Meeting to encourage entrepreneurs
MIDRAND - The next Biz Mix Networking session will host a "franchise king" on 28 May from 10am to 12pm at the VodaWorld Conference Centre.
Al Karaki of the sessions said Basil O’Hagan is one of the industry’s leading franchising authorities and he would speak at the session which would educate attendees on entrepreneurship.
“Basil O’Hagan began his marketing career as a brand manager for Brooke Bond Oxo, ultimately a Unilever subsidiary. After various promotions at Brooke Bond Oxo, he became regional sales manager. Here he acquired firsthand sales knowledge and was ultimately named national marketing manager. In 1980, he was appointed marketing director of Royal Beechnut for South Africa,” said Karaki.
He said in 1982 O’Hagan embarked on his entrepreneurial career as a sales and promotion specialist and developed over 2 000 promotional campaigns for various companies over a 10-year period. “The company, Basil O’Hagan & Associates, grew to become the largest sales promotions agency in South Africa in the early ’90s,” said Karaki.
O’Hagan’s Irish Pub & Grill chain was launched in 1993 and received a number of accolades over the years, including receiving the franchiser of the year by the Franchise Association of Southern Africa in 1997.
“Unfortunately as a result of high interest rates as well as stock market crashes in Asia, O’Hagan’s Investment Holdings was liquidated and Basil had to start from scratch. He then built the Brazen Head brand, which today is one of the largest authentic Irish restaurant and pub franchised brands in the world,” said Karaki.
He said O’Hagan’s life story of rags to riches and then down again was “amazing”.
Details: 082 554 8873 or info@midrandforum.co.za
