Doug Frederickson is a member of the Minuteman Press International President’s Million-Dollar Club and has valuable insights to share about franchising and the printing industry.

Surrey, British Columbia – Celebrating 25 years in business in Surrey, Minuteman Press franchise owner Doug Frederickson is living proof that the modern printing industry is alive and thriving. Doug says, “We’ve had continued increases in sales every year since we started. The business has evolved and we have grown with the new opportunities that those changes have presented.”

Doug credits Minuteman Press International for his ability to market his business and embrace new products and services that are in demand by his B2B customers. He explains, “Being a franchisee with Minuteman Press gives me access to a big toolbox with so many tools in it. Their vendor programs have been extremely helpful. They are able research equipment, offer expert guidance, and get contracts and rates I could not get on my own.”

Doug continues, “Then, there’s the unique Minuteman Press franchise system itself. To create my own system would be mind-numbing and almost impossible. They continually add products, conduct R&D, and give me a network of other owners that is just mind-blowing. You get a level of support and camaraderie you just can’t find. I’ve learned valuable lessons from Minuteman Press franchisees that have been in business for two months to 30 years.”

Changing careers and building a business that helps others grow

Prior to becoming a Minuteman Press franchisee, Doug Frederickson worked long hours in retail. He says, “For 11 years, I worked as a manager for Canadian Tire. At the time I was looking to move forward, I really wanted to take back my life and gain time that was being spent working.” Today, Doug’s time is his own, as is his facility. He explains, “The ability to purchase our own premises was huge. Also, I love seeing he growth of my employees as they have become team members instead of just staff. We have grown from a staff of 3 to 28 team members today.”

While there have been changes to the industry and his client base, Doug and his team still get that same level of satisfaction and gratitude when their customers are happy. Doug says, “We love how diverse we are able to be in helping our clients. We used to have a lot of mom and pop organizations as clients and we still do. However, we also have added commercial accounts, buyers, and companies with multiple offices. The automotive sector is one of many industries that we have seen significant business from.”

As for how he builds relationships and secures new business, Doug says not much has changed over 25 years. “The Minuteman Press marketing program we’ve been doing since day one is still by far the most effective way of doing this. We then keep our clients by always finding a solution. It’s important to know that I have a team behind me to help me get to those solutions. The team has been instrumental in building this business, and we all have the same attitude of working together and getting the job done despite our different roles.”

Reflecting on 25 years and advice for others

Looking back on the past 25 years, Doug speaks about his incredible journey: “It’s like the stars aligning. There were challenges and triumphs and when you really look back you get to see the fruits of your labor. I had one son that was two-years-old when I started, and Minuteman Press gave me the opportunity to have complete control of my time. There have been many benefits, but that’s the most important thing to me.”

Doug’s advice for other aspiring and current entrepreneurs is this: “Stay positive because there are rewards at the end of this rainbow.”

Doug Frederickson’s Minuteman Press franchise is located at 7561 134A Street, Surrey, BC. For more information, call Doug and his team at 604-572-8558 or visit their website: http://minutemansurrey.com./