As the demands within the print industry continue to change, traditional print shop businesses must make adjustments to their business models in order to stay relevant. FASTSIGNS®, the worldwide franchisor for the more than 540 FASTSIGNS sign, graphic, and visual communications centers, recognizes this trend and is educating industry business owners about the concept of co-branding.
After successfully launching its co-brand franchise program at GRAPH EXPO last year, FASTSIGNS will exhibit at PRINT 13 (Booth No. 4454), to be held September 7-11 in Chicago. The company’s goal is to participate in discussions around printing business challenges and educate attendees about opportunities to evolve through its co-brand franchise opportunity.
In addition to exhibiting, FASTSIGNS executives will host exclusive lunch sessions at 11:30 a.m. on September 9 and 10. Guests who pre-register for the programs will have an opportunity to speak with FASTSIGNS Senior Vice President of Franchise Support & Development, Mark Jameson regarding the company’s co-brand program.
The co-brand franchise opportunity allows independent print shop owners to expand their offerings to include signage & visual graphics by adding a FASTSIGNS center within their existing business for as little as $10,000 down. As a co-branded partner, FASTSIGNS offers effective local and national marketing, improved buying power and relationships with vendors, access to national accounts and up-to-date technology and digital services, among other benefits from being part of a franchise network with business owners nationwide.
“The print industry is changing, so if traditional printers want to stay relevant, they need to have the ability to offer additional products and services, even if it deviates slightly outside of their field,” said Jameson. “FASTSIGN’s co-brand franchise opportunity allows independent business owners the opportunity to grow new, profitable revenue streams by diversifying with signage and visual graphics services. By combining their products and services under one roof, each business is able to retain its original business identity, while offering customers a full range of products and services to meet all of a customer’s needs in one stop.”
FASTSIGNS franchise owner and one of the first to launch the co-brand model, Donna Booth, worked in the print industry for many years. Booth purchased Prestige Printing in 2007 and quickly realized that she would have to advance the business’ service offerings and become a comprehensive small business resource, in order to keep the business profitable and in-demand. Booth opened her co-branded FASTSIGNS center in 2013.
“FASTSIGNS takes out much of the guess work and walks you through every aspect of moving into the signage and visual graphics field,” said Booth. “They help me with everything from purchasing the right equipment to marketing the service offering to existing and potential customers. Words don’t describe how much of a relief it is to have a business partner I can turn to on an ongoing basis who understands my business and knows the best way to continue moving it in the right direction.”
FASTSIGNS is the largest sign and graphics franchisor in North America and consistently receives top ratings for system growth and franchisee satisfaction, including: certification as a 2013 World-Class Franchise by the Franchise Research Institute, inclusion on the Franchise Business Review’s 2013 “FBR50,” and inclusion in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500® as the No. 1 franchisor in the sign and graphic category.
With more than 540 FASTSIGNS sign and graphics centers in eight countries, the company provides marketing and visual communications solutions to businesses, organizations and events of all types and sizes. FASTSIGNS offers a variety of sign and graphics solutions—including banners, building signs, digital signage, yard signs, vehicle graphics, decals, tradeshow exhibits and displays, point-of-purchase signs, and posters—as well as mobile Web sites, promotional products, interior décor, branding, printing, and other marketing services.
For more information or to register for the lunch programs with FASTSIGNS at PRINT 13, please contact Terra Tomlinson at 214/346-5612 or [email protected]. Availability is limited.
