The solution to the problem of quickly creating personal contacts on an international basis is here. That's the bold claim of the company behind the new Global Direct service, a global network for local service. It offers the internationally active person free information and a personal guide to everything from work to leisure. All over the world Global Direct trains franchisees, who let web users benefit from their local knowledge. Here, the keyword is personal service.

"Our business idea of local franchisees is the first example in the world of Internet franchising," says Claes Settergren, Managing Director of Global Direct. "It makes it possible for many to enjoy the kind of service that up to now has been the privilege of the few."
The scheme has been running since the beginning of 1998 and today there are some 75 local representatives. Before the end of the year this figure will probably have increased to around 200. The aim is to provide a presence in each of the 3500 most interesting places in the world.


Training on the Internet
It costs nothing to become a franchisee. Instead, what is invested is the participants' personal qualities and their time.
All prospective franchisees are selected and trained in ten steps via the Internet. Each step ends with a test, where the only result that qualifies for a pass is getting all answers right. The selection process ends with an interview.
"We're seeking people who can function as ambassadors for their own community," says Claes Settergren. "They may be involved in business, tourism, the Internet, local government etc. The most important thing is that they have good knowledge of local industry, that they have a sense of service and that they speak English as well as the language spoken locally."
The reward for the franchisee is half of all the advertising revenue that the company generates for that particular community - and all the income from the personal service.

Information on three levels
There are three levels to the network service. The basic level is local information about areas like local government and industry, hotels and travel, restaurants, culture and shopping in the community in question. Here, users can click on whatever interests them.
Any remaining queries can be resolved in a discussion forum linked to each community. Users send in their questions and get answers on the home page from other users or from the local representative.
"Up to that point the user gets everything for free," says Claes Settergren. "There's no requirement to register, and membership is optional. For further service the user contacts the local representative via e-mail, mail, telephone or fax. Together they define the task and what the solution will cost. The task may be anything from booking tickets for a sought-after performance to arranging an entire program for a visit."

For further information, contact:
Global Direct, Claes Settergren, Managing Director,
Box 53232, 400 16 Gothenburg, Sweden
Phone +46 708 81 49 30, fax +46 31 20 30 55
e-mail: staff@GDirect.com
Internet: www.GDirect.com

Franchisee Lars-Göran Sohlberg
Friedrichsberg 47, 70567 Stuttgart, Germany
Phone +49 172 730 53 07, fax +49 711 719 09 48
e-mail: sunrock@circular.de
Internet: www.GDirect.com/Europe/Germany/Stuttgart/satellite