by UFG | Oct 7, 2013 | News
Signarama Owner Leverages 25 Years in the Industry to Achieve Major Growth
October 7, 2013 (Troy, Mich.)—For those on the outskirts, Detroit has become synonymous with decline, collapse and failure. But for Metamora resident Bob Chapa, 34, his Signarama business located at 1017 Naughton Drive in Troy, is poised for significant growth.
“The economy over the past five years has been tough,” said Chapa. “But this is going to be our biggest year ever. Many of our competitors have closed, leaving room for the strongest brands to thrive and a lot of new businesses are opening up – which is a good thing for us in the sign business.”
Signarama, the world’s largest sign franchise, provides a full range of comprehensive sign and graphic services to both the private and commercial segments of the community. The company offers impactful marketing solutions from digital signs to vehicle wraps, banners, monument signs, channel letters, LED and pylon signs.
Chapa first learned the ropes of business ownership before he was 10-years old. His parents owned an independent sign shop where Chapa worked after school. It was these skills and values he learned at an early age that helped mold him into the successful business owner he is today.
“I started off working very hard and at a young age in the industry,” said Chapa. “Working in my parent’s business taught me a lot about the business and sign making, but also about the importance of maintaining loyal customers. I quickly made a name for myself in Metro Detroit: The Sign Guy.”
After graduating from Lawrence Technology University in Southfield, Mich., Chapa returned home and got a job as a production designer at the very same Signarama he currently owns. Moving his way up the ladder, he eventually took over as store manager for seven years.
In 2005, Chapa took over ownership of Signarama and sales have steadily grown since. He recently expanded his operation with a brand new 15,000 square foot office space and added new services to his menu such as electric signs and LED message centers.
“I knew I wanted more out of my career,” said Chapa. “The business was getting bigger and the former owner was getting ready to retire. I approached him about taking over and by 26 years old, I was a business owner.”
Chapa has now owned Signarama for eight years and plans to continue working on the business to maintain growth and help companies refresh their brands.
Approaching 900 locations worldwide, Signarama was founded in 1986 by Ray Titus and his father, franchising pioneer, Roy Titus. The company currently has 10 locations in Michigan and expects further expansion in the area, with plans to open at least six franchised units in the greater Detroit area within five years. Nationwide, Signarama expects to open 50 more locations through the end of 2013 and have more than 1,200 locations worldwide by the end of 2016.
For more information, please visit www.signarama.com
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by UFG | Oct 3, 2013 | News
October 3, 2013 (Louisville, Ky.)– When Maggie Harlow opened her Signarama store at 909 E. Market St. in Louisville in 2003, she did it to create a new future for her family. Initially she saw significant and near-instantaneous success, breaking records for a new store and requiring immediate expansion to keep up. But when the recession hit in 2009, Harlow said she was slow to react and found herself struggling to maintain the business she had grown. Thanks to some difficult decisions and hard business savvy, though, Harlow has been able to turn her company around and is seeing big growth and profits once again.
“It was a challenging position to be in as a business owner,” said Harlow. “But we’ve turned a corner, and we feel like the sky is the limit again.”
Signarama provides comprehensive sign and graphic services to both the private and commercial segments of the community. The company offers impactful marketing solutions from digital signs to vehicle wraps, banners, monument, neon, LED and pylon signs.
Harlow chose to open a Signarama franchise when her father retired and sold his automotive retail business that he had opened in 1980. She worked for her father for almost 15 years, and wanted to continue to maintain a family business. Signarama resonated with her. “I liked the core concepts,” she explained. “I fabricate what I sell, and I sell what I want, when I want, to whom I want. I work with a really creative staff and creative customers, and we produce no hazardous waste. Signarama was exactly what I was looking for in a business.” After opening her store, Harlow’s husband, Brian, joined the business team and their children came to work for them during their summer vacations. The family’s initial runaway success prompted Harlow to move quickly to expand her staff and clients and, in turn, expand her space. Her father bought a large commercial property and they put together a plan for her to acquire the building. They continued to grow until the recession hit in 2009.
“I was way too slow to react and unsure of what to do,” she said. “It started to create problems not just financially but personally and after three years I realized I had to do something drastic.”
Harlow’s solution was to cut all the excess from her business. They turned the building back over to her father, relocated to a smaller space, cut their rent, cut out wasteful expenses and reduced their staff. They also began to turn away new clients. “I decided to focus on taking care of my current clients. I knew it was a risky move and I wasn’t sure how things would turn out. In reality, it was just what we needed.”
