by UFG | Jan 29, 2025 | News
Several other print and promo firms joined the Counselor Top 40 distributors on the annual ranking.
Two Counselor Top 40 distributors ranked on the 2024 Franchise Times Top 400 list, an annual ranking of the largest franchise systems in the United States by global systemwide sales from the previous year.
Proforma (asi/300094) reached the 121st spot on the list, and Fully Promoted (asi/384000) ranked at 319.
The Franchise Times calls its Top 400 “the most comprehensive ranking” of U.S. franchise systems, noting that it’s been around for more than 20 years. “The project is the result of a five-month research and reporting effort that leads to the most credible and objective franchise ranking available,” said Laura Michaels, editor-in-chief of the Franchise Times.
Proforma, which ranked 126 last year and 158 in 2020, attributes its continued growth, in part, to technology investments. “Between steady sales numbers; our industry-leading e-commerce platform, which now hosts more than 12,000 stores; and the launch of a revolutionary new M&A initiative, we are in a very strong position heading into 2025 and beyond,” said Meg Erber, director of sales. Proforma ranked fifth on the 2024 Counselor Top 40 list of the largest distributors, with 2023 North American promotional products revenue of $638 million.
Fully Promoted rose 17 spots in this year’s Franchise Times Top 400, having ranked 336 in 2023. The West Palm Beach, FL-based company is the 21st largest distributor in promo, with $127.6 million in reported 2023 North American promotional products revenue. It’s part of United Franchise Group, which also owns Signarama, ranking 160th in the Franchise Times Top 400, with 2023 global sales of $417.7 million.
Other print and promo franchises that made the list include:
- 94: FASTSIGNS (asi/395000), part of Propelled Brands, with 2023 global sales of $784.8 million.
- 134: Minuteman Press (asi/377000) with 2023 global sales of $582.5 million.
- 183: AlphaGraphics (asi/373000), with 2023 global sales of $340.9 million.
- 223: Allegra Marketing Print Mail (asi/372000) with 2023 global sales of $236.9 million.
- 273: Sir Speedy Print Signs Marketing with 2023 global sales of $163.1 million.
- 321: SpeedPro, a graphic printing franchise based in Colorado, with 2023 global sales of $104.2 million.
- 369: PIP Marketing Signs Print with 2023 global sales of $75.6 million.
This article was originally published by The Advertising Specialty Institute®
by UFG | Jan 29, 2025 | News
Editor’s note: This article is part 4 of the Pizza Power Report 2025. You can scroll down to the bottom to navigate to other sections of the report.
Finding and retaining hard workers has always been a stress point for pizzeria owners. Many argue that younger people today lack the work ethic of their parents and grandparents, but let’s be honest: That’s not exactly a new argument. Every generation, it seems, has had the exact same complaint about younger generations for, well, generations.
Fortunately, advances in kitchen technology, like smart ovens and digital dough presses, mean pizzeria work doesn’t have to be all that hard in the coming years. Granted, for some pizzeria owners, changing ovens can feel a bit like getting a divorce—aside from the emotional pain of ending a longtime love affair, it’s expensive, too. But if you’re fed up with your old oven’s mood swings and stubborn ways, newer and more compliant models await you.
They’re smart, too—which is the whole point, really. Austin Titus, president of Cannoli Kitchen Pizza, with six stores in Florida and three more on the way, has installed a smart oven at a Fort Lauderdale location and plans to implement another in a Boca Raton store. “It’s an electric stone conveyer oven that controls the temperature in multiple zones: entryway, interior, bottom and exit,” Titus says. “We’re still learning more about them, but I can confidently say that they’ve improved our operations and reduced waste. The oven is a true game-changer because it provides the same—or better—product that a traditional deck oven does, using a fraction of the time, labor skill set and learning curve.”
These ovens give you precise control over temperatures to ensure even and consistent cooking, Titus says. That means fewer burnt pizzas, less food waste and a boost to the bottom line. Another big plus: Smart ovens save on labor costs “because you don’t need somebody tending to the pizzas and turning them the right way.”
