alWaseet International Quarterly Newsletter June 2007 | Issue N.3 Waseet “Build to Last” Waseet’s 1st 7th Convention Regional Campaign AWI at the News from Franchise Exhibition Departments The Guinness World Newbies Records Tabouk, Ihsaa, North Lebanon WASEET ‘BUILD TO LAST’ AT KUWAIT CONFERENCE Annual convention marks 15 years anniversary for the regions’ most successful free weekly classified AlWaseet International (AWI) gathered their 120 strong management team from all over the Middle East - MENA - at their AWI annual convention at the Hilton Kuwait Resort. Also present were VIP’s Mr. Mohamed Abdulaziz Al Otaibi and Sheikh Sabah Jaber Moubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah. The theme of the conference, ‘Build To Last’ reflects the AWI vision of the future with 2 an anticipated 100 operations planned by 2012 in the MENA region and beyond. With coverage that currently extends to nine countries the Waseet classified which has both Arabic and English versions, is already read by 20 million every week. June 2007 | Issue N.3 According to Bashar Kiwan, CEO of Alwaseet International, “It is 15 years since myself, Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, and Sheikh Sabah Jaber Al-Sabah, started with a small operation in Kuwait city in 1992. Since then Waseet has gone from strength to strength and our success is very much down to the committed management team headed by John Fawaz, who is driving our plan for continued corporate expansion.” The convention lasted three days, during which the Waseet team attended the general presentations, presented their Business plans, and discussed various new Waseet projects. The second day was dedicated to different workshop sessions: Commecial, HR, Finance, Circulation, and Production, to communicate the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) that should be applied in all branches. The third and last day was the closure ceremony, whereby the branches were rewarded based on the 2006 performance. The whole team of the Kuwait branch, headed by Mr. Ashraf Georges did a great job organizing the convention, and insuring that everyone felt home. Mohammed Al Otaibi, Bashar Kiwan & Majd Suleiman Mohammed Al Otaibi and Bashar Kiwan reading the 1st Tarek el Fahd, Samy Abdel Ahad, & Raymond Kanaan issue of Waseela Tabouk Sheikh Al Sabah & Ashraf George Eygpt Team 23 Branches...1 Team... AWI PRESENT THEIR FRANCHISE MODEL AT THE FRANCHISE ME EXHIBITION The alWaseet International team joined their Managing Director, John Fawaz during March when he delivered a AWI captivating presentation on the development and future 3 June 2007 | Issue N.3 plans for Waseet at the Franchise ME Exhibition, Dubai World Trade Centre. Waseet is the first publication in the region to John Fawaz franchise. With Waseet’s highly recognizable brand, sophisticated circulation and demand in the international marketplace, franchising has become a crucial step in the company’s expansion plans. And with alWaseet International’s experience and success in international expansion, the company is well equipped to establish a lucrative business model that can be emulated and successfully operated anywhere in the world. Waseet, we list it, you choose it The Franchise Department of AWI has developed its model for the international market with the expert help of the Franchise Development Services (FDS), who have been recognized since 1981 as world leader in providing a total range of services to the franchise market. According to Roger Nasrallah, Development Director of AWI, “ The Franchise exhibitions form a crucial Marketing opportunity for us. These exhibitions are usually attended by entrepreneurs, and companies are seriously looking to invest in a franchise business. And through such events, we will be The Waseet team at the exhibition able to gain exposure in various countries” Waseet Launches its First Regional Avertising Campaign AWI Waseet launched its first regional Advertising Campaign in9 TVC: 20 sec ads with three Radio ads: recorded in 5 countries. versions each focusing on a different accents to be 4 category. The production is suitable for each market. June 2007 | Issue N.3 The campaign unified the messages of waseet in various based on 3D animations The radio ads featured markets to communicate one slogan, and therefore and settings created to add one general 30 sec spot, underline the regional identity of waseet as one publication a sense of humor to the and 3 others of 15 sec localized in 24 markets. TV concept. duration. The radio ads are straightforward, concise, The campaign’s slogan “we list it, you choose 3 actors were chosen and within the same it” characterizes Waseet as a creator of choice in terms carefully with suitable humoristic frame. of classified ads, and highlights the usage of waseet as