SIGNAL GRAPHICS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE

Signal Graphics, a national printing and graphics Franchise company, announced the launch of Signal Graphics Business Resource Centers, an innovative new franchise concept featuring the lowest start-up costs in the industry – nearly half the cost of other comparable Printing franchise companies – as well as an expanded range of services for businesses and consumers.

Signal Graphics Business Resource Centers offer industry-leading customer service and high quality printing and graphics services including graphic design, typesetting, commercial printing, quick printing, copying, and finishing services, as well as custom packing and shipping materials and services.

The centers utilize a centralized production facility for offset printing, which increases efficiency and decreases costs.

“Signal Graphics has lowered the barriers to entry in the printing/business services marketplace,” said Steve Morris , Signal Graphics founder, chairman and CEO. “We’re making it possible for more people to own a business and realize their dreams of professional fulfillment and financial success.”

Interest in Franchise Opportunities continues to flourish as thousands of employees are downsized or laid off. According to Printing Industries of America, the $160 billion printing industry is expected to grow three percent in 2004.

The minimum initial investment required for a Signal Graphics business Resource Center , which includes the franchise fee, equipment, inventory and working capital, is $161,000. This figure is $100,000 less than the minimum initial investment needed for a traditional Signal Graphics franchise and up to $191,000 less than the minimum initial investment required by comparable printing franchise companies.

Before launching its Business Resource Centers, Signal Graphics redesigned its business model and centralized offset printing services. All new Signal Graphics Franchises will follow the new model.

“It’s not cost-effective for every franchisee to invest in expensive equipment that is cutting-edge today and obsolete tomorrow,” said Tom Peck, Signal Graphics president and COO. “Instead, our franchise owners can use the Internet to send their offset printing jobs to our centralized production facility, where they are printed and delivered via two-day air, in the same amount of time and often at a lower cost than if the franchisee had done the job in-house.”

As a result, franchise owners don’t need to invest in offset printing presses and press operators and can reduce the square footage needed for their business operations. In addition, franchisees pay royalty fees of only 3 percent, compared to 5 to 7 percent for most franchise companies.

Expanded service offerings, such as packing materials and shipping services, offer franchise owners new revenue streams, better meet customers’ needs and build customer loyalty.

Signal Graphics is headquartered in Denver, Colorado and has 36 franchise locations in 14 states across the country.