Editorial

Providing a Full Service Business Resource Center for Business and Residential Customers

Signal Graphics, which is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, has been in the printing business since 1974. Franchising since the mid 80s, Signal Graphics has revamped their Printing franchise opportunity to include a wider variety of services. Now, in addition to digital copying, design services, and commercial printing, they offer packaging and shipping as an added value for their customers and as another profit center for their franchisees.

Steve Morris, CEO, says another change in their Franchise opportunity is the addition of a production center, located in Denver, which can satisfy much of the offset printing requirements for Signal Graphics franchise centers.

“Our original franchise model,” says Morris, “included an offset printing press and press operator at each franchise location. Our new model uses our production center and other sources to do those jobs that can’t be produced effectively on a digital copier.” A franchisee can send a file to the production center via the internet, and the file can be downloaded directly to plate. The job is then printed and shipped via air to the stores.

“We think of this production center as a support mechanism for our new franchises. It saves the franchisees a great deal hassle as well as overhead expense, both in equipment and in labor,” says Morris. “One of the greatest expenses for a printing business is keeping the press and press operator busy. Our franchisees now can choose the most efficient printing method for each customer and offer the best pricing depending on the job.”

Franchisees have digital copiers and can do both color and black and white printing and copying in-house. Many of the jobs that used to be printed on an offset press can now be done on digital copiers. They also offer bindery work (binding, cutting, folding, drilling), and desktop design services, along with packing and shipping.

At Signal Graphics, you can:

Enjoy ownership of a graphic design/printing firm without the expense of a press and press operator
Have the support of a company in business for more than 30 years
Offer your customers aggressive pricing
Save money due to the company’s buying clout
and discounts
Receive excellent support and training
Build your business by building relationships with business customers
Receive six direct mail marketing packages as part of your start-up package
Offer a variety of services, including printing, copying,
4-color professional printing, bindery work, packaging and shipping – to both business and residential customers

Morris says their franchise stores can be located in a retail center, a multi-tenant, high-rise office building, an industrial space, or other area convenient to businesses. The copying and shipping services also bring in residential customers, particularly during the holiday season.

Low labor cost is a definite advantage to being a Signal Graphics franchisee. To begin a business, it is recommended that the franchisee hire a full-time sales person and a part-time graphic designer. As the business grows, the graphic designer position will become full-time and other employees can be added as needed.

Because Signal Graphics has done thorough groundwork on the new franchise model with their company stores, a person considering a franchise does not need a printing background. Complete support and training are provided. Signal Graphics offers assistance in site selection, design and layout of the center, help with finding the right equipment, along with initial and on-going marketing programs.

Training for a new franchisee includes 12 days of classroom and hands-on learning at the production center in Denver. Franchisees learn about all of the procedures and equipment and also how to estimate jobs with east-to-use pricing software.

Signal Graphics personnel come to a franchisee’s location to help with site selection and are back for a week during the grand opening. They will return after a store has been open for six weeks to help with more new business issues and questions and return again at the six month period. Other support is offered over the telephone, so the franchisee quickly gains confidence in all aspects of running the business.

“One of the most important things we do,” says Morris, “is to train our franchisees to become consultants to their customers. We want them to work with their customers to find the best solution, both in price and in quality, to suit the customer’s needs. That will help the franchisee build the long-term relationships they need to help their business grow.”