Franchise Systems Group is a consultancy specialising in support services for organisations in or considering franchising. Our specialists deliver professionalism, a clear rationale and strong conceptual thinking to every project, adhering to timetables and budgets agreed in advance with the client. We operate in all Australian cities and in the UK, USA, Malaysia and China.
OUR TEAM Mike Padden
Mike Padden is one of Australia's most experienced Consultants and advisors in Franchising and was the Founding Vice President of the Franchisors Association of Australia (FCA), a body formed to promote the practice of Franchising as a business technique in Australia.
He is a Registered Consultant with the NSW Government Office of State and Regional Development and regularly consults to industry on marketing and distribution systems. He has experience in the food and pharmaceutical industries in sales and product management and has held management positions with companies such as Abbott Laboratories, Richardson Vicks and CSR.
His management experience includes hands on experience as the General Manager of a Franchised Retail Chain operating 165 outlets in six countries.
Mike specialises in organisational analysis, utilising the Executive Insight TM technique. This process is of particular value in identifying the key issues in an organisations business planning and the development of a strategic plan.
Mike has assisted a variety of clients in a diverse range of business sectors that have included: Accounting and Bookkeeping; Retail Clothing; Contract Cleaning; Cosmetic Retailing; Building Services; Insurance; Communications; Transport; Printing; Restaurants and Fast Food; Security etc.
Mike in conjunction with the FCA organised the first Franchising Trade Mission to the People's Republic of China. Australian expertise in franchising was welcomed by the Chinese Government Ministries and quasi government organisations. Several Joint Ventures resulted and Australian Franchisors are now established in the China market.
Michael was a founder and board member of Habitat for Humanity Australia, part of an International non-denominational organisation for the relief of poverty, building low cost housing throughout Australia and South East Asia.
William P. Lockett
Bill Lockett is a seasoned retailer with over 35 years international experience in senior management positions with major retailers in four very different countries: UK, Australia, Papua New Guinea and China. His consultancy experience includes recruitment and business advice to a variety of clients included shopping centres, variety stores, hardware chains, small retailers and government institutions. Bill understands what is at the heart of a successful operation, particularly the culture and value systems. He has significant experience in the definition of organisational direction and development of business plans for organisations. Bill is our operational specialist, with specific expertise in the field of franchisee recruitment, the establishment and implementation of performance measures, the planning, organisation and opening of stores and the development and implementation of training. Bill is also a director of a translation agency in Beijing. Amongst the company's clients are BHP, General Motors, Samsung, Volkswagen, Toshiba, Honda, AMP and Fiat.
Bram Baker
Postgraduate Diploma in Management (Macq) 1999, Master of Management (Macq) 2001. Bram has been involved in a number of SME's and larger organisations including the Commonwealth Bank, LEGO Building Systems and, for the past thirteen years, franchising. This franchising involvement has included: Development of Operations and Training Manuals for Sola-tube Franchising System Franchisee for over 3 and a half years with The Cheesecake Shop Franchise System Held positions of Marketing, Operations and General Manager of The Cheesecake Shop Franchise System over a period of five years. Carried out a complete review of operations during this period and introduced systems for Master Franchisees including KPI's. and other management strategies. This Group has over two hundred Franchisees and seven Master Franchisees covering Australia and New Zealand. Won a number of Franchise Awards while in leadership position Has conducted seminars on Franchising and customer service all over mainland Australia Established consultancy business in 2000, consulting to new and existing Franchised Groups in developing and updating Agreements, Operations Manuals, Strategies and Training. Assisted Franchise groups in promoting their system and finding new franchisees. Spoken at FCA (Franchise Council of Australia) functions and has contributed to Franchising Magazine on a number of occasions. On the panel of mediators with the Federal Govt's Office of the Mediation Advisor Member of FCA NSW Committee.