Titus is also sold on digital dough presses. “It does more of the same thing that the oven does—improved consistency in the dough thickness, size and temperature before it enters the oven,” he says. “This also allows our employees to have way less of a learning curve and takes a fraction of the time, compared to traditional dough rolling or tossing. It’s truly a win-win-win for everyone. The customer gets more consistency, employees can progress quicker in their ability to perform, and the business saves on the operational costs.”
Then there’s the much-ballyhooed rise of AI. Yes, it’s just slowly inching its way into the pizza industry (not unlike robotics), but don’t sleep on it. “We will find ourselves using AI in our everyday duties, such as delivery and ordering,” Marco’s Pizza COO John Meyers wrote in a September 16 article for PMQ.com. He pointed to Marco’s Automated Promise Time program, which “uses AI to calculate and predict the time it will take to make and deliver a completed customer order, considering the store product capacity, oven time, number of drivers, weather and traffic conditions.”
Joe Park, the chief digital and technology officer for Yum! Brands (Pizza Hut’s parent company), told The Wall Street Journal in March that “an AI-first mentality works every step of the way. If you think about the major journeys within a restaurant that can be AI-powered, we believe it’s endless.”
But don’t assume AI is a tool for large chains only. Jim Biafore, CEO of Pupatella, with eight stores in Virginia and two in Washington, D.C., believes it will level the playing field for independents. “We’re exploring AI in various aspects of our operations, and the results are promising,” Biafore tells PMQ. “The great thing about AI is that it helps the small shops compete with the larger chains that typically have the resources to evaluate data.” He suggests that smaller operators use AI to analyze various types of data, automate and send personalized offers to their customer database, and even help write correspondence to vendors and guests. (See sidebar on page 30 for more details.)
Using AI, smaller independents can also better keep up with online reviews, notes Jared Norris, chief customer officer for ChatMeter, a reputation management intelligence platform with clients like Figaro’s Pizza and Glacier Restaurant Group, owner of the MacKenzie River Pizza chain in Montana. “Restaurant owners can use AI to take a pulse on real-time customer feedback by analyzing reviews and uncovering emerging trends or common problems,” Norris says. “A large language model (LLM) can understand text written by people and understand sentiment, identify trends, and spot emerging issues much faster than you would reading each and every review. Analyzing customer reviews like this allows you to see your restaurant through the eyes of the customer and remove any biases or preconceived notions.”
For example, Norris says, “You might notice customers are complaining about pickup or delivery orders being consistently 10 minutes late and use that information to better set expectations about timelines. Or you might receive quick feedback that customers aren’t loving a new pizza on the menu and tweak its recipe to better fit their tastes.”
Just don’t think of AI tools like ChatGPT as search engines. They’re much more powerful. “Understanding the prompts is the key to using AI properly,” Biafore says. “Don’t use AI like you’re doing a Google search. Refine your prompts, and the system will work quickly to provide the needed information.”
And if you don’t know how to refine your prompts, just ask the ultimate expert for advice: the AI tool itself!
This article was originally published by PMQ Pizza
by UFG | Jan 29, 2025 | News
Spencer Coleman’s business has been in his family for years – and has found success.
Still, when Coleman rose to a leadership role at the signage/print firm his parents founded, the Utah-based company was at a crossroads. It was time to find a way to truly evolve – to usher in a new era of greater growth and to capture more of the spend available from clients old and new.
That’s just what the entrepreneurial Coleman did, affiliating the family business with franchisers Signarama and Counselor Top 40 distributor Fully Promoted (asi/384000) to offer both print and promotional products solutions.
Now leading the company alongside his mother, Coleman has turned Signarama Wasatch Back and Fully Promoted Wasatch Back into the ever sought-after “one-stop shop,” offering a gamut of print and promotional products solutions to customers.
In this debut of the Convergence Corner podcast, Coleman shares his story with ASI Media hosts Brendan Menapace and Christopher Ruvo, discussing everything from how he expanded beyond his printing roots into selling promo products like branded apparel to how he uses his company’s print capabilities for much more than signage.
As the name of this podcast twice-monthly implies, you can expect more content on the success that can come at the confluence of print and promo here at the Convergence Corner.
