FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, a leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, has announced strong growth year-to-date in 2020 including the signing of sixteen new franchise agreements—twelve of which the brand signed since March 1—to develop locations in new markets like Aurora, Illinois; Panama City, Florida; and the Toronto area. FASTSIGNS also celebrated the opening of twenty new centers this year with sixteen new centers opened since March 1. Much of FASTSIGNS’ growth this year is due to its centers nationwide being deemed essential as COVID-19 forced thousands of businesses across the country to temporarily close earlier this year, allowing franchisees to pivot their services to best serve their customers and local communities.
“At FASTSIGNS, our franchisees’ success comes first. When the pandemic began to impact our industry, we fought to ensure FASTSIGNS centers across the U.S. could continue to operate, and we’ve continued to be by their side to help them every step of the way,” said Mark Jameson, executive vice president of Franchise Support and Development at FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “We’re incredibly proud of how our franchisees adapted to the changing climate by tapping into the diverse product range we offer so they could fulfill the unique needs of their customers. Throughout the pandemic, our franchisees have continued to manufacture critical signage, plexiglass shields, and more to help hospitals, local governments, and businesses communicate important health and safety information and to protect communities. Their role of being the go-to resource for visual communications in their communities continues to grow stronger every day.
“The growth and momentum we’ve experienced is a true testament to the strong FASTSIGNS network, our brand’s ability to adapt systemwide, and the rising demand for signage.”
Kevin Leamon signed a franchise agreement with FASTSIGNS in March 2020 and, in July, celebrated the grand opening of his center in Springfield, Illinois.
“Looking back, I feel incredibly lucky to have had my new business up and running in just four months during such a challenging period,” said Leamon. “As a first-time franchisee, the support and guidance that FASTSIGNS offered as I navigated this new endeavor helped the entire process run smoothly. Along the way, I had the opportunity to tap into the impressive network of existing franchisees to discuss how they were adapting throughout the pandemic, and learned so many invaluable tools that I could incorporate into my center. It was motivating to hear how FASTSIGNS centers could quickly pivot to meet the needs of current events and further position themselves as the expert in the sign industry. I’m thrilled to be part of this dynamic brand.”
FASTSIGNS is known in the industry for equipping its franchisees with tools vital to securing the ongoing success of each individual location. In addition to the brand’s online FASTSIGNS University, FASTSIGNS partners with 1HUDDLE, a workforce-training platform that converts unique training content into science-backed, quick-burst training games that are proven to accelerate workforce productivity.
“As a first-time franchisee, it was important for me to invest in a brand that provided guidance to help me succeed, while allowing me to be in business for myself—and FASTSIGNS provided just that,” said Steve Brown, FASTSIGNS franchisee of Newport Beach, California, who opened his center in April 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. “I was just weeks away from opening my first location when the pandemic hit, and FASTSIGNS proved to be an invaluable partner during that time. I moved forward with opening my center amid the pandemic, having faith in one of the largest sign franchises. The support shown during these unprecedented times helped me get my FASTSIGNS center up and running.”
FASTSIGNS also offers a special incentive for first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters, which includes a 50 percent reduction on the franchise fee (a savings of $24,875).
For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, email Mark Jameson or call him at (214) 346-5679.
