Computing Chip 7 extends network to the Azores

The largest retail chain specializing in Portuguese computing Chip7, will extend its activities in 2010 to Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Madeira and the Azores, said yesterday the agency Lusa the company's founder.
"I have everything closed up half of the year," said Michael Miller, referring to are ongoing meetings with 30 interested in extending the network to those three countries and two autonomous regions through master franchising contracts.
The founder and majority shareholder (90 percent) of Chip7, founded in 1994 in Porto, said the "success" of the franchise model adopted by the mark a little over a year, allowing the network to expand from 20 to 64 stores, all in mainland Portugal.
"Our franchise was born in October 2008 and already have 64 stores. By the end of January, we will reach 70," he said, adding that the next openings will be in Guimaraes, Baiao, Resende, Cinfães and loaded.
Miguel Monteiro said that following several requests, was a special model designed to expand the network outside the continent, a model which gives "too much freedom," the future "master franchise".
"The idea is to find someone to develop the business there. It is a model with a lot of freedom. The franchisees do not need to buy the products. They can buy locally," he said.
The entrepreneur explained that franchisees receive training services, marketing and technical support the brand, which include production of brochures, newsletters sent to "almost 300 thousand people, call center customer service, web site for "10 thousand products and a network of" clinical "computer.
"Joining our network is how to compete with large retail," he said, stressing that "almost all the stores are franchise stores transformations that already exist and are working with the brand Chip7.
Miguel Monteiro Angola hopes to open in "six to seven stores in the next one to two years, that number could grow to" 30 seven / ten years. "
"Only here, the network may have a half dozen or more stores," he said, noting that the Angolan capital is an expanding market, where there are approximately 150 computer companies.
The future master franchise of Chip7 in Angola will have to pay the company an entry fee of 100 euros and from the second year, a fee ( "fee") monthly salary corresponding to "a maximum of 30 percent ' fee 'for each store. "
The master franchise agreements for Africa and autonomous regions will be five years, two more than the typical contract with a franchised retailer, who must pay 10 euros to enter the network, plus a "monthly fee basis ranging from 350 and 650 euros.
The Chip7 was born in 1994 as a small shop in the Centro Comercial Stop, in Oporto, and currently 78 employees and headquarters in Gandra, Walls.