Have we forgotten about renting new release movies for a great, cheap night in?  Have the recent troubles of Blockbuster, Chartbuster, Xtravision and others led us to believe that the market for DVD, Blu-ray and game rental products is dead and gone?

A recent study in the U.S.A. by The Digital Entertainment Group, The Entertainment Merchants Association and The Consumer Electronics Association indicates that physical media will remain the dominant home media format through at least 2015.

The study concludes that “The definition of "market" for home entertainment is currently in flux.  Digital distribution (downloading and streaming) will progressively gain market share, but it could take as long as a decade for digital distribution to reach majority market share.  Adding together the impact of brick-and-mortar stores, kiosks and DVD subscription services, DVD rental demand will be about the same in 2014 as it was in 2008.  In the future a peaceful coexistence between the digital and the physical formats seems most likely”.

Adrienne Ross of DVDNow Kiosks U.K. & Ireland thinks "the general public may have forgotten how cheap and easy it is to rent a movie regardless of the growing failure rate of non-economic bricks-and-mortar businesses.  Renting a new release movie or game can now be as easy as picking up a pint of milk! DVD rental kiosks are common-place in other countries and their numbers are growing fast both here and abroad.”

DVDNow has quickly grown to 17 (and counting) kiosks operating in the U.K. and Ireland since their first installation in September 2010.  DVDNow Inc. of Vancouver, Canada, the world-wide distributor of these state-of-the art kiosks, has some 4,000 kiosks operating internationally and is the world’s largest provider of kiosks to independent operators.  Redbox, the world leader (numerically) in the DVD kiosk rental market currently owns and operates 40,000+ kiosks.  Redbox do not currently sell kiosks to independent operators.  DVDNow, in contrast, empower profitable, independent, local owner/operators through dynamic acquisition and operations programmes.

DVDNow kiosks are located in busy shops like the Quish’s Super Valu Group of Cork, the Joyce’s Group of Connaught and Shaw’s Petroleum Service Stations, Yorkshire.  Raymond Kennedy (owner of dvdexpress owns and operates DVDNow kiosks in the West of Ireland.  “We’ve just ordered our third machine and have plans for at least 10 more” says Ray “they make sense as a business.”

For further information, please see our listing on this site.

Responding to the Economic Climate, Aspray are Reducing the Franchise Fee by 75%.  Aspray Ltd is authorised and regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland’s conduct of business rules for claims handling only. Aspray, the national insurance claims management in Ireland and property repair franchise, dealt with a huge number of enquiries after the coldest winter in 31 years which cost the Irish insurance industry a record €224 million in property damage.

Whilst summer is here and the harsh winter almost forgotten – Aspray franchisees are only just completing the final claims and repairs ensuring that profit is still being received half a year later.

“Whilst work has been plentiful the need for excellent service and careful handling has never been more important. Negotiating and keeping in regular contact with all parties concerned was the key to success during

this busy period. I believe that if a customer has to chase me to know what is happening I have failed in my service to them and I simply won’t let that happen” said Ken Callaghan who was the first Aspray franchisee to begin operations in Ireland over 3 years ago. Those who have thrived in this business have offered service second to none. Consequently, total franchisee turnover increased by over 35% over the last year and top performers smashed performance targets.

With the next flood or storm never far away the very nature of our business promises plenty of opportunities for franchisees.

What an Aspray Franchise can offer you:

Recession resilient business excelling in bad weather

Free full service to the general public, when managing both

the insurance claim and reinstatement work as we are paid by

the Insurance Company directly.

Excellent training and ongoing support

Be your own boss but with the support of a proven and professional network and nationally recognised brand. For further details, please see our listing on this site.

Computer Troubleshooters Ireland is announcing the opening of a new office in Westmeath under the owner management of Ray Carty. Ray will support business, schools and residential customers in Westmeath and adjacent areas from his base in Athlone. Ray is a very experienced technician and has worked in Abbott Vascular, Vistakon, Intel and HP in various technical and maintenance roles.

“I congratulate Ray on opening his Computer Troubleshooters office in these tough times and I know he will provide a first class personalised technical support service to all customers in the Athlone and Westmeath areas”, says Enda Folan, National Master Franchisor.  He joins our Ireland-wide organisation with offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Louth, Kildare and Laois-Offaly.

Headquartered in the USA, Computer Troubleshooters is a unique computer service franchise specialising in helping residential, home office and small businesses with all their callout/onsite computer-related needs:  software/hardware troubleshooting, upgrades, repair, consulting, anti-virus/spyware, wireless/networking, broadband/internet, website design, made-to-order new & refurbished systems, service/maintenance contracts and training services.

