For 25 years, Greg Anderson worked in the software industry before buying the Minuteman Press franchise in Parker, CO; his new franchise in Castle Rock, CO was converted from an independent print center to Minuteman Press

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. & PARKER, CO - Celebrating one year in business as a Minuteman Press franchise owner, Greg Anderson has certainly had a prolific year. What started out as buying an existing franchise for sale in Parker, Colorado has blossomed into multi-unit franchise ownership for Greg, who spent the previous 25 years of his career working in the software industry. Greg recently purchased an independent print shop in Castle Rock and has now successfully converted it into his second Minuteman Press design, printing, and marketing business.

"I had no aspiration to open a second franchise, especially so quickly," says Greg. He explains, "However, a unique opportunity came up where an owner of an independent printer in Castle Rock wanted to retire.  This shop I acquired had terrible leases and high cost of goods, but at the same time had a great customer base in a growing town.  It just seemed like an opportunity that was too good to pass up.  With a lot of help from the local support team at Minuteman Press International, we put together a good deal and I haven’t looked back."

By converting the independent print center in Castle Rock to Minuteman Press, Greg has been able to add a wide variety of products and services to the printing business. In addition to print, Minuteman Press meets the needs of today's business professionals by providing full-service design, marketing, branding, and promotional solutions. As a result, Greg's Castle Rock center is stable and poised for potential continued growth.

Growing the Business in Colorado through High Quality and Customer Service

With two B2B franchises under his ownership, Greg Anderson has a message for his potential clients in Parker and Castle Rock that are looking to do business with a #1 rated marketing and printing services provider. Greg says, "We see online printers as our main competitors. Therefore, we focus on customer service, quality and timely delivery.  It is very difficult to get these from your online printers and our customers really appreciate that they know they can talk to a friendly, knowledgeable person when they need to, and they know we deliver a high quality product when they need it."

Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Greg Anderson worked in the software industry for 25 years. He elaborates, "I started out on the technical side of the software business. I then transitioned to product management and product marketing, where I was heading up marketing for a software firm focused on small businesses around the world."

With Greg's previous career came all of the traveling, which made him weary of the road. Greg states, "Working with technology firms required a great deal of travel around the world.  While most people think it is glamourous, you never really see much of the places you visited.  So I decided I wanted a change that didn’t require travel but would allow me to use the information I had gained working close with and marketing to small and mid-sized business."

Today, Greg uses the skills he learned in the technology sector and applies them to his Minuteman Press design, marketing, and printing business. Why Minuteman Press? He answers, "During my career, I learned that processes and knowledge were the keys to success.  When I looked at other franchisors, they didn’t have the same level of support that Minuteman Press International provides.  I didn’t want to spend my time recreating the wheel, but rather focus on growing my business. Minuteman Press enables me to do that."

Benefits of Franchising and Ongoing Local Support

For Greg Anderson, one of the many benefits of owning a Minuteman Press franchise is that he no longer has to be an international road warrior, yet he can use his background to help other businesses grow. He enjoys being able to provide his clients with strategic consulting services in addition to the wide variety of branded products he produces for them. Greg says, "I really enjoy understanding a business' challenges and then helping them lay out a plan to grow revenue, retain customers, and increase their brand awareness. It is very rewarding work and I also love that I am home every night.  It might be late, but at least I’m sleeping in my own bed."

The ongoing local support that Greg receives from Minuteman Press International in Colorado is also a huge benefit for his business. He states, "The local support from Minuteman Press has been the key.  Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  Jack Panzer (Minuteman Press International Regional VP for Colorado) and the field representatives have helped me with everything from the initial two-week onsite setups and ongoing training to giving me guidance on how to provide those unique items our customers are asking us to produce for them.  The team is always there and you can depend on them to return calls, texts and emails in a very timely fashion."

For franchise owners like Greg Anderson, Minuteman Press International offers a royalty incentive program that caps royalties above a monthly sales level. Greg says, "Yes, the royalty incentive program was a motivating factor for me. When I considered different franchises, none that I researched capped their royalty program except for Minuteman Press.  I saw this as a huge benefit.  While I saw a lot of value in what Minuteman Press and other franchises provide, there could have been a limit to the amount of benefit I would receive. Minuteman Press addresses that by putting a cap on it."

Giving Back to the Community

Like any small business owner, Greg Anderson and his dedicated teams in Parker and Castle Rock believe in getting involved and giving back. Greg says, "I think it is very important to be involved in the communities you live and work in. I belong to several business organizations including the Parker Area Chamber of Commerce, Castle Pines Chamber, and Castle Rock Chamber. I also sit on several committees including the Business Education Committee as well as an Ambassador."

Greg continues, "While my wife and I support a lot of different charitable groups, I am a big supporter of the American Diabetes Association.  As a person who has had diabetes for almost 50 years, I think it is important to help spread the word about it and to raise money to find a cure." 

Typical Day, Business Goals and Advice for Others

When mapping out his business growth strategy, Greg Anderson has a process that he follows. He explains, "I’m not sure there is a typical day for an owner of a Minuteman Press franchise, but I try and use the '12 Week Year Plan' process. I plan an 'ideal weekly calendar' for 12 weeks to follow so I can control my time and get the most important things done." A far as the next goals for his two businesses, Greg says, "For the Parker store, I want to continue revenue growth.  I spent approximately six months working on acquiring the new location and converting it to Minuteman Press, so I want to hone in on growth. For the Castle Rock franchise, my focus is on retaining the current customer base and reaching out to new clients. I also want to bring the cost of goods to the appropriate levels."

Greg's advice for other business owners is simple: "First, you need to focus on getting the most important things done.  It doesn’t mean you ignore the other items, you just need to prioritize." He continues, "Secondly, make sure you listen to your local support representatives, especially if you are with the Minuteman Press franchise family."

Greg thoughtfully concludes, "The people at Minuteman Press really are experts, and they have your success in mind."