FRANCHISE RESEARCH & STRATEGY INSTITUTE, INC.

The franchise business started in the 60’s in Japan has been maintaining good growth even under the current severe economic conditions, for its own rationality and Innovativeness has been accepted by society. However, as a consequence of good growth, its social responsibility has been increased and disparity in quality between franchisors has expanded. After 40 years since the business had started, now it can be said that it’s in an age when only the true franchise business can enjoy growth.

Franchise Research & Strategy Institute (“FRSI”), since established in 1998, has supported the growth of the franchise business that must be accepted by society in the true sense. Now in a new age when franchise business is put to the test, FRSI improved the strong support system for your business.

Hoping for healthy growth and development of the franchise business in the world, we will pursue the realization of the business with franchisors and franchisees that have sublime philosophy.

Akihiko Uchikawa
President and CEO

Management Principles

Our fundamental principle is that we contribute to improvement and development of management in retailing, food-service business, and other service business small and medium-scaled through our dissemination and enlightenment activities of real franchise business. We will develop a network functioning as economies of network, analyze business scientifically, and contribute to society, with participation of like-minded people who agree with the purpose and the mission of our fundamental principle.

President / CEO
Akihiko Uchikawa

Profile

• At Restaurant Seibu, now named as Seiyo Food Systems Inc.; Served as Supervisor of Customer Service Dept. at French cuisine
• At Dunkin Doughnuts; Served as General Manager at first plot type store in Japan, Supervisor and Area Manager
• At Sun Chain, now named as Lawson, Inc. (: one of the leading convenience store in Japan); Served as General Manager of Commodity Dept, Overall Planning Dept, Development Dept and Operating Dept. Also served as the chief negotiator representing Sun Chain when they merged with Daiei Group
• At Nikomart; Served as General Manager of Commodity Dept, Sales Dept, Commodity Division, Development Division, Area Franchise Operation Dept.
• Independent Consultant; Established Franchise Research & Strategy Institute.

Present post

• President and CEO of Franchise Research & Strategy Institute Inc.
• General Manager of Customer Service Dept. and Lecturer of Supervising School at Japan Franchise Association
• Lecturer of Supervising School at The Institute of Marketing & Distribution Research
• Guest Researcher of Mitsubishi Research Institute
• Member of consultant center for small scale business
• Expert adviser on Management assistance at The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Lectures

• At Japan Franchise Association
• At Taiwan Franchise Association
• At Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc.
• At Nikkei (Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc.)
• At Recruit Co., Ltd.
• At The Institute of Marketing & Distribution Research
• At Daiichi Communications
• At Local Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Japan, and many others.

Publications

• “Actual Franchise Business” (Nikkei)
• “Marketing Strategy for independent store and local CVS chain store” (Business-sha)
• “How to start CVS, and how to maintain it. -2nd” co-authored (Business-sha)
• “Total Research for CVS Merchandising” co-authored (The Shogyokai Publishing Co.,Ltd.) and many others.

We will show you the Golden Rule of Success.

1、Support for Building and Restructuring of Franchise Headquarters

Starting up a Franchise Business, FRSI can provide broad support in development of Franchisee’s business category, building of Franchise Headquarters, and recruiting Franchisees.

1. Consultation for the posibility to start Franchise Business
2. Building of the Business Package of the prototype (:standard) company store
3. Building of the Franchise Package
4. Building of the outline of Franchise System
5. Formulation of Business plans
6. Education & Training for Headquarters staffs
7. Marketing for Recruiting Franchisees

2、Support for Education & Training

FRSI can organize custom-made trainings and seminars to the needs or requests of each company, so that it can be also conducted for executives, recruiters, merchandisers, supervisors store managers, and part-time workers separately.

1. Holding seminars to fix up franchise headquarters in the US.
2. Organizing various domestic seminars
3. Organizing overseas study seminars
4. Education and training program for executives
5. Education and training program for supervisors
6. Education and training program for store managers
7. Education and training program for franchise owners
8. Education and training program for Headquarters staffs

3、Support for becoming a franchisee

There are several cases of becoming a franchisee, such as the case of a self-employed entrepreneur, or the case that a company starts it up as a new business. However, in any case, there are important points to prosper in franchise business.

Points of becoming a franchisee

For the case of a self-employed entrepreneur, the following three points are important:

1. Chose a promising market, and select the business category suitable for you.
2. Give due consideration in selecting headquarters.
3. Select a site location and real estate for the store suited to the business category.
   In addition to above three points, the following is also important for the case of a company.
4. Staff the best talent.

Corporate Profile

Guide map to the Head Office