Says Folan, “Computer Troubleshooters is more than just a computer service company, it works as part of the customer's staff to help their business grow through the most effective and efficient use of technology.  By combining the friendly, personal service of small, locally owned, community based franchises with the backup support and knowledge of a large international team of experts, Computer Troubleshooters can offer its' customers a unique solution for their computer service needs”.

Fourteen years old this year, Computer Troubleshooters has expanded rapidly to become the World's and Ireland’s largest Computer Technical Support Franchise with nearly 475 offices in 27 countries across the world. Computer Troubleshooters Ireland plans to open as many as 12 new offices in the Republic and Northern Ireland over the next 2 years and is seeking potential franchisees in all parts of Ireland, both North and South.

For further information, please see our listing on this site.

Having both grown up in Kildare, with experience in both business and caring for the elderly, Amanda and Enda Bohan believe there is a real need to provide quality home care to seniors in the area. Commenting on the new franchise opening in Kildare, Amanda Bohan, Managing Director of Home Instead Senior Care said: "Enda and I are thrilled to have opened a Home Instead Senior Care franchise office in Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.

Now more seniors in the Kildare and Laois communities can avail of home care from a trusted source. I am really passionate about senior care and know the area well so seniors will benefit from a combination of real local knowledge and the highest-quality home care". "Home Instead Senior Care's mission is to be Ireland's trusted source of home care for seniors allowing them to continue to be independent and live in their home for longer than otherwise possible. We fully embrace this concept and understand how important home care is in the lives of our loved ones. I am really looking forward to the new venture and being able to offer such a worthwhile home care service to the communities of Kildare and Laois", continued Amanda Bohan of Home Instead Senior Care.

Hair Salon & Men’s Barbers Franchise Boston Belle recently acquired two of the liquidated TONI&GUY stores in Ireland and have reopened them as Boston Belle salons and using our franchising business model they are both now trading very profitably. These stores are located in Washington Street, Cork and Ormonde Street, Kilkenny. In addition to these stores we have the Boston Belle salons trading in Swords Central at Pavilions, Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan, Athlone Town Centre and Jervis Shopping Centre, Dublin 1.

What makes Boston Belle, the new stand out hairdressing salon franchise in Ireland? Is it the affordable prices? Is it the top class award winning stylists? Is it the great locations and modern interiors? It’s actually all of these but more importantly it’s the emphasis on and delivery of first class customer service to all customers at all times. At Boston Belle the customer always comes first. From a one on one consultation with every client, to the range of hair and beauty services, your individual needs are always catered for. Boston Belle offers a hairdressing salon that puts the customer first. Finally a salon has arrived where customer is King or should I say Queen.

With Franchising stores in Balbriggan, Swords, Dublin, Athlone, Kilkenny and Cork, Boston Belle are well placed to cater for the modern consumer. Boston Belle aims to provide the services that customers require at affordable prices with first class customer service. “We want our customers to feel special” said Sarah Miller who is responsible for customer service throughout the Boston group of salons. “We aim to deliver a unique one on one experience for each client, delivering exceptional customer service at affordable prices. To us it’s more than just offering service, we want our clients to enjoy the experience of our salon and to look forward to their next visit.”

In addition to the everyday hairdressing services the salons can provide a number of additional services including the very popular fish pedicure tanks and cosmetic procedures in many of our stores. We have teamed up with the renowned Arte Novi Cosmetic Group to allow us offer cosmetic day procedures at amazing prices.  The Arte Novi group are a team of international doctors specialising in hair restoration for men and women and cosmetic procedures.

The ultimate aim is for Boston Belle to be a one-stop-shop for all your requirements, with clients treating themselves to some well deserved pampering time at the salon. In todays difficult times it is essential to have a little oasis to escape to, to forget about the pressures of life. Let Boston Belle be your oasis and be assured that you will experience the best of customer service at recession proof prices. For further franchise information, please see our listing on this site.

Started in America in 1965 by entrepreneur Fred DeLuca, there are now over 32,000 Subway stores in 90 countries worldwide. Consistently ranked as the number 1 global franchise, the European market is of growing importance to the Subway chain which currently operates 1,485 stores in Britain and Ireland and a further 1,400 stores in continental Europe.

Subway has a growth strategy in place for a significant expansion of stores over the next seven years in Europe and this contract positions Dawn Farms as a key supplier to service this market. Established in 1985 Dawn Farm Foods, based in the town of Naas in Co. Kildare in the Republic of Ireland, is Europe's leading supplier of cooked and fermented meats to International Foodservice chains and leading Food Manufacturers.

