International Franchise Expo

The second year the International Franchise Expo was held in New York City delivered the largest show in the event’s 22-year history. Held in late June, the show hosted 413 exhibitors viewed by nearly 20,000 visitors, according to show organizer, MFV Expositions.

Hard to miss this year were exhibitors from Korea and Japan. In addition, a large area with tables and chairs at the front of the show floor was reserved for international conversations, mostly with U.S. Commercial Service officers from around the world.

International visitors were able to socialize and sightsee from the decks of the World Yacht Duchess, a Hudson Bay cruise sponsored by Fastsigns, Global Franchise Group and translation service, Fluent in Foreign. Camera phones and iPads came out in force when the boat cruised past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. A reminder that natives sometimes take our history for granted.

New to the expo this year was a finance pavilion, an idea formulated by Beth Solomon, CEO of the National Association of Development Companies, where lending representatives were on hand to answer attendee questions, and discuss financing options. MFV President Tom Portesy said, "Anything we can do to help facilitate that sale (for the franchisor), we have to do." In its first year, Portesy believes the area will grow from the four or five lending sources on hand at this event.

There was more sampling this year than in years past. American Taco Shop was on track to hand out around 5,000 mini carne asada tacos and Philly Pretzel Factory was anticipating handing out 15,000 pretzels, however, Doug Jackson corrected that figure in the next breath to "a lot, let’s say that." Hara Donuts, a Japanese brand, was frying doughnut holes in canola oil a handful at a time and was still able to be one of the sample leaders.