What a fantastic day!

On Friday 22nd October we held our Annual Franchisee Convention which is the main event of our year when all our franchisees are invited for a day of motivation and information, rewards and Awards. And it’s fun!

It was wonderful to see almost all our franchisees in one place, all looking fabulous and fit, and ready to be inspired. Running a franchise means you are running your own business but under the ‘umbrella’ of the franchisor who creates the marketing, systems, training and in our case, the diet and materials needed for the members to achieve their weight and fitness goals. The system works because our franchisees are exceptionally special and highly talented and motivated as well as caring by nature so that our members really are well looked after and supported. The Convention is our opportunity to share our plans for the next twelve months to enable the franchisees to be as successful as possible whilst, at the same time, giving them the tools to enable them to help our members to achieve their goals.

Our Keynote Speaker was awesome. Adventurer, rock climber and runner Karen Darke fell off a mountain when she was 21 and became paralysed from her chest downwards. But she turned despair into challenge and has returned to her adventures and has completed the London Marathon alongside Tanni Grey-Thompson and has, after massive challenges and trials, managed to climb the 3000 ft El Capitan mountain in Yosemite National Park in California. The room, filled with over 200+ high-energy women was silent as she told her story and inspired and motivated everyone. The hour passed like five minutes. Karen was captivating!

Another highlight of the Convention is the presentation of 5, 10 and 15 Year Awards and I take great delight in presenting a smart glass award to those franchisees and staff who have loyally worked alongside us for five years. For the ten year Awards we are delighted to present a diamond studded Gucci watch, whilst those wonderful folk who have been franchisees or staff for fifteen years receive a diamond necklace. Needless to say, these awards are greatly appreciated and treasured. And this year, I presented our Chef Dean Simpole-Clarke with a rather fabulous watch as a thank you for working alongside me, creating recipes for my cookbooks and magazine and now featuring so much on http://www.rosemaryconley.tv/. He is a very special and talented guy. Thank you Dean!

The day was packed full of inspiring presentations from our staff and some of the franchisees. It was all brilliant.

At the end of the afternoon is the Awards Ceremony where top franchisees are rewarded for their incredible efforts to run brilliant businesses that help their local communities to become fitter and healthier. I presented our franchisee for Norwich, Sarah Skelton, with my own personal award because Sarah has been working with us to enhance and improve how we operate our classes. Sarah is an amazingly talented, bright lady and thoroughly deserved the Rosemary Conley Award.

Our Newcomer of the Year Award went to Sandie Martin (from Bournemouth) for launching her new franchise this year and turning it into a massive success story.

Our Business Development Award was given to Cherie Hunter from Swansea. Two years ago Cherie was thinking of leaving her franchise but after attending our Annual Convention that year she realised that it was her attitude that was wrong, not the business. So, with a change of heart - and attitude – Cherie set herself a goal to reach the Top 10 of all our franchisees in the network. And this year she did just that!

Our Franchisee of the Year Award is greatly coveted and highly respected and we always have ten finalists. To be in the top ten you have to be incredibly good on every level so all the finalists should feel extremely proud. Our winner this year is Lindsey Peters for Ware, Welwyn Garden City and St Albans. Lindsey was an instructor (working for a franchisee) for over 10 years before she bought a franchise herself. Since then she has won Newcomer of the Year in her first year and Franchisee of the Year in year two and she has been a finalist every year since starting as a franchisee. In that five years Lindsey, (supported by her partner Michael who also works in her business), has raised over £180,000 for charity and has also supported and mentored many other franchisees along the way. When I announced Lindsey as the overall winner the room immediately sprang to its feet as everyone applauded her with a standing ovation. Lindsey was totally shocked and just dissolved into tears – as did I – at being given the Award again. It was richly deserved as her class numbers, business performance and so much more are outstanding.

Well done to all our Award winners but also a massive ‘well done’ to all the finalists who had also achieved amazing performances.

The day finished with a glittering Black Tie Dinner and Dance and everyone looked stunning. There is always much dancing, laughter and general celebration and a warm feeling of satisfaction. The franchisees are re-energised. We have delivered our plans and everyone is happy. It’s a nice feeling.