Housing franchise DUAL HOME holds first national convention in Sapporo, using franchisee feedback to strengthen support

DUAL HOME, the housing franchise brand operated by Architec Planning Co., Ltd., held its first national convention at Asty Hall in Sapporo, Japan. According to an announcement dated 1 November 2026, the event covered updates to its housing range and business strategy, while giving franchisees an opportunity to discuss sales challenges. Drawing partly on a post-event survey, the company has begun strengthening franchisee support this autumn, including through seminars.

Hokkaido housing brand brings together franchisees from across Japan

DUAL HOME is a bespoke housebuilding brand originating in Hokkaido, with a focus on ‘performance × design’. It is expanding its franchise network across Japan, targeting local builders and building contractors. The first DUAL HOME National Convention brought together representatives and owners of franchise businesses from different regions, alongside partner companies supporting the brand.

The convention was designed to strengthen ties between participating companies and share plans for the next stage of growth. Notably, it included discussions between franchisees rather than simply providing information from head office. Businesses operating in different regions were able to discuss the housing range and sales activities directly with one another.

The brand identifies its network for sharing practical know-how and success stories as one of its strengths. Its first national convention provided an opportunity to reinforce those peer relationships face to face. The programme linked networking within the franchise community to specific discussions about products and sales activities.

Housing range updates and operational efficiency on the agenda

The first part of the convention featured a presentation on head office strategy, an explanation of updates to the housing range and a business-card exchange session. On the product side, the company outlined its intention to evolve the range in response to changing customer needs. It also shared future marketing plans and initiatives intended to enhance the brand’s value.

The second part focused on improving operational efficiency through digital transformation, alongside discussions about product and sales strategies. The agenda went beyond head office policy and housing specifications to address practical questions about streamlining everyday work and conducting sales activities.

According to the announcement, franchisees actively exchanged views on responding to competitors, using promotional tools and tackling day-to-day sales challenges. By covering both updates to the housing range and sales issues at the same event, the convention gave participants an opportunity to consider the brand’s direction alongside their own operational activities.

However, explaining product changes and efficiency measures is not the same as achieving results within franchise businesses. The main developments reported in this announcement were the sharing of plans and challenges, followed by steps to strengthen support.

Participant feedback shapes seminars and other support

Head office says it has begun a comprehensive strengthening of its support arrangements, including franchisee seminars, following the convention and feedback gathered through the participant survey. This signals an intention to turn the event into a basis for ongoing support, rather than treating it as a one-off networking occasion.

Survey excerpts published by the company included positive comments about sharing challenges and initiatives with other franchisees and identifying areas for future improvement. Some participants also said they felt reassured after speaking with peers across Japan who had started their businesses in similar circumstances.

These are participant assessments selected and published by the company, not numerical evidence of improvements in sales or working hours. Nevertheless, they suggest that the exchanges went beyond socialising to include clarifying challenges and reviewing future actions.

Head office intends to continue providing opportunities for franchisees to connect and learn from one another. It also highlights support through a dedicated franchisee portal and ongoing communication. A key point to watch will be how the company combines face-to-face national conventions with routine information sharing to support franchisees’ businesses.

Prospective franchisees should examine the practical support that follows networking

DUAL HOME is recruiting franchisees with a stated focus on addressing challenges faced by local builders and building contractors, including product development, promotion and customer acquisition, and strengthening sales capabilities. The convention also covered products, promotion and sales, so its agenda aligned with the support areas highlighted in franchise recruitment.

For businesses considering joining, the important question is not simply whether a national convention takes place, but how the information shared there can be applied to their own operations. A company focused on product development, for example, will need different support from one prioritising customer acquisition or sales improvements. Clarifying internal challenges before reviewing seminar and portal content will make comparisons more meaningful.

The announcement set out plans to strengthen support in response to franchisee feedback. During discussions with the franchisor, prospective franchisees should check seminar topics and frequency, who can attend, and how questions and requests for advice are handled. When reviewing examples from existing franchisees, it is also useful to look for businesses operating under similar conditions, such as location and scale.

The practical takeaway is to assess networking opportunities and ongoing support together. Before joining, businesses should clearly identify the challenges they want to resolve and confirm the specific support available, along with the conditions for accessing it.