The franchises thriving during the pandemic
Minuteman Press franchises are reflecting on “record” sales and “boosting local businesses recovery” during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tuesday, 13 Apr 2021 11:37 GMT
The Minuteman Press Philadelphia team (L-R: Sola, Ron, Doyin, Lje and Jude Arijaje)
Like many sign and wide-format print businesses across the globe, Minuteman Press franchises in the US have been open and running throughout the last year as the pandemic hit.
The businesses have produced critical resources such as signs and menus for restaurants having to change opening times and operations, banners and signs promoting social distancing, and window and floor graphics informing the public of new and changing rules.
When his Minuteman Press franchise in Lutz was designated an essential business, Ed Casagrande, worked hard to support local businesses with their needs. As a result, Casagrande achieved “record monthly sales” last month, with monthly figures topping the annual revenue of the franchise under the previous owner in 2016.
Casagrande describes the last year: “Since the beginning, we have focused on developing strong relationships with many businesses and organisations within our local community.
There has been an overwhelming sense that we are all in this together, and by helping to support each other through the struggle, we have been able to keep growing”
“The pandemic has, in many ways, brought us closer together with our customers. There has been an overwhelming sense that we are all in this together, and by helping to support each other through the struggle, we have been able to keep growing.”
Early on, Casagrande and his team identified businesses that needed its services most. This included the food industry and businesses needing marketing materials to promote social distancing. The firm then produced signs, banners, and window and floor stickers.
Jude Arijaje, who owns Minuteman Press Philadelphia and Minuteman Press Bala Cynwyd with his son Mejire, have also been working harder than ever during the pandemic.
The Minuteman Press Lutz team (L-R: Josh Adams, Ed Casagrande, Yesid Molina, and Carlos Pomales)
The firm has produced signs and menus for restaurants and full-scale direct mail and outreach programs for elections, such as the upcoming state primaries in May.
Describing which products have been in high demand during this time, Arijaje says: “Right now, many local businesses need to get the word out to their customers that they are open and operating.
“We have seen high demand for direct mail postcards, directional signs, and signs in general that say, “WE ARE OPEN” or “WE ARE HIRING”, which is encouraging to see. Custom branded apparel is another capability of ours that continues to be big for us.”
Print is never going to go away, and the pandemic affirms this. For example, to look professional at Zoom meetings, we will produce the signs, the backdrops, the branded apparel, anything you need”
For Arijaje and many sign business owners, the pandemic has shown them how important sign and wide-format printed products are in the running of society.
Arijaje continues: “Print is never going to go away, and the pandemic affirms this. For example, to look professional at Zoom meetings, we will produce the signs, the backdrops, the branded apparel, anything you need.
“Another example is that local restaurants have come to use for new disposable menus. We might have to do business in different ways, but printing is always able to adapt.”
If you have any news, please email carys@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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