FASTSIGNS International, Inc. attributes its global success to a proven business model and focuses on recruiting strong master franchisees
To visit every FASTSIGNS location would mean circumnavigating the globe, from the United States to Chile, and across several oceans to reach Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, and France. And that’s just a few of the countries where FASTSIGNS has put down roots.
Its growth has been strategic, says Mark Jameson, EVP of franchise support and development of FASTSIGNS International, Inc., focusing on enlisting strong master franchisees capable of building out an entire country.
The brand’s latest success story is its rapid growth in Chile, where it recruited the team at NEOMARK, a family-owned business with over 40 years of experience manufacturing signs and graphics, to convert its existing location to a FASTSIGNS and work towards developing the brand throughout Santiago and beyond. Only a year after signing the franchise development agreement, NEOMARK already had opened five FASTSIGNS centers.
FASTSIGNS is also gearing up to open its first locations in Malta, France, and the Dominican Republic, with master franchisees.
Many will try, but not every franchise concept is suited for such a diverse global footprint. Where FASTSIGNS has succeeded, countless others have failed. “We’ve opened FASTSIGNS centers in nine countries and despite the differences in language, culture, and business environments, our business model has proven to work,” said Jameson. “No matter the country, there’s a growing need for signage, graphics, and visual communications, which is what sets FASTSIGNS apart from other franchises that don’t have nearly the global demand that we have.”
WORLD-CLASS TRAINING AND RESOURCES
FASTSIGNS is known in the industry for equipping its franchisees with training and tools vital to securing the ongoing success of each location – wherever they operate. The brand has more than 120 support staff serving its over 700 locations worldwide; a support ratio of 1:6, the largest of any sign franchise.
FASTSIGNS’ training and support resources include its online FASTSIGNS University, sales training, a mentor program, a new center business consultant, sales leadership academy, and more.
“As a previous business consultant, I’ve worked with many companies across various industries. The quality, thorough training, and support offered by FASTSIGNS are unlike any other,” said Linda Sultmann, FASTSIGNS’ master franchisee in Australia, where centers operate as SIGNWAVE. Sultmann and her business partner, Dean Rowland, have grown FASTSIGNS’presence in Australia to 17 centers.
“From both the standpoint of a master franchisee and franchisee, the success of each individual in the company is a true testament to the level of support provided,” said Sultmann. “That was one of the most attractive points when deciding to become a master franchisee with FASTSIGNS.”
In 2018, FASTSIGNS announced its partnership with 1HUDDLE, a workforce-training platform that converts unique training content into science-backed, quick-burst training games that are proven to accelerate workforce productivity. The goal was to adapt the brand’s training to a new generation of franchisees and employees. Currently, FASTSIGNS has about 30 games in its system that each lasts two to three minutes, from understanding the company’s brand positioning to sales tactics and products.
“The success of each individual in the company is a true testament to the level of support provided”
“Many of our franchisees are younger. Finding a way to get information and training to them in a faster, more efficient way is critical for us and gamification is an effective way to achieve that,” FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson told Sign Builder Illustrated in 2018. “It helps reinforce traditional online or video training, with the added benefit of making it fun, competitive and more digestible, without taking up too much time during the workday. On average, each 1HUDDLE game takes less than three minutes to complete. It’s fast, efficient, and leads to information retention.”
STAYING AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION
Launching an American brand overseas has its benefits. In many countries, U.S. technological advancements in the signage industry are several years ahead, meaning that once there is a demand in a master franchisee’s home country, FASTSIGNS has already worked out the best usage methodologies.
Across all 11 countries, FASTSIGNS is at the forefront of industry development and its offerings extend beyond traditional signage to include digital signage, architectural signage, and interior décor.
“Franchisees worldwide benefit from our diverse product range, so they can serve the unique needs of their customers,” said Jameson. “We know that to be a truly global franchise, we can’t only offer products that are popular back home in the U.S. While people worldwide need signage, graphics, and visual communications, they often consume these things in different ways depending on where they live and do business.”
For example, in the U.S., Monson explained, the public reacts positively to bold signs and point-of-purchase materials. However, in the United Kingdom, consumers enjoy a more subtle approach. U.K. citizens are also environmentally minded and are keen to use sustainable, lightweight materials, which reduces fuel costs for the shipping of signage.
“It’s about understanding the products available and positioning them attractively to the end customer,” said Monson. “In every country, we operate in, we have been able to successfully adapt FASTSIGNS to the economic, legal, and socio-cultural realities of the country. There is always a way to make our brand work for our franchisees.”
WHAT’S NEXT FOR FASTSIGNS?
Despite worldwide success, FASTSIGNS isn’t resting on its laurels. The brand continues to set its sights on finding master franchisees for Québec, New Zealand, and Brazil, as well as countries throughout North Africa, Southwest Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
“It may seem like we’re casting a wide net, but that’s because the FASTSIGNS business opportunity is designed to succeed anywhere,” said Jameson. “As long as there are businesses and organizations needing signage, graphics, and visual communications, FASTSIGNS can be there to fulfill that need.”
