We provide a wide variety of products, services and comprehensive visual communications solutions to help companies meet their business objectives”
Signarama claims to be the largest full service sign company in the world, with over 850 companies in more than 50 countries. Now headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, the company was founded in 1986 by Ray and Roy Titus in Farmingdale, New York and began franchising in 1987.“This enables franchisees to fully understand the level of support that is available to them,” explains Kapoor, adding: “We provide them with full training at our academy in West Palm Beach. Here they learn not only the basics of sign production, but also the tools to help them run and develop their business once they open their doors in the UK.”
Signarama, Fastsigns and Signs Express all provide packages that include assistance with finding premises, shop set-up, equipment, recruitment, marketing and finance packages.
“We also operate an Ad Fund to help promote the Signarama brand on a national and local level. All Signarama franchisees have access to the company website and each store has a dedicated micro site that they are able to utilise to the benefit of their business,” adds Kapoor.
Fastsigns’ ‘Fast-Start’ programme offers new franchise owners reduced royalties and marketing contributions in the first year so that they can invest more into their marketing activities. Preferential terms are also offered for existing signage business owners who wish to become a Fastsigns centre.
Most independent signage business owners are so busy working in the business that they have no time to work on their business, which is why many are converting to the Fastsigns network across the globe”
Fastsigns franchisee, Dan Stutzman, whose sales increased 300 percent in the first five months of converting, sums up the advantage of being part of a known brand: “We feel we have hired the best sign consultants in the country, plus our public image is more respected, which gives our business more value when we are ready to move on. That is perhaps the most valuable of considerations for any independent owner.”
The many benefits provided by Signs Express include regular business reviews and business development assistance, preferential rates from trade suppliers, marketing support including access to the thousands of enquiries the company receives and access to its national accounts client list.
“In addition, our extranet provides resources and templates for all manner of day-to-day activities, which a stand-alone business would struggle to achieve with the cost and time pressures small businesses face,” continues Dack, adding: “The Signs Express franchise allows franchisees to become part of the largest sign network in the UK—so franchisees are in business for themselves but not by themselves.”
The ideal franchisee
Previous sign industry experience is not a prerequisite as the training and support packages offered will provide the required level of knowledge and expertise to get the franchisee up and running. However, drive together with good communication and people skills are seen as essential qualities in a potential franchisee.
Fastsigns’ Allison says there is no particular mould that a person needs to fit into to run a Fastsigns franchise: “We have a wide range of business owners: men, women, couples and family members, of all different ages and from all different backgrounds. Good communication skills, and the desire and ability to follow a tried and tested franchising system, are the most important requirements.”
John Harvey and his wife, Eileen, set up their Fastsigns Guildford franchise in 1995 after John was made redundant from his position as industrial and commercial sales manager with British Gas at the age of 45.
The redundancy money meant that we had a lump sum to invest and I thought the franchising model sounded interesting and a way to earn a decent living while keeping things more under my own control”
During a visit to the Franchising Exhibition, he was immediately drawn to signage and set up interviews with franchisors and chose the Fastsigns model, as he explains: “The training was excellent, so we felt well equipped to do the job and since then Fastsigns have been very supportive keeping us up-to-date with the latest technology advances and providing additional training. We’ve made a good living from the business and there’s still a lot of potential for development and growth, especially with new technologies appearing all the time.”
Passion and good people skills are also high on Kapoor’s list: “It takes a big commitment to set up a new business and, whilst we offer a great support package, we do need people to be passionate about taking their business forward. Over the years, we have had men and women of all backgrounds become successful franchisees, but the one thing they all have in common is good people skills; this makes dealing with staff, suppliers and clients that little bit easier.”
Dack also adds: “As a management franchise, we are looking for people who can manage the running of their business and staff.”
However, in recent years, Signs Express has recruited sign-makers that are looking to run their own business, but see the benefits of the added assistance a franchise can provide.
One such example of a franchisee who first worked in the sign industry is Malcolm Lant from Signs Express Gateshead. Malcolm bought an existing franchise in 2005 and has taken the business to new heights. His success has been recognised by the BFA in its ‘Franchisee of the Year’ awards, in both 2011 and 2012, as well as last year's Sign Industry Awards.
Dave Nurse from Signs Express Leeds is another franchisee who first worked as a materials supplier and saw Signs Express as a way to establish his own family business. Dave and his wife, Kim, started the business in 2005 and have since brought their son, Rick, into the business.
“I’d had a lot of dealings with sign production centres in my previous roles and Signs Express stood out by far as the leader in the field. We were proud, excited and reassured at the prospect of becoming part of the Signs Express network,” says Dave.
Also, if you’re already running your own signage business and you want to convert, before you take the plunge ask what would happen if you wanted to change back to being independent”