If a Franchise is in Your Future, Don’t Miss the Franchise Industry’s Premier Annual Event

If a Franchise is in Your Future, Don't Miss the Franchise Industry's Premier Annual Event

Hundreds of franchise concepts will be showcased at the franchise industry's premier annual event- the 18th Annual International Franchise Expo (IFE) , sponsored by the International Franchise Association (IFA).  The three-day show, held March 20-22, 2009, draws over 10,000 entrepreneurs seeking franchise opportunities to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.  Suppliers, franchisors, franchisees and prospective franchisees have the rare opportunity to meet face to face with one another.  The conference also offers over 30 free Seminars and Symposia.

Franchising companies exhibiting at the IFE come from an array of industries offering concepts at all investment levels. It is the ideal venue for: Franchising a current business or buying a franchise, building brand awareness, suppliers introducing their products to franchisors, meeting clients' in-person, networking, educating current and potential business owners and introducing financing options.

For franchisors, having a presence at the IFE is a very important lead generation tool.  Meaning, it is an integral way for franchise companies to discover and connect with prospective franchise owners. Dogtopia's VP of Franchise Development, Mike Schlegel commented, "It's important for us to exhibit at the IFE – it's the maximum exposure for our many brands, we meet a new pool of franchise candidates each time we exhibit, and over the past several years we've met highly qualified individuals – so we'll continue to exhibit at the IFE for years to come….We exhibit at IFE for 2 reasons – the pool of candidates is very strong and it's our opportunity to ensure that we connect as many visitors as possible with our brands"

"It's important for us to be here at the IFE because this is the show with the most qualified candidates," agrees Mark Johnson, CEO of Granite Transformations.

In addition to meeting qualified candidates, exhibitors and attendees benefit from the networking opportunities.  "We are able to network with the other franchisors, communicate and get face to face with people we wouldn't typically be able to connect with," Sue Sidwell of Open2View.com explains.

The show also proves advantageous for suppliers. "We exhibit at the IFE because we find a lot of new prospects and emerging franchisors who may not be familiar with our products. We meet with our existing clients that exhibit at the show – franchising is a great industry and we have so many client relationships to build on here at IFE," says Tim Matey of FC Dadson (Supplier).

The IFE is the most comprehensive conference on franchising. The event attracts investors from throughout the United States and over 80 countries. This all-encompassing show covers domestic and international expansion, selling single units, area developments or master franchises.  Whether you are interested in visiting particular franchisor booths, or want to learn more about some of the hundred franchise concepts showcased, be sure to attend the franchising industry's event of the year, the International Franchise Expo.

To register compliments of Franchise.com, click here .