PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Plymouth-Mich.-based Alliance Franchise Brands has engaged Gino Wickman and the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) as part of its strategic growth plan for its brands and franchise members for continued expansion of services and locations. 

Alliance Franchise Brands, a top 200 U.S. franchisor, is one of the largest franchise systems in the graphic arts and visual communications markets with more than 550 locations in North America. Its brands include Image360, Signs By Tomorrow and Signs Now in the signage sector and Allegra, Insty-Prints, American Speedy Printing Centers, Speedy Printing Centers and Zippy Print in the marketing, print and mail sector.

“The association with Gino Wickman and EOS enables Alliance Franchise Brands to offer its franchise members the best in class tools for achieving outstanding business results, developing a truly effective team and building more value in their businesses,” said Kevin Cushing, president of Alliance Franchise Brands Marketing & Print Division. 

EOS is a proven system that consistently helps companies achieve more revenue, growth and profit, while delivering a better balance of life to business owners and leaders.

“We have an outstanding network in both divisions and our EOS initiative, as it takes root, will enable our members to confidently address the changing and challenging dynamics of our industry and small business and move to the next level,” Cushing added. “We are really excited to work with Gino Wickman and his business partner, Don Tinney, to bring their great EOS approach to our outstanding group of franchise members.”  

The kickoff is slated for September and will be a major focus at Alliance Franchise Brands’ member events in 2016.

“EOS requires a commitment and discipline to achieve the desired outcomes,” said Ray Palmer, president of Alliance Franchise Brands Sign & Graphics Division. “We want our franchise members and their teams focused on the most important levers and opportunities for success, and EOS brings the systems and the clarity. Owners in our system, whether seasoned or brand new, will all benefit from this well designed operating system.” 

Alliance Franchise Brands is unusual in many respects:

• Every member of the franchisor’s executive team is an owner in the business. Four owned franchises prior to moving into their executive roles.
• The company owns and operates four Allegra Marketing, Print, Mail locations as well as four Image360 locations, all serving as “test beds” for new initiatives. 
• Given a presence in the print, marketing services and signage sectors, it provides qualified franchise members the opportunity to dual brand as Allegra and Image360 to capitalize on the deep credibility of both concepts.
• The Sign & Graphics Division is led by Palmer, a long-time successful Signs By Tomorrow franchisee.
• The Marketing & Print Division is led by Cushing, formerly a successful AlphaGraphics franchisee since 1995 who doubled as CEO of the AlphaGraphics network from 2004 to 2012. In 2011, Cushing was named Whattheythink.com’s Print Industry CEO of the Year.

“While many top 500 brands in franchising are owned by private equity firms or the public markets, we are privately owned and patient investors who will sacrifice maximum profits today to build value across a strong network for years to come,” said  CEO Mike Marcantonio. 

“Both Ray and Kevin, as well as our many other members of management who have had successful tenures as franchisees bring credibility to our interactions with franchise members,” he added. “It helps accelerate our ability to take advantage of opportunities and establish a depth of empathy that is hard to replicate, given our company operations and the franchise operating experience of our team.”