Sendula, who has owned the Enfield branch for three years, opted to move into the sign sector after having built up an impressive property portfolio, including The Jazz Cade in the Camden area of London.
Despite having established himself in the property sector, Sendula said he was keen to expand into a new market and identified the sign industry as an area that offered plenty of potential in terms of growth.
“I could see the sign industry had loads of potential, but I had no experience of the industry whatsoever, so it made sense to look around for different ways to get started—start my own, buy somebody else's, invest in a franchise,” Sendula explains.
Sendula identified the latter option as his best route into the industry and was attracted to the Signarama model.
I have five staff and have just become the first Signarama franchisee in the UK to have a flatbed printer installed”
Having spoken about his plans with the company, Sendula was approved to become a franchisee and was given specialist training by Signarama in order to prepare him for life in the sign market.
“It was clear that franchising offered me a great opportunity to learn about the industry quickly and hit the ground running, it was also a big plus that I knew I would have their ongoing support,” Sendula says.
“We worked together to find the right location and develop a business plan to get the store launched and up and running a quickly as possible.
“That was three years ago this month and now I have five staff and have just become the first Signarama franchisee in the UK to have a flatbed printer installed.”
Despite praising the franchise model, Sendula also highlights the need to have a strong drive and determination if you are to succeed in the market.
Anyone who wants to own a successful business that offers a professional service to its customers”
“Anyone who wants to own a successful business that offers a professional service to its customers,” Sendula says.
“I've proved that you can learn the technical side of the business and the support I've had has been brilliant—still is—but you need to have the drive and determination, it's not a franchisors job to try and teach you that.
“You need to be good at dealing with customers, you've got to want to go that extra mile and exceed their expectations.”
Sendula adds: “I love this business and one day I will be able to step back from it and let it run itself, maybe even take on another one, but for now I enjoy it too much—it was a brilliant decision and I'd recommend it to anyone who is prepared to put in the graft and commitment.”
