Parlez vous anything 4 me?

Roughly, and I mean WAY roughly, the above title translates into "Do you speak anything that I know or can use?"  Some French, some English, some "txt speak".  Which is how I'm feeling heading into our company's first Euro Expo on mainland European soil.  All previous conferences have been in the UK, where our stores have been concentrated.  Today, we have more stores with our two brands, SIGNARAMA and EmbroidMe outside of the UK than within, so our expo will be in Zurich.  I've never been to Switzerland before, so I'll be my usual tourist self and have a bunch of video (via Flip Cam) and pictures of it all. This I'm excited about.

For the first time, we'll be presenting and holding a conference for franchisees that may not speak English.  We have prepared by sending our Master Franchisors all of our presentations with designs on having them translate them into the mother tongue of their country, and have them available at their tables for viewing live as we speak.  We did this in a limited manner at our last World Expo in Orlando, but this time we are expecting 17 countries to attend.  There will be franchisees in the audience that never came to our US training center prior to starting their business. They might not know who our CEO Ray is, who our Brand Presidents Jim & Mark are, or who I am - other than seeing our photos in brochures or our quarterly magazines.  It's odd to think that I have to convey the same message as I did in Australia, at the same type of conference with the same theme, to an audience that meets me for the first time.  In Australia, I have been to all 10 of their expos since 1998.  They get me.  I've done all UK and Euro Expos to date - always with our franchisees as attendees. People who though their experiences had seen me before, heard me before, and came with some confidence that what I deliver I am qualified to deliver.  Is this making sense?

I have really good information for the franchisees this year, I've put a good deal of time doing research to bring new concepts to them that I believe can impact their businesses. I will do the same presentations as in Brisbane.  I will share the same experiences at breakfasts, lunches and dinners with our franchisees.  I may tone down the jokes, I only know English punch lines!  I'll even wear a similar costume for dress up night - a party themed dinner where we have fun and appreciate our suppliers.  We have a long history of doing franchisee conferences and meetings.  This will add to that history, knowing there's only one "first ever".  And I'll report back how it goes...

-dm

Zurich, Switzerland