Podcast Chapters
1:30: The origins of Signarama Wasatch Back and Fully Promoted Wasatch Back
6:17: Partnering with Fully Promoted and Signarama and adopting the franchise model
11:36: Beginning apparel decoration and learning about the promotional products industry
19:21: A case study in adding promo to a print order
27:29: Advice for distributors looking to add promo to print
6 Key Takeaways
Convergence Enabled Expansion & Growth: Spencer Coleman expanded his family’s sign business by adopting the franchise model of Signarama and later Fully Promoted. This led to significant growth by enabling him to offer printing and promotional products solutions.
The Franchise Model Offered Benefits: The franchise model provided structure, support and resources that helped the business overcome growth plateaus. For instance, Signarama’s support included marketing, software and training, which allowed the business to focus on its strengths and scale effectively.
Customer Demand Drove Diversification: The decision to diversify into promotional products and apparel was driven significantly by customer demand. Clients who initially came for signage began requesting additional services, prompting the business to broaden its offerings to become a one-stop shop.
A Combination of In-House Decoration & Outsourcing Works: The business invested in equipment for in-house decoration of various promotional products, such as silk screening and embroidery. However, they also formed strong partnerships with promo suppliers for items they couldn’t produce/decorate in-house, ensuring they could meet all customer needs through this savvy sourcing.
A Promo Showroom Is a Key Selling Tool: Coleman saw to it that the business’ showroom was transformed to spotlight a wide range of promotional products. The move has proved highly effective. Customers can see and feel the products, leading to increased sales. Regular updates to the showroom have kept it fresh and engaging for repeat customers.
Attend Trade Shows To Initiate Pivotal Vendor Relationships: Going to trade shows like the ASI Show helped Coleman and his team understand the potential of promotional products and build relationships with key suppliers who provide a wide range of decorated products. These relationships have been crucial for sourcing the right items for clients and for receiving critical support.
This article was originally published by Print & Promo Marketing LLC
by UFG | Jan 29, 2025 | News
Two Books Offer Strategies for Using “Radical Generosity” and a Giver’s Mindset to Attract Success
By Ray Titus
Perhaps the two greatest gifts I ever received from a business associate were a set of steak knives and a sweatshirt. The knives were an expensive, top-of-the-line brand engraved with my name. The sweatshirt probably cost much less but it, too, was highly personal, emblazoned with the word “Founder” to signify I was one of the few attendees at the conference I was attending who had started his own company.
Years later, I still remember these gifts because of how they made me feel: valued by someone who put careful thought into choosing a gift that would reflect my worth.
I was reminded of this while reading John Ruhlin’s Giftology: The Art and Science of Using Gifts to Cut Through the Noise, Increase Referrals, and Strengthen Client Retention. Ruhlin is the founder of The Ruhlin Group, a consulting firm that pioneered the art of attracting success with strategic gift-giving, from what you give to when you give it. He calls this “radical generosity,” making a lasting impression in the recipient’s mind that can pay off in new business.
Of all the ideas in Giftology, here are three that especially resonated with me:
Work on your timing.
It’s holiday time – the least memorable gift-giving time of the year. Stacks of imported wine and cheese, monogrammed golf balls and high-end office gadgets pile up. Stand a few feet away; could you pick out who gave you what? Is your gift to others suffering a similar fate?
Don’t ignore the end-of-year holidays (no one will ever let you anyway) but remember your colleagues and clients at other times of the year too. Just by giving in summertime or spring, you remove that sense of obligation from holiday gifts.
A summertime gift to charities and non-profit organizations is also appreciated. Hunger and need don’t take the summer off.
Value the customer.
How are you recognizing your million-dollar customer? Are you showing extra appreciation to the people who make an extra difference in your bottom line?
The quality of your gifts shouldn’t be the deal-breaker that keeps or repels a client, but a thoughtfully chosen gift unlike any other you’re giving can add immeasurably to your relationship.
Treat your top clients to gifts that take the same approach as the “gift rooms” at Hollywood events. Celebrities and industry executives are showered with expensive merchandise they could easily buy themselves, but there’s something about being given it by someone who took the time to purchase it themselves (or have their assistant do it).
But high value doesn’t only mean high price.
Think before you shop.
