Expats barred Bollywood Beckham to from morning bad boy Dutt hang up treatment9 heads35 to jail his 47boots Max 36º Min 26º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 15811- Friday, May 17, 2013 KAC seeks lift from new jets See Page 9 Local FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013 Kuwait’s my business Local Spotlight What’s Kuwait missing - The list Traffic deportation: Get real! By John P Hayes By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] hich franchise would you bring to Kuwait?” That’s the it has an extraordinary taste profile. I like it because the meats are [email protected] question I’m asked most often by people who want to always fresh, not stored, and sliced in front of you. “Wbuy franchises. “What’s missing in our market?” people want to know. My list is too long for this column, so here’s my short NON-FOOD FRANCHISES hen I first read about it, thinking of it as just a list. Lest you think I think Kuwait only needs more food franchises, news item, I thought it was a joke. I honestly did Dairy Queen. think again. Here are some non-food franchises that ought to be in Wnot know if it was true or false. I have not seen or It was here years ago and failed. But it didn’t fail because con- Kuwait. With the number of events that occur daily in Kuwait, there’s read any document to ascertain whether this piece of sumers disliked the product. It failed due to poor management. This demand for Plan Ahead Events, which specializes in meeting and information was anything else, except what had appeared market thrives on frozen yogurt and ice cream - so why not frozen event management, but also includes trade shows, exhibitions and in the newspapers. So if any one has any additional infor- custard? It’s low in fat and calories and it’s been one of the most satis- incentive travel. It’s a low-cost franchise that doesn’t require a store- mation, please feel free to share. Now, today I really want fying treats in America since the 1950s. I got hooked to DQ as a child, front. There are numerous business coaching franchises including to discuss this idea which I have never seen in any other and wherever I go in the world today, I look for that brand. When I Action Coach, Executive Forums, and The Alternative Board. For peo- country. Does any other country do this? discovered DQ in Oman a few months ago, I was almost moved! ple who like to sell and influence others, business coaching is prof- I don’t think I know of any. I keep wondering who is Kuwait needs DQ, but it will take some convincing to bring it here itable and satisfying. And we need more of it in Kuwait. making all this calls, and why. If there is indeed any need again because the DQ folks are wary of the market. Surely there’s a to reduce the number of expats here, then this is not the convincing management team that would do well with this brand. TEACH KIDS ENGINEERING right way to do it. If this country doesn’t want more As engineering continues to trend in Kuwait, Bricks 4 Kidz might expats, then better not let them come in the first place. ANOTHER BURGER FRANCHISE? be a perfect match. This franchise teaches principles of engineering Don’t give them residency and work permit instead of For a country that’s crazy about burgers, why not Wendy’s? That to kids between the ages of three and 13 using LEGO bricks. Other keeping an eye on them and catching them and forcing brand also was here years ago, and failed, but not because of the children’s educational franchises would work here, too, including them to leave, all because someone committed a traffic product. A savvy management team could quickly build multiple Drama Kids International, Computer Tots, and Sylvan Learning, one violation which could be a minor offence. Don’t humiliate units in Kuwait and own a profitable business. By the way, Wendy’s of America’s leading educational franchises. people because they are expats. You have enough rules frozen dessert is called the Frosty. When I can’t find a DQ, I look for Many local businesses are looking for branding opportunities already for people of various nationalities. I personally Wendy’s! I rarely eat hamburgers, but I enjoy Wendy’s chili and sal- using products of all types from coffee cups to t-shirts to umbrellas. don’t see how these ideas can be justified. How can such ads. Smoothie King. It’s good for the diet, or so they say. I like Those businesses could use EmbroidMe, another well-established an idea be even sensible or logical? Smoothie King’s fresh blended fruit and protein based smoothies. American brand with international locations - perhaps eventually Any law that ordains to deport expats for traffic viola- The franchise requires small units that could easily pop up across to include Kuwait. The list goes on, but enough for now. Actually, I tions is the most unjustified law. If anyone threatens Kuwait. don’t really like the question all that much because what I think someone’s life or causes death, I can understand that that Kuwait needs doesn’t necessarily matter. If you’re going to buy a person will have to go to jail and then deported. However, YOU LIKE WINGS? franchise it’s most important to know if you’re a good fit for fran- using traffic violations as an excuse for deporting people Who doesn’t like chicken wings? That’s why Kuwait needs chising and most people are not. In a future column I’ll tell you is something I cannot make my peace with. If any of us Wingstop. This hugely successful American brand would like to why. were to and stay in a country and were to be caught for develop in Kuwait, and throughout the Middle East, and the right committing a traffic violation, and the authorities were to management team can grab this opportunity. Wingstop prepares Dr John P Hayes wrote the first book about how to buy a franchise in sent us back home on that account, we would call it a chicken wings in 10 different flavors - I’m hungry right now for 1986 and since then has worked with more than 100 franchised most unfair act. Then why don’t we see the situation in Lemon Pepper, or Jersey Mike’s! People in New Jersey know good brands internationally. He is the Head of Business Administration at case of others similarly? How are we any better? I hope food, and that’s where this sub sandwich franchise began in the late GUST where he teaches marketing. Contact Dr Hayes at that this was just a piece of false news, meant only to elicit 1950s. It’s not the largest sub franchise, but it’s one of the oldest, and [email protected], or via Twitter @drjohnhayes. people’s comments. It just can’t be true. In my view Not in Kuwait By Labeed Abdal [email protected] hen I see the main headlines in the newspa- sector is all about controlling the services and state’s plan to live and stay in this preferred home away from pers, including those about electricity power affairs concerning the citizens, the expats and the home. Wcuts, deportation of a million expats in 10 country. These include public health, defense, interior The public happiness must be a priority. I will feel years, the jumbo sized mistake with Dow Chemicals, communications and education etc. I really do not happy as a citizen and as an expat if I am emotionally huge delays in plans to make Kuwait green ever since want to be negative but it is just that first we must stick feeling good, and not disturbed. I must feel positive the times of late Sheikh Jabber Al Ahmad Al Sabbah, to promote effective measures against corruption. Only and satisfied at being in Kuwait. I want to tell myself expats facing problems with residency permits, choc-a- then will we be considered a country to reckon with. that I made a good choice in my life. It is about coming bloc parking spaces near complexes, I go numb some- We cannot just keep talking about corruption and back with a smile, not feeling sick or an unwanted bur- times. My entire thinking process comes to a grinding visa problems. We also need to remember that public den. All kinds of monitoring and record keeping must halt. I am just too overwhelmed. happiness is fading away, something that is underlined be aimed towards this end. Moreover, we must make Definitely, we all have an image of a Kuwait evolving by the fact that citizens take a flight to run away on any sure that such happiness is for real and not faked or into a better and more developed country. We all think holiday, even if it is a national day. Also, the expats transient. one day it will be more advanced and there will be no have increasing concerns when they see or hear about daily difficulties that cause stress. I know the public any sudden decisions that disturb them when they Local FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2013 In my view Jolie good decision MORNING NIGHTMARE: A traffic jam in Salmiya during school hours as parents stop along the By Priyanka Saligram road to drop their kids.