Issue 3 - 2010 - Pack & Send

LEARNING, LAUGHTER AND INSPIRATION WERE IN PLENTIFUL SUPPLY DURING THE PACK
& SEND 2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCE HELD AT MELBOURNE’S NOVOTEL ON COLLINS IN
OCTOBER.
Interactive sessions started off the event with
franchisees joining forces to discuss best practice
and new ideas on a variety of topics. The proceedings
gained further traction when a line up of inspirational
speakers took to the podium.
First of the guest
speakers was
McDonalds’ Mike Bolton n
who took his listeners
back in time, explaining
how a potential crisis
– in McDonalds case,
the obesity issue of the
time – can be turned
into an eventual brand
opportunity by learning
to respond to issues
directly and manage
changes for long term
growth.
On tackling poor growth, innovation was high on Mike’s
list: ‘Who would have thought McDonalds would be
selling fruit bags?’ Mike commented during his speech.
Upholding brand standards to strengthen the group as a
whole was another of his key points.
Next guest speaker to the podium was Contiki’s John
Anderson who gave the audience more tools to add
to their store of knowledge, confi rming that brand is
everything and that quality cannot be compromised on.
After developing a brand from scratch, John’s early
experiences managing with inferior quality product –
buses in his case – taught him that quality must never be
compromised. As well as fast tracking Contiki along the
path of success, this new premise
also initiated a spin off business
– supplying the same high quality
buses to an ever-growing demand.
John’s inspirational passion for the brand continues
today, bringing a tear to the eye of some in the audience
as well as his own (the memories just as strong today,
even after having sold the business years ago).
DDC
Strategy’s Rod Young
cconcluded
the weekend’s
ttalks
with an uplifting
mmessage,
pointing out
AAustralia’s
position as top
pplayer
in the world for the
nnumber
of businesses to
ffranchise
systems. This,
RRod
said, provides the
‘ ‘safety of established
bbrands’
in times of global
fi
nancial crisis. Rod also
sstressed
the importance
oof
innovation and
bbranding
– protecting the
bbrand
and its values and
the value that comes from ‘strength in numbers’.
Inspired by the wealth of information and ready for
some wining and dining, franchisees and PACK & SEND
staff were soon whisked away for a sumptuous dinner,
entertainment and the awards presentation at the
spectacular Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Part of the night’s entertainment included, Adam Elliot,
2004 Oscar winner for Best Animated Short Film Harvey
Krumpet. Elliot regaled the audience with tales from his
long and challenging journey, sharing his experiences
of numerous obstacles, rejections, limited funding, long
hours and appalling work conditions ... to fi nally produce
a global winner!
The night culminated in what everyone had been waiting
for: the top performers for 2009. Capping the awards
off with the highest honour was ‘Franchisee of the Year’,
won by ... Shane and Sally Cole – Melbourne City 3!
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