Then and now… how has franchising fared in South Africa?
Because the Franchise Affiliation of South Africa, in affiliation with Absa, embarks on a definitive trade survey after a break of the previous 4 gruelling years – that included the debilitating results of the Covid-19 lockdown rules, flooding and the July 2021 riots and looting, political turmoil and financial pressure – it hopes to get a transparent indication of the challenges franchisors and franchisees confronted and extra importantly what lies forward for the way forward for this necessary sector.
Then… the 2019 FASA Franchise Survey confirmed that while the trade was taking pressure as a result of slowing economic system, franchising contributed 13.9% to the nation’s GDP (R734bn) via its 813 franchise techniques and its 47 923 retailers and using, instantly and not directly, nearly 500 000 individuals. It confirmed a stable efficiency regardless of robust financial circumstances and was testomony to the tenacity of this distinctive enterprise format.
Now… there isn’t a query that companies throughout the board, huge and small, together with franchises have been hit arduous by the snowballing impact began by Covid-19 and affected by so many different socio-political and financial components since then.
By and huge, the franchise sector has, via these attempting instances and according to world developments, relied on the energy of the collective made up of franchisors and franchisees – all tackling issues and discovering options collectively.
“FASA has, for the previous 44 years, overseen the institution and development of this very important sector” says Fred Makgato, FASA’s CEO.
“We can not permit development in our sector to regress or decelerate as the way forward for South Africa depends on a vibrant sector like ours that encourages entrepreneurship, performs a job in expertise switch and in job creation. Now, greater than ever, franchising wants to carry its personal, take the street to restoration and proceed to play the necessary function it does within the nation’s economic system.”
Because of sponsorship from Absa and the dedication of its franchise division, FASA has commissioned Analysis EQ to conduct the survey underneath the succesful route of Margaret Constantaras, Head: Quantitative Analysis & Governance who has a selected curiosity in franchising as she is finishing her PhD on this subject.
“Since our involvement in FASA’s surveys of the sector since 2014, we shall be devoting a superb portion of the survey on how franchisors and franchisees coped throughout what was most likely essentially the most attempting 4 years in enterprise and determine their strengths and weaknesses.”
The surveys will concentrate on:
– The Franchisor Survey will observe the franchise trajectory in South Africa over the previous 4 years, whether or not it’s upholding its contribution to GDP, assessing any losses it could have incurred in the course of the previous turbulent years by way of drop in income, working/closure of shops, creation of employment and clarification of key franchise practices.
– The Franchisee Satisfaction Survey will measure the temperature of the franchisees on the coalface of the economic system and is important to the well being of small companies inside the economic system. This consists of an evaluation of how franchisees coped within the tough buying and selling surroundings and whether or not they’re getting the required help from their franchisors.
“Each these surveys are necessary, says Margaret Constantaras of Analysis EQ, “not solely inside the context of the place franchising sits in its contribution to GDP, however an evaluation of how COVID-19 and the lockdown rules – and different financial and political occasions impacted the sector. As franchising operates within the entrepreneurial house providing enterprise alternatives, you will need to franchising and FASA’s long-term development technique.”
In keeping with James Noble, Head: Wholesale, Retail & Franchise Enterprise, who has been concerned within the franchise sector and FASA for over twenty years, taking part in an element in monitoring franchising’s development by sponsoring the surveys is essential for the way forward for this very important sector.
“Franchising is within the nationwide curiosity as it’s a enterprise mannequin that makes a significant contribution in the direction of fixing one among South Africa’s most urgent issues – job creation. We recognise the very important function that the franchise sector performs in creating wealth and employment alternatives in South Africa.
“By sponsoring and facilitating this important survey, we shall be in a greater place to grasp the market dynamics and the surroundings by which our shoppers function, determine the challenges that franchisors and franchisees face, provide progressive options and ship aggressive merchandise that may meet their future wants and help their and the nation’s development targets.”
“FASA’s success on the world stage and as a long-time member of the World Franchise Council makes it all of the extra important that we hold tabs on the expansion of the franchise system inside South Africa as it’s the most vital franchise market in Africa,” says Maria D’Amico, Chair of the Franchise Affiliation.
“We hope the surveys will assist determine development areas within the many sectors of enterprise that may be franchised – from mentoring fledgling township entrepreneurs to develop into established and moral operators to encouraging giant company manufacturers to contemplate changing their firm shops to franchised shops as a extra economical and worthwhile possibility and inspiring different operations to contemplate going the franchise route if their enterprise system is able to being franchised.
“However we’d like authorities to additionally play their half and decide to facilitating the enterprise surroundings, ensuring that enterprise is ready to function successfully and effectively.”
FASA’s Franchise Surveys shall be carried out from Could to July this yr with franchisors and franchisees throughout the fourteen totally different enterprise sectors taking part in one-on-one and on-line interviews.
The outcomes of the surveys will type a part of FASA’s occasion calendar for the second half of 2023 – which features a Franchise Expo in August and the FASA Convention in October. Analysis EQ invitations all franchisors and franchisees, whether or not FASA members or not, to contact them in the event that they want to take part within the survey.
