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A favorable market for Allegra Network LLC, Interview with Carl Gerhardt, President/CEO

Carl Gerhardt is President/

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Carl Gerhardt is President/CEO of Allegra Network LLC, a franchise network of 600 independently owned and operated centers representing the brands of Allegra Print & Imaging, American Speedy Printing Centers, Insty-Prints and Signs Now. The company’s Print Division and corporate offices are located in Northville, MI and the Sign Division is located in Sarasota, FL.

Allegra Network was founded in 1976 and began franchising in 1977. As much of the quick print industry matured into small commercial and less retail, Allegra launched the Allegra Print & Imaging brand name in 1996 and transitioned many franchise members operating under American Speedy Printing Centers to the new brand name. The company then acquired the Insty-Prints franchise chain in 2002 and many of those centers have since adopted the Allegra brand name.

In 2005, Allegra acquired the Signs Now franchise chain. This acquisition was a strategic decision to move further into the wide format sector, recognizing that ink jet technology was beginning to make an impact on the print market.


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