PRONTAPRINT’S PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

Media Release - 8 October 2004

A husband and wife business partnership from Newcastle, who set out to challenge their neighbours in business, yesterday won third place in a top national business competition, backed by HSBC Bank.

Adam and Ruth Brenner, who operate the Prontaprint print-on-demand franchise, won the third place prize of £2,000 in the 2004 British Franchise Association’s Franchisee of the Year Awards, sponsored by HSBC and supported by the Daily Express.

The award was presented to the couple by Cathryn Hayes, HSBC’s national franchise manager, at a gala dinner at the ICC in Birmingham last night (7 October). HSBC has provided financial support and advice to franchisors and franchisees in the UK for over 20 years and has more than doubled its lending to the sector during the first half of 2004.

Speaking after the awards, Adam said: “The strength of the Prontaprint brand and the support of the franchisor has played a big part in helping us expand the business. I put our success down to this and our own hard work which has allowed us successfully to challenge some stiff competition locally, including an outlet right next door to us.”

Adam and Ruth both had successful careers in fashion before they took on the underperforming Prontaprint franchise in the city. Now seven years on, the two have built a thriving business, despite facing stiff competition from their next-door neighbours, who happened to be their biggest business rivals.

In presenting the awards, Cathryn Hayes, national franchise manager at HSBC, said: “Franchising gives people the opportunity to make the most of their entrepreneurial talent, but with fewer risks than starting their own business from scratch. As a leading lender to the franchise sector, HSBC recognises that the hard work, enthusiasm and business nous of people like Adam and Ruth will help turn a good franchise into a great franchise. They deserve their success, particularly in the face of such stiff competition.”

Since 1997, the new business Ruth and Adam have generated has created eight new jobs and has sustained growth of more than 20 per cent year-on year.

Adam and Ruth claim that one of the main benefits in franchising is the excellent support provided by their franchisor Prontaprint, which includes, intensive training, sales promotional kits, marketing collateral, handbooks, customer care guides, direct mail and PR support.

The theme for this year’s awards was “Beating the Competition – How Franchising Makes A Difference.” The Awards are judged by a panel chaired by the British Franchise Association’s president, Sir Bernard Ingham.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. The British Franchise Association Awards reward franchisees that demonstrate outstanding commercial achievement through ethical franchising and are sponsored by HSBC Bank and the Daily Express. The theme of this year’s competition is “Beating the Competition” – How Franchising Makes A Difference”.
2. Other winners in this year’s awards were:

   1st place, Michael Roney from Driver Hire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire;
   Joint 2nd place, Simon Stack from Snap-on Tools, York;
   Joint 2nd place, Jack Glen from McDonald’s, Hamilton;

   The following were highly commended by the British Franchise Association, HSBC Bank and the Daily Express:
   Mark Meredith from Apollo Blinds, Stoke-on-Trent; Craig Collins from Cartridge World, Exeter, Exmouth and Plymouth; John Murray from Cash Generator, Airdrie and Wishaw; Robert Bates from Clarks Shoes, Abergavenny, Brecon, Merthyr Tydfil and Exmouth; Ian Michael and Richard Ball from Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, Neath Abbey, and; David and Jacqui Henshaw from National Schoolwear Centres, Swindon.

3. The HSBC Group HSBC Bank plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, and a member of the HSBC Group. Serving over 110 million customers worldwide, the HSBC Group has approximately 10,000 offices in 76 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,154 billion at 30 June 2004, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as ‘the world’s local bank’.
4. For further press information on HSBC’s support for franchising and/or an interview with Cathryn Hayes please contact: Alex Bellinger, Media Relations Manager, HSBC on 020 7991 0654.
5. To contact Michael Roney please call 01604 670199.