Franchise Print: A look at ICED, Minuteman, and Signal Graphics (Part 4)

(Originally published at WhatTheyThink.com for Premium Access Members in January 2006) January 19, 2006 – Today we wrap up our examination of the leaders in small print shop franchising beginning with ICED, which has a number of franchises in the printing industry as well as in other industries. Its print franchises include Kwik Kopy Printing Centers, Kwik Kopy Business Centers, Copy Club, Franklin’s and Ink Well, with 306 combined locations in 2004.

The only new franchise agreements the company is currently selling are Kwik Kopy Business Centers, although ICED continues to manage the renewal and/or resale of other brands as contracts mature. According to Bob Metzger, ICED’s senior vice president, “Our Kwik Kopy Business Center brand (KKBC) is just now starting to see some momentum, having been a pioneer in the print & copy/pack & ship arena, and we anticipate 2006 to be a very good year for this brand.”

The Kwik Kopy Business Center concept provides quick copy and print from toner based equipment on site, as well as in-house bindery and finishing. ICED provides the centers with an extensive base of wholesale/trade printers (or other Kwik Kopy Printing centers willing to do wholesale work) for outsourcing. Four- color process, web presswork, labels, etc., are all outsourced in this model.

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About Cary Sherburne

Cary Sherburne is a well-known author, journalist and marketing consultant whose practice is focused on marketing communications strategies for the printing and publishing industries.

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