Harlow says the smaller space put her in better contact with employees and customers, and energized the whole staff. While she lost a few clients, the closer relationships she was able to form by scaling back have enabled her business to grow and profit again. Currently
her Signarama location is looking at 50 percent growth this year over last year, and profit as a percentage has quadrupled.
“My husband and I both have liberal arts degrees; we went to the business school of hard knocks and came out the other side,” Harlow said. “Now my biggest question is ‘What do I want to be? Bigger? Or just better?’ I think just better.”
Approaching 900 locations worldwide, Signarama was founded in 1986 by Ray Titus and his father, franchising pioneer, Roy Titus. The company expects further expansion in Kentucky, with plans to open 15 locations in the state within five years. In the greater Louisville area, Signarama plans to open five additional locations, targeting Bowling Green, Owensboro and other surrounding cities for growth. Signarama plans to open 50 locations through the end of 2013 and have more than 1,200 units worldwide by the end of 2016.
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by UFG | Oct 3, 2013 | News
First Location in Saco Gives Owner Opportunity to Start Family Business
October 3, 2013 – (Saco, Maine) — Jonni Peace wants to help local businesses grow. On Oct. 7, Peace will open Signarama at 872 Portland Road in Saco, the company’s return to Maine and their first store in the community. Signarama, the world’s largest sign franchise and full-service sign business, expects further expansion throughout the state with plans to open five additional locations in 2014. The sign giant is targeting Bangor, Lewiston and Portland for growth.
Signarama provides comprehensive sign and graphic services to both the private and commercial segments of the community. The company offers impactful marketing solutions from digital signs to vehicle wraps, banners, monument, neon, LED and pylon signs.
Prior to signing on with Signarama, Peace spent more than 15 years working as a salesperson hosting in-home parties for small groups, but wanted a business of her own. She had been exploring options with her husband, Greg, when her son and his wife announced they were expecting their first child. “That was like a sign,” she said. “We had been researching companies for a few years, and when my son told us we were going to be grandparents we knew it was time to make a decision and Signarama was clearly the best fit for our family.”
The Saco community is excited about the opening of their first Signarama, according to Peace. “So far everyone we’ve talked to is thrilled for us, and either looking forward to referring or doing business with us.” That early buzz is important, because Peace and her husband plan on turning their Signarama store into a family business to pass down to her children and grandchildren.
Approaching 900 locations worldwide, Signarama was founded in 1986 by Ray Titus and his father, franchising pioneer, Roy Titus. The company expects to open 50 more locations through the end of 2013 and have more than 1,200 locations worldwide by the end of 2016.
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by UFG | Oct 1, 2013 | News
NAPERVILLE, IL (October 1, 2013) – EmbroidMe, the world’s largest embroidery franchise, announces Downers Grove residents Angie & Doug Winslow as the new owners for its Naperville store at 790 Royal St. George Dr., Suite 114.
“An EmbroidMe franchise is the perfect fit for us because our family has always been very involved with sports teams and local community groups. In doing so, we’ve learned to appreciate high-quality, professional-looking clothing and uniforms. Now we have the opportunity to provide that type of product to our customers,” says Doug Winslow. “Our plan is to continue to service our current customers in a professional manner while promoting our services to build on our customer base.”
With nearly 400 retail locations, EmbroidMe provides full-service custom embroidery and screen-printing for apparel, as well as promotional products and gifts to both the private and commercial segments of the business community.
For more information on EmbroidMe in Naperville, contact Angie or Doug Winslow at 630-778-1234. For franchising information, please call (800)727-6720 or visit www.embroidme.com.
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by UFG | Sep 21, 2013 | News
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (September 21, 2013) – EmbroidMe, the world’s largest embroidery franchise, announces a new store at 3018 Virginia Beach, under the ownership of local residents Stephanie and Scott Bryant.
Prior to becoming an EmbroidMe franchisee, Stephanie Bryant was a fabrics and crafts manager at Wal-Mart and an office manager at Ermisch Dry Cleaners. Scott Bryant has owned a Snap-on Tool franchise since 2009.
“Discovering EmbroidMe came at a perfect time in my life because I wanted an opportunity to run my own business in an industry I love. Providing our customers with quality apparel and embroidery is the core value of our business. Every business, sports league and organization uses our services and I look forward to building relationships with many satisfied customers of EmbroidMe at Virginia Beach,” says Stephanie Bryant.
EmbroidMe’s store hours are: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Tuesday 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
With nearly 400 retail locations, EmbroidMe provides full-service custom embroidery and screen-printing for apparel, as well as promotional products and gifts to both the private and commercial segments of the business community.
For more information on EmbroidMe in Virginia Beach, contact Stephanie Bryant at 757-498-3453. For franchising information, please call (800)727-6720 or visit www.embroidme.com.
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