Entrepreneur Philippines

ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE-  JULY 2012 issue   FASTEST GROWING FRANCHISE   FROM STRENGTH  TO  STRENGTH   At first glance, Potato Corner and Posh Nails have little in common-apart from having to do your fingers, being franchise companies, and being Entrepreneurs Fastest growing Franchise co-winners for 2012. Yet these two companies are definitely going from strength to strength, as is Goldilocks Bakeshop , which gets our nod for the company that’s Best In Franchising support. Although smaller in size than either Potato Corner or Goldilocks, Posh Nails does have 21 outlets now, and as Founder and President Catherine Ilacad says, they are “coming up” with new services- more messages , more themed services like different “flavors of the month.” For our franchisees, we have more training for our nail technicians. All but one of Posh Nail’s outlets are franchised, and Ilacad says they have just opened branchise in Pampanga and Iloilo. Opening soon are outlets in Davao, Cebu and Batangas as well. Why is Posh Nails growing so fast? “I believe that we’re one of  the leaders in nail industry, one of the original concepts, “says Ilacad, who founded the company 10 years ago. At the same time, we keep up with what’s happening, the latest in nail technology- I’m leaving for the Las Vegas Nail Convention, and I keep in touch with spa gurus over the internet. They keep me updated, tewll me what we can adapt here in the Philippines, she adds. Posh Nails, which has been franchising since 2008  , also boasts of great marketing support for all our franchisees. We have a lot of endorsers for radio, TV and in print, and they’ve been a big help,” says Ilacad. A plan to launch their own line of products, such as foot scrubs and foot lotions, would aid their future growth, adds Ilacad. She also aims to add more branches for our clients in the provinces, and new services that they would only experience at Posh Nails. POTATO CORNER also offers a unique experience- of eating flavored French fries, that is. Now with over 250 stores nationwide and abroad, the flagship brand of Cinco Corporation is still trying to add to its roster of 104 franchisees. These include six recently-opened outlets in the California and New Mexico in the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, and even in Panama. Apart from its newest local outlets at Robinsons Place Puerto Princesa in Palawan, at the Promenade Building along Wilson St. in San Juan City, at Robinsons Place Calasiao Pangasinan, at Shopwise in San Pedro Laguna,and at the Wilcon City Center along Visayas Ave. in Quezon City- Potato Corner has introduced new flavors, serving sizes, and offerings. The brand recently announced it gained Halal Certification (the lawful way of preparing food according to Muslim Shariah Law ), allowing it to sell more than nine million Muslim Filipinos- as well as over 200 Million Indonesian followers of Islam once Potato Corner expands its presence there. It also recently debuted its Vanilla Thrilla dessert offering and a Seaweed option alongside its mainstay flavors-cheese, barbecue and sour cream-and serving sizes, which are now up to Giga buckets ( at about P167 each ). Goldilocks, meanwhile, got the highest marks in Entrepreneur’s  franchise survey for the extensiveness of its franchise agreement, franchisee training, marketing support, and financial assistance. This is in part because the company founded in 1966 is always “mindful of the customers’ needs and wants and able to anticipate those with products and services that cater to their needs,”says Lin Deres, its franchise relation manager. New products, seasonal offerings, store designs, eco-friendly packaging materials, and energy saving devices have helped Goldilocks-  which began franchising in 1991- stay top of mind its customers around its 351 outlets nationwide, adds Deres. It’s also why  she sees their roster of franchisees growing beyond the 54 they currently have. For a 45-year-old company, it’s never bad to have bigger numbers.