Dawn Farms has supplied the Subway chain since its first European store opened to the public back in 1993. Welcoming the announcement, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, TD said: 'I am delighted to welcome the announcement of this major contract between Dawn Farm Foods and Subway. This is a highly significant development and the Government, through Enterprise Ireland, is delighted to support Dawn Farms in its development plans.

It is an endorsement of Dawn Farm's continued success in growing its export business in the food service area with a world-leading company such as Subway. It demonstrates very clearly that innovative and market-led Irish food companies like Dawn Farms are held in very high international regard and can successfully expand the global reach of the Irish food sector." Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, also welcomed the announcement stressing the importance of the food sector in Ireland as a leading contributor to export growth and job creation. "Innovative, export-orientated food companies, such as Dawn Farms, have a crucial role to play in our economic recovery" said Minister Smith.

"Dawn Farm's success in winning this large and prestigious contract underlines the continued importance of our agri-food sector as a competitive player on international markets with potential to grow further in the years ahead." Commenting on the deal Mike Attwood, Purchasing Director of EIPC stated; 'We know Dawn Farms well and we have worked closely together to come up with a deal that makes sense for our franchisees and gives certainty to the supply side of our business as we continue our drive for growth across Europe. Commenting on the new contract Larry Murrin Chief executive of Dawn Farms said, 'This is a significant deal for Dawn Farms and follows major investment in our manufacturing base in Ireland, supported by Enterprise Ireland.

Subway has ambitious growth plans for store openings across Europe and with hard work on both sides this deal will translate into hundreds of millions of euro in export sales for Ireland over the duration of the seven year contract. Welcoming the announcement, Derek Breen, Head of Meat Division at Enterprise Ireland said: 'Enterprise Ireland has worked closely with Dawn Farms in supporting its strategic investment programme to drive continued international growth. This project underpins both the Government and Enterprise Ireland's strategy for the food sector - building innovation in export focused companies capable of achieving significant global reach. The company is an excellent example of what Irish companies can achieve in a highly competitive international market, and we in Enterprise Ireland look forward to working with them in the future. To view Subway Franchise Opportunities for Sale in Ireland, please see our listing on this site.

Since taking over the Cleaboy club 18 months ago, we have invested a tremendous amount of time and effort into building a successful business, this award is recognition for all that effort. We have received fantastic operational and sales support from énergie which has been critical to our success.
John Hannaford MD énergie fitness clubs Ireland, commented that “Since our establishment in 2007, énergie continues to develop its Irish network with 8 operating clubs and plans for a further 4 to be opened 2010. The success of our Cleaboy club in winning this award is a source of great encouragement for all our franchisees.

We hope Linda and the Cleaboy club will continue to be the benchmark for the development of our network in Ireland’ énergie fitness for women offers a fitness and weight loss studio for Women designed around a 30-minute workout, combining aerobic exercise and muscle toning to achieve stunning results. The studio’s offer investors a low outlay and the potential for fantastic returns! Members are offered the unique empower 6-week programme which encourages first time club users with a fixed price programme, featuring Guaranteed results in 6 weeks, No joining fee, No contract and 6 personal training sessions. énergie is the fastest growing fitness club brand in the Europe and now has 12 franchisees around Ireland with further clubs to open in the coming months. Its clubs are built on a commitment to high levels of service and a unique 6 week results guarantee.

Drinks distributors Barry & Fitzwilliam (Cork & Dublin) and Comans Wholesale (Tallaght, Dublin) are currently in advanced negotiations, through accountancy firm Deloitte, with the newly-appointed Receiver at Galvin’s Wines Ltd. to take over the Carry-Out Off-Licence franchise sector of the business. Commenting on the proposed joint venture, Michael Barry of Barry & Fitzwilliam said: ‘I confirm that Comans and Barry&Fitzwilliam are in advanced negotiations through our advisors, Deloitte, and we expect to conclude these negotiations in the affirmative over the next few days.

We see great future potential for growth in this sector and look forward to concluding the deal and securing the future viability of the Carry Out franchise. This is good news for the Carry Out network and we look forward to a strong working relationship with them. Comans Wholesale, Dublin, was established in 1959 and supplies a full range of packaged beer, wines, spirits and soft drinks to the licensed trade in Ireland and are also the exclusive national agents for a number of well known national and international brands.

The company is based in Belgard Road, Tallaght. Barry & Fitzwilliam is a well-established independent drinks distributor, with over 100 international premium drinks brands of wines, spirits and beers in its portfolio. Headquartered at a 50,000 square foot bonded warehousing facility at Airport Road, Cork, the company has an administration centre in Dublin and a national administration network supplying the licensed trade.