Printing Operators Turn to Signage & Visual Graphics to Revive Business

As the traditional printing industry continues to gradually decline, an increasing number of print shop businesses are turning to other categories, such as signage and visual graphics, to build new revenue streams.

Recognizing this trend, FASTSIGNS International Inc., the worldwide franchisor of FASTSIGNS visual communications, signage and graphics centers with 530 locations in eight countries, will for the first time exhibit at GRAPH EXPO 2012 (Booth No. 3957), to be held Oct. 7-10 in Chicago. The company's goal is to participate in discussions around printing business challenges and educate attendees about opportunities to evolve with new solutions.

In addition to exhibiting, FASTSIGNS will host an exclusive breakfast and lunch program with CEO Catherine Monson at 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on October 8, respectively. Guests who pre-register for the programs will have an opportunity to speak with Monson regarding the company's franchise conversion program, which allows business owners to add a FASTSIGNS center within their existing business for as little as a $6,000 initial investment.

"I understand the wrenching change the industry has undergone and continues to undergo," said Monson, who was previously in the sheet fed printing industry for 28 years. "Print volumes and the number of printing businesses continue to decline. Diversifying your printing business into signage and visual graphics is a sound way to grow new profitable revenue streams. As an established franchisor, we have a proven track record and a business model that encompasses all areas of the signage and visual graphics business, from marketing and sales to pricing and efficient production and installation. We have developed a successful conversion program that allows existing operators to place a FASTSIGNS franchise within their existing printing business."

FASTSIGNS franchise owner Todd Fisher, who recently opened a FASTSIGNS center in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, was also in the printing business for more than 20 years and made the transition into signage and visual graphics/wide-format printing because of his belief in the future of alternative digital media.

"I chose to partner with FASTSIGNS because I personally witnessed the declining need for print on paper and the fact that there are far fewer displacing technologies in the wide and large format printing categories," Fisher said. "With FASTSIGNS, I'm able to stay on top of the changing digital landscape and offer my customers complete marketing solutions in addition to the traditional small format printing services."

With more than 530 FASTSIGNS sign and graphics centers around the world, FASTSIGNS provides marketing and visual communications solutions to businesses, organizations and events of all types and sizes. FASTSIGNS offers a variety of sign and graphics solutions – including banners, building signs, digital signage, yard signs, vehicle graphics, decals, trade show exhibits and displays, point-of-purchase signs, and posters – as well as mobile websites, promotional products, interior décor, branding, printing and other marketing services.

For more information or to register for the breakfast or lunch programs with FASTSIGNS at GRAPH EXPO 2012 should contact Terra Tomlinson at [email protected] or call (214) 346-5612. Availability is limited.