Franchise Information, advice and news.

From PlayStation 3s, iPods and Wi-Fi to laptops, HDTV and the internet, it seems 'digitalness' is taking over the world leaving traditional ideas and pastimes in its wake.

However, although the trendy white earphones of an iPod and the astonishing clarity and playability of the PlayStation 3 are all well and good, the digital world still lacks the versatility of a good, trusty book.

For music, the digital revolution has taken us farther from the original concept of a record as is possible – now there is not only no large black disc in a huge sleeve featuring a picture of the artist; there is no longer even anything tangible as people simply download a track from the mysteries of the internet and it magically appears in their ears.

But, of course, you can't give someone an mp3 track for their birthday, all wrapped up, nor can a teenager pour over the arty album sleeve of their favourite band. The same can be said for books. Even with downloadable books and stories – they are no match for the solid, real world object.

Over £2 billion was spent on books in the UK in 2002 alone, with 130,000 new or revised titles released annually. And sales are shooting up as consumers realise that no matter how hard they try, they can't continue staring at a computer screen all day and that a book that would make an ideal gift for dad is better wrapped up than downloaded.

And so bookstores have continued to thrive where other retail sectors have descended into their death throes. Much of this continued love of the written word and the humble book, especially among modern children, can be attributed to classics such as the Lord of the Rings and a certain Mr Potter having been made into money-printing movie franchises, but the idea remains the same. People buy books; for themselves, and for others.

And so starting a bookstore yourself, as an entrepreneur looking for a new business, can be a healthy choice. Owning a franchise bookstore, however, is not just about selling a few books. Most bookstore franchises are huge, highly organised and professional organisations who sell large numbers of books, accessories and other paraphernalia.

Anybody considering moving into the franchising sector needs to consider the market as a whole, researching sales peaks, footfall in certain areas, set up costs and personal finances, before making any decisions on an investment. But, as the old saying goes, a book should not be judged by its cover, and the book-selling industry has a lot to offer the business-minded manager.

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