―Please tell us the details of sharing roles among the three companies operating the IFE Japan.

Shimabukuro: Idealink plays the role of the main sponsor of the IFE Japan, managing the general operation of the expo and performing the business activity to gather exhibiting companies. We are aiming for exhibition of attractive FC companies, hopefully with more than 50 Japanese and 40 foreign companies.

Fujita: At the stage where IFE Japan exhibitors (FC headquarters) and participants (FC member applicants) agree to start business together, we provide the support required to start a business, while paying attention to important points to consider during business talks between different countries (such as negotiation of conditions and contract checking).

Portesy: To make the IFE Japan successful, MFV Expositions will generously provide know-how based on the exhibitions we have cultivated in the U.S. and the IFE brand. However, although we are exhibition professionals, we are not well-informed about Japanese culture and business practices. So, since we are holding it in Tokyo, we need to find the optimum solutions for Japan. That’s why it is reassuring for us that we can form a team with President Fujita, who knows the Japanese and American franchise business well, and President Shimabukuro, who has a strong network in the Japanese FC industry and has rich experience in FC exhibitions and events.

―President Shimabukuro, you have a lot of contact with FC owners in the course of business. What kind of business type is currently popular in Japan?

Shimabukuro: The popular business type is slightly different between sole proprietors and corporate contracts. For sole proprietors, house cleaning that can be started with a small investment, tutoring schools, and shop businesses without stock are popular. On the other hand, for corporate contracts, fitness, nursing care and restaurants are often chosen. Until recently, the recycle shop business was popular, too.

The common points that growing FC companies have is that the franchise system has been firmly established. Even if the FC headquarter is small and there are a few directly managed shops, there are many successful cases of tutoring schools, massage shops and fitness businesses that expand business to more than 100 shops in various places in Japan. Also, as well as growing industries such as nursing care, education businesses that can use the subsidy system from the government can be expected to grow significantly in the future.

―I see. For overseas brands, what kind of business type easily becomes popular in Japan?

Fujita: For American brands, of course food businesses often become popular in Japan. Including premium burgers, sweets such as cupcakes and pies, restaurants with healthy food concepts that are mainly serving salads, business with aspects that are uncommon in Japan have a tendency to be accepted. There are also successful cases of fitness businesses. In the U.S., there are many specialized fitness businesses, so I really want to introduce them to FC member applicants in Japan.

Portesy: There are indeed many American companies that want to expand to Japan. For this IFE Japan, we will talk to many American companies. We would like to bring popular FCs that always have lines from six in the morning to Japan.

―Thank you very much. Finally, please give us a message to companies and individuals that are thinking of exhibiting at or visiting the IFE Japan.

Portesy: At the IFE Japan, which will be held for the first time in Japan this year, we will provide stages where you can link to FC companies that have so far been difficult to contact. As exhibitions by companies are not the end, we will provide support to help establish your business, so we hope many people will participate.

Fujita: Although there are some franchise expos already existing in Japan, the main exhibitors and visitors are Japanese companies. That means they are not the place where you can meet American companies that don’t have a base in Japan yet, nor could Japanese companies that want to expand to Asia make offers to Asian managers. However, with this IFE Japan, we will finally manage to create a place for those opportunities. So please visit.

Shimabukuro: I want to bring overseas franchise brands to Japan. It was about a year and a half ago when I first strongly thought so. At an FC event we organized, a visitor asked us “Is this event organized by them?” and named one of our competitors. When we answered “This event is organized by us, Idealink,” the person left, saying “The exhibitor companies are same as the event organized by your competitor, so it’s not interesting.” As event professionals, this inspired an impassioned thought that “we must organize events that visitors can truly enjoy!”

And now, getting to know President Fujita and President Portesy, and receiving help from many people, we’ve finally managed to hold the IFE, which has been driving the FC industry, in Tokyo. As well as the line-ups of exhibitor companies, many FC member applicants from various countries are planning to participate. Making it different from FC events held in Japan before, we will make this an expo where every visitor can say “this event provides something that other events don’t.” We hope you will look forward to it.