The Southern Illinois Franchise Fair which was to be held Nov. 15 has been postponed until April due to economic conditions in the nation and the state.

“With the economic situation we’re in right now, the franchisers are just a little leery of doing anything now, until after the elections,” Rend Lake College Small Business Development director and Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce president Curt Mowrer said. “We thought after the first of January, things would pick up a little better and people get back into the spirit of economic development.”

The Southern Illinois Franchise Fair and Expo has been rescheduled for April 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. It is the first event of its kind in Southern Illinois, and will be free and open to anyone who has an interest in opening a franchise business or learning more about franchises. Prospective business owners will be able to meet face-to-face with franchisers and those who provide financial resources during the fair. In addition, workshops geared toward the small business owner will be held in conjunction with the expo.

The franchise fair is being co-sponsored by the Rend Lake College Small Business Center, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson County Development Corporation.

“With the overpass, we feel this is a perfect opportunity to introduce franchise companies to the Mt. Vernon area,” Mowrer continued. “It will give entrepreneurs the opportunity to check out franchising, and franchisers will be able to find people who wish to invest in Mt. Vernon.

Although the fair is now a few months away, those with questions or who would like to register may contact Nicholas LeMay at the SBDC at lemay@rlc.edu.

Three major franchise-oriented events kick off the first week of November in downtown Los Angeles.

Register now for the International Franchise Association’s Franchise Development Super Session, which offers the latest information about brand-building, and the International Symposium, which focuses on key elements in international expansion, both of which will be conducted Nov. 5 to 6 at the Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown hotel.

The IFA-sponsored West Coast Franchise Expo, produced by MFV Expositions, gets under way Nov. 7 to 9 at the L.A. Convention Center, featuring more than 250 exhibitors and attracting thousands of prospective franchisees. Reserve your booth by contacting show director Richard Del Giorno at (201) 881-1640 or rdelgiorno@mfvexpo.com.

After a year of planning, a franchise fair will be held in the King City on Nov. 15.

Last year, after members of the Jefferson County Development Corporation and the city attended a meeting of the International Council for Shopping Centers, JCDC Executive Director Mary Ellen Bechtel said a franchise fair would allow area business people to explore the opportunities for opening new business.

“Many of the retail opportunities out there are actually franchise opportunities,” Bechtel said. “Those are great for our area, with people who live in our area able to go into business. The design of franchises is good, because people with no experience owning a business get the help and support they need to open a new business.”

Bechtel said she had spoken with Rend Lake College Small Business Development Center Director Curt Mowrer, and tentative plans were made to hold the event in the fall of 2008.

The Small Business Development Center, JCDC, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities as well as franchise architects are partnering to bring the first Southern Illinois Franchise Expo on Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn.

“As the first of its kind in Southern Illinois, the Expo will feature a unique opportunity for prospective business owners to meet face-to-face with various franchises and financial resources,” information from the college states. The Expo is free to attend. In addition, workshops will be held which are geared towards the prospective small business owner.

Bechtel, Mt. Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley and City Manager Ron Neibert will be attending the ICSC conference next week in Chicago, according to Chesley.

The ICSC has real estate agents who scout areas open for franchise development and meet the needs of the various franchises available, Bechtel said last year after attending the conference.

“The people we talked to with franchises were interested in coming here,” Bechtel said. “We’re working to build our list now, and then get word out to the general public to discuss the opportunities available. … We made great contacts with companies who are interested in attending the event. …”

Registration to the Southern Illinois Franchise Expo is not required, but suggested. Additional questions and registration information may be directed to Nicholas LeMay at lemay@rlc.edu.

From Novembre 11 to 14, 2008, at KyivExpoPlaza venue, the 4rd international specialized trade show. Franchising 2008, will take part.

Nowadays franchising plays an important role, owing to simple ideas and principles which lead to effective development. Growth rates of franchising in Ukraine are the following: more than 300 franchising chains and about 20 thousand outlets use franchising system or its elements in their activity(according to the data of Ukrainian Franchising Association).

Every year more brands take part in the a specialized exhibition of “Franchising” which is the key-event of the market and the most effective marketing tool to find new business-partners.

We invite you to take part in the 4th international specialized trade show, Franchisingg 2008, , which will take place at KyivExpoPlaza venue, in Kyiv, Ukraine, from November 12 to 14, 2008.

The trade show’s organizer is Euroindex Ltd., the technological leader in Ukraine’s exhibition-organizing business, and the largest organizer of b2b trade shows. Euroindex is a member of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), which bears witness to international recognition and to compliance with high standards in the exhibition business.