Exhibition moves the franchise sector in the country »Business» Diário do Comércio

The 27th edition of the ABF Franchising Expo started in São Paulo. The largest industry event in Brazil, sponsored by the Brazilian Franchise Association (ABF), brings together 407 brands and is expected to receive more than 65,000 visitors by 30th Saturday. Of this total, 128 are newcomers to the event, 42 more than last year.

In the 31 thousand square meters of fair, are franchises whose initial investment starts from R $ 10,000 up to those in which the contribution exceeds the home of R $ 1 million. All 12 segments (Food, Fashion, Home and Construction, Entertainment and Leisure, Health, Beauty and Wellness, Communication, Computers and Electronics, Cleaning and Storage, Hospitality and Tourism, Automotive Services, Educational Services and others) are represented.

According to the president of ABF, Altino Cristofoletti Júnior, it is difficult to measure the number of closed contracts from contacts made during the event, since, according to the law, no contract can be closed to the fair itself. "According to the law on franchises, a contract can not be closed from the franchise offer circular (COF), which brings all the information about the company and the system. We know from last year 's research that all brands have achieved their closed business goals from the perspectives generated here, "says Cristoforetti Júnior.

The good numbers in the industry are the result of a job that aims to give scalability to the business. According to ABF data, the franchise market processed R $ 38.7 billion in the first quarter of this year. The amount shows a growth of 5.1% over the same period last year, when the sector has accumulated 36.8 billion reais during the first three months of 2017. When the considers the figures of the last 12 months, the advance was 7% (variation of 154.426 billion reais to 165.190 billion reais).

ABF expects this year a growth of up to 10% of the total turnover of the franchise business. In number of units, the advance should reach 3%, the same number expected for the increase in the number of open jobs.

"Franchising has become a commercial platform that operates in all channels: physical store, e-commerce, online, door-to-door, among others, and increasingly in the interior of the country and takes over. Other points, such as hospitals, schools, modal stations and events, for example ", chairman of ABF.

Two spaces that were successful last year are back: the Arena of Knowledge, with a presentation on various topics related to the franchise market in Brazil and in the area "Montando Minha Franquia", which brings together the most diverse franchise system providers of types such as computer tools, marketing services, geolocation, point of sale design, payment systems, among others. In this area stands the ABF Smart Mall with the technological trends applied to the retail business: solutions to increase productivity, reduce costs, optimize management and improve the consumer experience.

"The fair is a great opportunity for people to talk to the brand's founders, with other franchisees, to understand the system, visitors are looking for good opportunities and the franchise system minimizes the risks. Concerned about the training of franchisees.We even have visitors from abroad.In 2017, we received representatives from more than 20 countries.In the arena of knowledge, there are fast courses on topics where there are a lot of questions At Smart Mall, we have a series of technology solutions that help franchisees and franchisors take advantage of the opportunities offered by the digital world, "says the director.

Agreement – The announcement of the renewal of the agreement between ABF and the Brazilian Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (Apex Brasil) was good news for brands that are looking for and for those who have already done so. the internationalization of the brand. According to the balance sheet of 2017, disclosed earlier this year by the badociation, 142 networks of Brazilian franchises have activities abroad, with a presence in 100 different countries. The main destinations are: USA, with 46 brands; Paraguay, 34; Portugal, 34; and Bolivia, with 19.

Continued talks with the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) on creating a card with the ABF signature to fund franchise operations was also celebrated. "The relationship with BNDES is under construction.The bank is very important for the entire system.The card is a channel for franchisees to open the point, renovate stores, have access to vehicles, for example. We expect financial institutions to submit proposals and solutions.The relationship between franchisee and franchisor is a guarantee for the financial system that default is a very small possibility. "

* The reporter traveled at the invitation of the ABF