a looks, and features to reference guide to buy or sell any items within three main match the context of the categories: Jobs, Cars, Real Estate. ad. The closing frames mentioned clearly both The campaign also communicates the actual number of Waseet and Waseela. classifieds published on a weekly basis, identifying the real strength of waseet as a regional Market leader. The campaign used a funny and attractive approach, based on the slang Arabic and English spoken expressions about jobs, real estate and cars. Qatar Lebanon Sudan AWI 5 June 2007 | Issue N.3 UAE Eygpt KSA Kuwait Bahrain HR Department The HR Department at AWI started the implementation of As for the main features the new Human Resources Information System, which will set of this HRIS, in addition and unify the Companies General Parameters including: to the main Personnel & Companys’ main details. Administration functions, Definition of both analytical and general accounting analysis and HR: DEPARTMENTS information. Skills Management. Unified HR Coding and Terminology. Training Management. 6 Unify HR policy and practice all over linked operations. Career Planning. June 2007 | Issue N.3 Definition of the company’s organizational chart. Performance Evaluation. The system will link the branches to the head office, where Before end of the year management can see all the information live, from the 2007, the system will be branches, which would help in analyzing data and taking implemented in all Waseet/ manpower decision in an easier and faster way. Waseela operations. HR SOP As for the scope of this SOP, Personnel records - Training in supervisory/ In the first quarter of 2007, it encompasses: official employee records management AWI launched the new HR Personnel policy, maintenance, processing development, and job skills SOP, the SOP will be: interpretation and integration of personnel actions and commonly needed (but not A system of internal controls. of Waseet personnel performance evaluations, technical job skills training). Criteria for decisions regulations, and trends. and employment Grievance and appeal on appropriate Human Job postings and verification. resolution but not Resources treatment. recruitment assistance. Statistical reporting: representation of managers Direction and guidance in Layoff, separation and turnover, sick leave or employee. connection with processes reemployment consultation. usage, Equal Employment Design and maintenance and procedures that must Payroll and compensation Opportunity (EEO) of employee evaluation be uniform throughout all plan maintenance. demographics, employee and work performance our operations. statistical abstract, etc. standards. Commercial Department In January 2007, during the Waseet convention, the 1. Maged Saad from Cairo branch with a 107% Q1 Sales Achievement vs. Target! Commercial Department launched the WASEET SALES 2. Bassel Domit from Kuwait branch with a 101% Q1 Sales Achievement vs. Target! MANAGER BAHRAIN FORMULA ONE CONTEST to evaluate the performance of the Waseet sales team in the first quarter of The winners the year, and reward the best achievers. Two winners were took part of the selected based on the best Sales Achievement Vs Target Bahrain Grand for Quarter 1. The three winners accomplished the sales Prix experience target within the 1st quarter and therefore deserved to be and enjoyed 3 rewarded! days of speed, thrill, fun, and partying!! All expenses paid by Bassel Doumit and Maged Saad The 2 winners with Raymond Kanaan ,Fadi AWI. Harfoush and Roland Khoury Operations Development Department Another Department, Another Challenge A new department is born at the AWI Head Quarter. The Operations Development The department’s objectives Department is now established to startup and launch any new corporate operation. for 2007 are challenging. It The new department has a long list of new operations until 2011, with an average of 8 new includes opening of Waseet operations a year. Al’Jahra in Kuwait, Waseet Southern Lebanon, Waseet DEPARTMENTS This entity’s job starts by identifying new potential markets for Waseet, surveying and getting AlSaiid in Egypt, Waseet acknowledged with the market place, studying operational and financial feasibility of Moscow, Waseet RAK in 7 the probable new operations, having the new projects approved by Board of Directors, UAE, Waseet Nicosia in June 2007 | Issue N.3 and finally, launching and managing the pre-opening procedures until issue 5 of the new Cyprus and finally Waseet branch. Istanbul in Turkey; All are corporate branches. The Operations development is lead by Maher Nassar who paved his path in Waseet since 1999, assisted by Lieziel Gante who’s responsible for data collection & analysis supporting Maher and his team will not succeed in their mission if not the build up of the new