Set up just 18 months ago thebestof has quickly attracted franchisees to operate its websites right across the UK. These local information sites, run by local people, feature local businesses, information, news, places to go and things to do. The sites currently attract over 400,000 unique visitors every month, and feature over 40,000 advertisers.

thebestof is the brainchild of experienced franchisors, Sue and Nigel Botterill. The Botterills created the highly successful My Mag franchise, which operates a network of 1,000 publications in six countries and is read by more than five million people. thebestof is a natural online extension of this concept. It features town-by-town news and services, everything from plumbers to paper shops, carpenters to curry houses, bike shops to banks.

Dean Biggs explains why they've signed up for thebestof:'Sue and Nigel have a great track record in the franchising world which we've experienced first hand by running the My Mag franchise in Durham. When they said they were developing a web-based idea, we were obviously keen to get involved. So many people are using the web to find the information, products and services they need. It's great to have a chance to tap into this trend.'

The Biggs are already highly successful franchisees; their My Mag business in Durham is thriving, its distribution increased from 1,500 to 7,000 last month alone.

Nigel Botterill, MD of thebestof says: 'Dean and Emma really know how to make a local business fly, and thebestof is a business with that kind of potential. We've seen franchisees go from a standing start to a £100,000+ turnover business very quickly, and the Biggs have the mix of local contacts, experience and enthusiasm to do that level of business.'

thebestof has established franchisees operating local sites in virtually all the major centres in the UK, from Aberdeen in the north, to Plymouth in the south, from Llandudno in the west and Norwich in the East. However, there are still a few franchises available.

Published: 7 December 2006

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