee, Francisco Martín Frías, explained “As exhibitors, we still prefer quality over quantity in terms of visitors. It is more cost-effective and, this year, we have seen that there is a higher level of professionalism”.  The licensing sector, which participated for the second time, also expressed satisfaction with the results.
Organised by Fira de Barcelona, BNF 2006 achieved its best ever participation figures: 330 brands represented at 154 stands which occupied 4,400m2 in hall 8 of the Montjuïc exhibition centre. Internationalism was another factor which contributed to the growth of the show. This year, 20 companies from France, Italy, Portugal and Morocco participated. The franchise system accounted for the largest portion of the show, although there was a 50% increase in the number of licensing companies this year and there were also new business concepts. According to the director of BNF 2006, Silvia Mas, “our show will continue to feature a wide range of different successful businesses in order to attract investors and entrepreneurs interested in finding formulas to suit their needs. This year, BNF has again demonstrated that it is the good business show”.
The franchise system
As is traditional, the main objectives of visitors to BNF are to make contact with potential franchisors in order to open up establishments or to gather information on brands, trademarks and financing. This year, entrepreneurs found around thirty activities. For the first time, they highlighted the hegemony of the services sector thanks to the increase in and popularity of financial intermediation franchises, hotel and catering, clothing, fashion and accessories, specialised shops and beauty and cosmetics.
There was a wide variety of concepts: made to measure windows, customised cuddly toys, hand car wash, children’s hairdressers, cone-shaped pizzas, handcrafted soaps, home help, tanning centres, typical Sicilian cuisine with a Mafia air and around 180 franchise possibilities. Prices range from 3,000 to 400,000 euros.
According to the president of the Spanish Franchise Association, Xavier Vallhonrat, the franchise system had a turnover of 18,000 million euros; 712 franchise networks; 48,302 establishments and 202,000 employees.
Licensing in BNF
Last year, BNF increased its business area with the incorporation of licensing -leasing the right to market or manage the trademarks in products or services to others. 9 companies, which represented150 properties, confirmed that the project to consolidate a trade show space in Barcelona for the southern European licensing sector is making progress.
The organisers of the show carried out promotional campaigns to attract more professionalized visitors to this area. Manufacturers of promotional articles and professionals from various sectors came to see how this marketing mix contributes to increasing sales: household goods, decoration, stationery, publishing, textiles, advertising agencies, licensees, retailers, distribution representatives, etc.
A highlight at BNF was the presence of Charles Riotto, president of LIMA, the Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association, in a work session dedicated top analysing the growth potential of licences in the Mediterranean area. Riotto talked about the history of licensing in the U.S.A., and compared facts and figures of the American market to the European one.
Licensing companies also participated alongside clothing, fashion and accessories brands in the two daily fashion shows to show the application of licensed trademarks to different products and promote it outside their stands.
Fourth Mediterranean Franchise Forum
The fourth Mediterranean Franchise Forum (Meda Franchise Forum) analysed franchise as a concept for the creation of business alliances between countries on both sides of the Mediterranean. The possibility of creating a network which unites the sector, defends its interests and serves to exchange experiences was also raised. The event presented franchising as an element which boosts trade and helps to transform cities and companies. This year’s guest country, Morocco, was one of the main features of both the Meda Franchise Forum and BNF. The Moroccan Minister for Industry, Trade and Economic Affairs, Salaheddine Mezouar, presented the possibilities that this country offers for the development of franchise networks. Seven Moroccan franchise brands in search of Mediterranean franchisees exhibited their business concepts at BNF 2006.
Over a hundred impresarios belonging to international delegations from 17 countries, for example, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, France, Italy, Turkey, Serbia, Croatia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Libya, Algeria, Malta, Albania and Cyprus showed their interest in Spanish brands. These foreign professionals made contact with BNF exhibitors with the aim of reaching agreements to export business concepts.
This year, the Organising Committee of the Meda Franchise Forum awarded the prize to the Mediterranean franchise entrepreneur of the year to the company CARLIN for its work in internationalisation. CARLIN, which supplies office material, stationery and IT consumables, has 426 franchisees, of which 3 are in France, 1 is in Andorra and 24 in Portugal.
Awards Ceremonies
Another of the main acts of BNF, which took place on the 5th of May, was the BNFicio and ACTitud awards ceremony to reward the effort made by participating companies in promoting their attendance at the trade show and to the exhibitor providing the best quality service to visitors, respectively. DERROSCAS won the BNFicio awards, and TIENDAS U.P.I. came in second. The ACTitud award went to NOSTRUM, after the company SGS Lodge Service had evaluated all stands by using the “undercover client” technique. PANO BOUTIQUE and RECYCLING SYSTEM were runners up.
BNF also presented an honorary ACTitud award to the UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA for its MASTERS IN FRANCHISE CREATION, MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. This course provides the knowledge and preparation needed to set up a successful franchise business and is the only one in Europe which focuses entirely on this business system.
The next Barcelona Negocios & Franquicias will take place from the 15th to the 17th of March 2007.
BNF is a trade show of Fira de Barcelona, the leading organiser of industrial and professional exhibitions in Spain and one of the first four in Europe in the number of events.