The old saying, “It’s the thought that counts,” does not mean it’s okay to give something that means nothing to the recipient because, well, at least you took the time to get something. Maybe we should revise it to say, “It’s the thinking that counts” – thinking that leads to a gift they’ve always wanted but never received.
Putting in the time and thought to selecting something that’s a perfect fit for their life and work shows you understand them, and they matter to you. That demonstration is a critical part of building a relationship.
Price is not always the critical factor. Ruhlin reveals he has spent $1,500 on dinners that never brought in business, and $200 on personalized gifts that he still gets thanked for.
“Even if your dream client’s response is not immediate,” he writes, “I can almost guarantee that he or she won’t confuse you with someone else. When the timing is right, it’s more than likely it will be your name that pops into your potential client’s head.”
It all comes down to generosity, one of the qualities I explore in my book, The Challenge: Become a Better Person.
Giving to Gain
One time-tested fact is: In order to get something, you have to give something.
In The Challenge, I explore several values that can help you grow morally, ethically and spiritually, but a sense of generosity runs through many of them. Prescriptions like “Mentor young people,” “Take care of the environment,” “Focus on relationships, not transactions” and “Respect other cultures, races and religions” require stepping outside yourself and contributing to others’ good, which is the heart of generosity.
Mentoring is also a great example of getting by giving. Mentors don’t just teach; I find we also learn from our proteges. We then share what we’ve learned with the rest of our company or team.
I also had a selfish motive for writing The Challenge. If I can help someone to be a better parent or spouse or whatever, their life will be better. They’ll be happier, and they’re going to be better employees and eventually, perhaps, better franchise owners.
It’s a goal I think I share with Ruhlin, whose book opened my eyes to the rubber-stamp mentality so many of us have in gift-giving. It got me thinking about giving nicer, better-quality gifts that people can actually use and make them feel special. We also give more thought to when we give gifts.
Giftology and The Challenge share a positive approach to life, which drives every successful relationship. The ability to share generously from the heart may be your greatest gift to yourself.
This article was originally published by Franchising Magazine USA
by UFG | Nov 14, 2024 | News
Many sign shop owners are all too familiar with the frustration of a job going off the rails, leading to lost profits, or the disappointment of working long hours only to find that the profit at the end of the month or year just isn’t there.
We are in an industry that is custom by nature and will always demand process improvement to find success. The good news is that you don’t have to accept this for your business. Instead, you can explore solutions for improvement. By focusing on culture change and process enhancement, you’ll find that manufacturing efficiency and quality control will improve as a result.
For example, there are systems that exist in today’s manufacturing environments, such as Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and Six Sigma, that aim to provide these very solutions.
We are currently using the 5S methodology in our shop, and over the past 5 years, we have seen significant improvements in quality, employee engagement, and profit. Below are six areas that we focus on daily, weekly, and yearly to ensure these improvements remain consistent.
Reduce Production Waste: In a well-run shop, waste simply cannot exist. This is not just about material waste but a waste of time and movement. Processes must be designed and implemented to be exact and precise. Tools must be kept where they are used and be the right tool for the job.
Identify Current or Potential Bottlenecks: As we grow and improve, there will always be part of the process that slows things down. Most of these bottlenecks can be solved with technology, equipment or reorganization. You must recognize that they exist and address them promptly.
Improve Employee Performance: You cannot do this without buy-in from your employees. To a big degree, each employee must be involved in their development. Improvement in this area requires training and encouragement. Culture starts at the top, and employees must see and feel your commitment to change.
Automate Operations When Possible: You simply cannot keep up without the right equipment in today’s fast paced way of doing business. Automation both speeds up the process and improves quality. The days of hand producing a product are over.
Stay Organized: We spend at least 30 minutes each day cleaning and organizing in every department. By keeping our work area clutter-free, we eliminate waste in the long run, as we no longer need to hunt for materials and tools. Things are where they are supposed to be, and everything has a purpose.
Quality Control: Develop a process where quality still takes precedence over speed. Doing a task right the first time will always be more productive and profitable than doing it fast two or three times.
If we are to repeat a process frequently, and perfect that process, we must address the one-off or completely custom jobs that produce the most errors and overspend of time. This is probably one of the hardest concepts to implement. It means being focused on the products and services that are meaningful and profitable. It also means eliminating products and services that are not important to the company’s success.
