anyone know Sign Express????

[Dave Hambrook]

There is a signs express franchise near us, I think they mainly
concentrate on vehicle graphics.

Dave

[Paul Goodwin]

One is opening the other side of town from me as well…………..

[Guy Burt-Davies]

Signs Express is the largest sign franchise (and – they claim – sign company because of the number of outlets they have) in the UK, they started out specialising in vehicle graphics but handle any form of sign enquiry. They have a National Sales team as well and have contracts with several of the big car companies (Mercedes etc).

If the branch is opening near you soon expect them to splash out a fair wedge of cash promoting the launch of the new ‘sign centre’ with local businesses being very heavily targetted. SAR may be able to shed more light on the workings of a franchise operation as I believe Sign-a-Rama operate in the same way.

The problem with the sign franchises (IMHO) is that they are typically bought by people with little or no sign or graphic experience but see the franchise as a good moneyspinner – not always the best recipe for success but I can’t see Signs Express as an organisation allowing any of its franchisees to fail.

Guy

[John Childs]

Signs Express franchises do fail. We have had a couple in this area that came and went fairly quickly. One I know nothing about, but I spoke to the other and he told me that he was so stuffed up with expensive overheads that he couldn’t compete with the established local companies.

As with any competitor, provided you give a good service, keep your customers happy and give them no reason to change supplier, keep your overheads under control so that you can offer good prices, then you can eat them for breakfast.

Of course, if you don’t do the above, then you have a problem anyway, Signs Express or not. It’s just business.

Good luck.

[Patrick Donaghey]

thanks for all the input will keep those thoughts in mind and hopefully just keep working away

[Robert Lambie]

yeh, they do go bust, i know of about 2 or 3 in our area that went bust. also a couple of signarama and fastsigns franchises. infact couple of years ago fastsigns europe ltd went bust themseves, thats the franchise people not the outlet/shop. they only kept their heads above the water because the american parent company stepped in. they now run operate it instead. i believe doing a much better job too, from what i hear.

[Shane Drew]

signexpress are starting here too, but fast signs and signarama have been here for a while.

Both have had franchises have come and go here too, mainly because retired company exec buy the franchise with their superanuation or take early redundency, then they have to rely on staff to bring in the bacon.

Some can not come to grips with going from a well oiled machine or government post, to taking full responsibility themselves.

We have a few good operators tho, and they don’t bother me. I lose some to em and I win some of em. That is self employment I suppose.