As you refine your processes and implement quality control, you will find a less stressful and more profitable business future. You will also notice happier and more productive employees. If you’re feeling stuck and don’t know where to start, I recommend tapping into the many resources that are available online, such as Kaizen and 5S.
This article was originally published by Wide-format Impressions
by UFG | Nov 14, 2024 | News
Students from around the globe will learn more about career opportunities in the sign and graphics industry during Sign MFG Day. The event is sponsored annually by the International Sign Association and the National Association of Manufacturers.
On October 4, sign and graphics companies and print shops bring in students from local high schools, technical schools and community colleges for tours and to hear directly from the people who design, fabricate, install and sell on-premise signage. Through the years, participation in Sign MFG Day has led to the creation of job-shadows, internships, coops, and post-graduation hires.
This year, 105 sign and graphics companies around the world are participating, reaching out to their local contacts to organize tours. In addition, 19 schools reached out to ISA to express their interest in connecting with a local company to learn more.
“Sign MFG Day addresses the greatest existential threat to our industry, developing in the next generation of employees and future leaders,” said Lori Anderson, ISA president and CEO. “Since ISA has been hosting this day, we have found that students only need to be told about our industry to express interest in careers. Many companies have hired directly from Sign MFG Day while most have developed ongoing relationships with schools, leading to a pipeline of job candidates.”
Sign companies scheduled to participate:
- Acroads Vadodara, Gujarat, India
- Advertising Concepts, ADCON Signs Fort Collins, Colorado
- Aey Electric, Youngstown, Ohio
- Al Waqas Fabrics, Lahore, Punjab, India
- Allen Industries, Inc. Greensboro, North Carolina
- Allied Electric Sign & Awning, Vineyard, Utah
- Alphagraphics, Dallas, Texas
- Aludecor Lamination Private Limited, New Delhi, Delhi India
- Always A Good Sign, West Berlin, New Jersey
- American Awning & Sign Depot, Inc., Bronx, New York
- American Lift and Sign Service, Omaha, Nebraska
- Anuncios Lumicolor, Santa Cruz De La Presa, Aguascalientes, Mexico
- Apex Sign Co., LLC, dba Ad Light Group, Denver, Colorado
- Atlas Sign Industries, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Awesome Graphics LLC, Hobbs, New Mexico
- B.M.R. Mfg. Inc., Campbellford, Ontario
- Bakers Signs, Conroe, Texas
- Branded Sign Solutions, Helena, Montana
- Cardinal Signs, Brandon, Manitoba
- COMET SIGNS, San Antonio, Texas
- Comet Signs by Stratus, San Antonio, Texas
- Cool Touch Graphics LLC, 1 Saint Charles, Missouri
- Creative Media Studios, Festac Town, Lagos, Nigeria
- Creative Sign Company, De Pere, Wisconsin
- Cupples Sign Company, Paragould, Arkansas
- DaNite Sign Co, Columbus, Ohio
- Design Team Sign Company, LLC, Adamsville, Tennessee
- Digital Color Depot, Miami, Florida
- DMR Graphics, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
- Doer Signs, Orlando, Florida
- Dprint, Lakeland, Florida
- D’sign Shop, Aibonito, Puerto Rico
- Engrave-Tech & Graphics, San Antonio, Texas
- ESCO, Watertown, South Dakota
- ESCO Manufacturing, Watertown, South Dakota
- FASTSIGNS of Durango, Durango, Colorado
- FASTSIGNS of San Ramon, San Ramon, California
- Federal Heath, Jacksonville, Texas
- Federal Heath Sign Company, Delaware, Ohio
- FLORIDA COLOR GRAPHICS, INC., Stuart, Florida
- FSG Signs, Austin, Texas
- Galaxie Signs, Burnaby, British Columbia
- Go Print USA / 247 Graphx, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Graphik Display and Sign, Lindon, Utah
- Grasshopper Wholesale Signs, Farmington Hills, Michigan
- Hansen Signs, Moncton, New Brunswick
- High 5 Signs, Kissimmee, Florida
- Hoffmann Admiral Signs, LLC, Scott City, Missouri
- HONDUPRESS, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
- Image One Industries, Bensalem, Pennsylvania
- Image360 Lexington, Lexington, Kentucky
- Image360 Traverse City, Traverse City, Michigan
- Innvoke LLC, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania
- Johnson Sign Co., Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Latitude Signage + Design, Grinnell, Iowa
- Lauretano Sign Group, Terryville, Connecticut
- Leaman Signs, St. John’s, Newfoundland
- Legacy Sign Group, Westville, Indiana
- Les Enseignes iCubic, St-Laurent, Quebec
- Mass Signs LLC, Westfield, Massachussetts
- Metro Sign, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Midwest Light & Sign Inc., Farmington, Missouri
- Munn Enterprises, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- National Branding, Troy, Michigan
- On Top Printing and Signs, Orlando, Florida
- Orion Signs and Graphics, Oxford, Michigan
- Peach City Customs, College Park, Georgia
- Persona Sign, LLC, Watertown, South Dakota
- Quicksigns LLC, Everett, Washington
- Rago Neon Inc., Hayward, California
- Ramsay Signs/Heath Northwest, Portland, Oregon
- Roland DGA, Irvine, California
- Schurle Signs Inc., Lawrence, Kansas
- Sierra Signs Service Inc., Mesa, Arizona
- Sign Shop Illuminated LLC, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- SignAgent, Burlington, Ontario
- Signarama, West Palm Beach, Florida
- Signarama – Springfield / Ozark, MO, Ozark, Missouri
- Signarama Louisville, East Louisville, Kentucky
- Signarama Philly, North Wales, Pennsylvania
- Signarama Sugar Land, Stafford, Texas
- Signararama, Troy-Metro Detroit, Troy, Michigan
- Signco Fabrications, Inc., Elk Grove Village, Illinois
- Signmans LLC, Coral Springs, Florida
- Signs & Services Co., Stanton, Colorado
- Signs By Tomorrow – Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Signworks, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
- Signworx, LLC, Metairie, Louisiana
- Sleek Signs, Regina, Saskatchewan
- Splendor Signs, Houston, Texas
- Springfield Sign, Springfield, Missouri
- Squarpix, North Bergen, New Jersey
- Stancosignage.com, Santa Ana, California
- Stone’s Sign Shoppe Inc, Saint Charles, Missouri
- Strategic Factory, Owing Mills, Maryland
- Stratus, Lexington, South Carolina
- Sunsigns Inc, Columbus, Georgia
- The Sign Gallery, Manchester, New Hampshire
- True Sign Experts, Waller, Texas
- University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California
- Urban Sign Group, Holmes, Pennsylvania
- Vivid Sign and Design Inc., Mt Pleasant, South Carolina
- VMD PUBLICIDAD, Miami, Florida
- Whithlaser by Sumiflex, Sunrise, Florida
- YESCO, Salt Lake City, Utah
Schools participating:
- Baldwin High School A College & Career Academy, Milledgeville, Georgia
- Banks County High School, Homer, Georgia
- Blackstone Valley Tech, Upton, Massachussets
- Carson High School, Carson City, Nevada
- Clinton Middle School, Clinton, Oklahoma
- Coronado High School, Gallina, New Mexico
- Destinations Career Academy of Colorado, Westminster, Colorado
- Durango High School, Durango, Colorado
- EdAdvance, Terryville, Connecticut
- Idaho Falls High School, Idaho Falls, Idaho
- Lake Travis High School, Austin, Texas
- Lodge Grass High School, Lodge Grass, Montana
- Murray High School, Murray, Utah
- Oakland Schools Technical Center Northwest, Clarkston, Michigan
- Riverdale Ridge High School, Thornton, Colorado
- Sandy Grove Middle School, Lumber Bridge, North Carolina
- Sato Academy of Math & Science, Long Beach, California
- University Schools, Greeley, Colorado
- Wood River High School, Hailey, Idaho
- Youngker High School, Buckeye, Arizona
While most companies choose to participate on the first Friday in October, they are free to choose dates that align better with their schedules or their local school calendar.
This article was originally published by International Sign Association
