Coupled with business strategy, a well-defined and differentiated company culture is one of the most important factors influencing an organization’s success. Research from the consulting firm Deloitte found 94 percent of executives and 88 percent of employees believe this to be true.

As industries across the board become increasingly crowded with competition, a distinct culture that helps support and guide business strategy gives companies an advantage. Organizations that put specific focus on their culture tend to have happier employees who feel valued at work.

As a franchise brand, we have worked – and continue to work – diligently to create an organizational culture that helps to motivate SpeedPro studio owners and gives them the foundational guidance and tools to keep their individual teams inspired to put forth their best effort.

Here is a sample of some of the attributes of the SpeedPro company culture that helps to inspire our brand’s growth:

• Highly Collaborative

SpeedPro franchisees are part of a family of studio owners.

“As a SpeedPro studio owner, we collaborate and know that tenured owners can share and mentor new owners, which makes the brand and system stronger, one question, one studio, and one client interaction at a time,” said John Barber, owner of the SpeedPro in Norcross, Georgia.

When new studio owners are ramping up their business, an existing SpeedPro franchisee will act as a buddy studio for that individual. As a result, an owner who hasn’t officially opened their doors yet can start building a client roster and working on projects with the help of their fellow franchisees.

• Client-Centric Philosophy

As a business-to-business (B2B) franchise concept, SpeedPro owners are invested in ensuring their clients’ needs come first. The brand promise is built around the idea that each studio is an extension of their clients’ design, event planning, marketing and advertising teams.

It’s a consultative approach that distinguishes SpeedPro from other printing franchise concepts that are more focused on solely delivering a product. It’s critical that franchisees and their teams take the time to understand and help visualize a strategy that will help ensure their clients achieve their business objectives.

• Dedicated to Growth

Most franchisors will tell you they want to expand their footprint by adding new units at a consistent pace. The same is obviously true of SpeedPro as well, but we’re also equally dedicated to making sure existing franchisees are achieving the strongest unit-level economics possible.

“My goal is to grow our brand well beyond 130 studios, of course,” said Larry Oberly, SpeedPro CEO. “But, we also have to make sure we never lose sight of helping our current franchisees by expanding and enhancing our infrastructure and support services. That, in itself, is a tremendous draw for entrepreneurs interested in owning a SpeedPro studio. By collaborating, the SpeedPro home office and our studio owners will do this together.”

• Focused on Innovation

As a leader in wide-format printing, we need to ensure we’re doing everything we can to stay ahead in our industry. This is reflected in the tools and operational guidelines made available to studio owners to assist them in marketing their studios to different types of clients, including designers, architects, creative directors, marketing professionals, small-business owners and members of the C-suite.

At the same time, you can see innovation in the products and services franchisees can offer their clients. For example, studio owners can print on acrylic, brushed metal and glass surfaces, in addition to many other substrates. This expands the types of applications and fosters creative freedom for studio owners and their clients.

As you investigate franchise opportunities, remember that you have to weigh any potential financial gains alongside cultural alignment with the brand. Investing in a franchise is a serious commitment, so you want to ensure that you’re in step with the franchisor.

Learn more about SpeedPro’s business model here!

When Mike McKenny graduated from Florida Southern College with a degree in music, owning a wide-format printing business wasn’t in the cards. Mike went on to become a music teacher and work at a large insurance company. Molly McKenny, Mike’s wife, business partner and high school sweetheart, also held a position in insurance for 10 years after completing her duty as a member of the United States Army Reserves.

The couple’s careers were soon uprooted once Mike approached Holly with an idea.

“One day I told Holly, ‘Hey I have this crazy idea – we’re going to start our own company,’” Mike said. “She thought I was absolutely nuts. Then I told my dad that I needed to pull him out of retirement, and I dragged everyone into this fun, wild craziness.”

For the past three years, Mike and Holly have been running their own SpeedPro in St. Petersburg, Fla., and living out Mike’s crazy idea of business ownership.

He Says, She Says: Owning a SpeedPro as a Married Couple

If you asked Mike and Holly five years ago if they could ever work well together professionally, the answer would have been “no.”

The reason their business partnership works, however, comes from their strategic approaches. Holly is more focused on the day-to-day operations, which allows Mike to dream big. She calls him the “Yes Man” of their SpeedPro team – no idea is too outlandish, and no goal is unattainable.

“What makes our relationship work is that we’re opposites,” Mike said. “I tend to be very big picture, throwing stuff up on the whiteboard and hoping it works.”

Together, Mike and Holly embody the hard-working, entrepreneurial traits and skillsets we look for in a SpeedPro franchisee.

Growing the Business on Their Own Terms

With minds as creative as Mike and Holly’s, it’s important for them to be given license to mold their business how they see it. One of their favorite parts of coming to work each day is the freedom they feel as owners of their own business.

“SpeedPro gives us the freedom to do what works for our particular location,” Mike said. “The products we offer, staffing, pricing and equipment is all up to us.”

One of the ways Mike and Holly have used that creative liberty is in the equipment they have acquired over their three years in the wide-format printing industry. The husband-wife team opened with store with a simple printer and laminator. After seeing the needs of their clients and considering how they can improve the service they offered, they began buying new equipment, including a full flatbed printer. Mike and Holly’s SpeedPro is now so equipped and customized for their clients that their new concern is a lack of in-store space.

Mike and Holly run their business with client satisfaction as their highest priority. If their clients are happy, they’re happy.

“I’m fulfilled being a SpeedPro owner,” Mike said. “That’s the best way to say it. I enjoy the challenge. I enjoy the growth.”

Are you looking to start your own business? Contact us today to learn more about our franchise opportunities.

After decades in the workforce, many employees spend the twilight of their careers watching the clock and dreaming of retirement. Yet, a growing number of older adults who give retirement a try end up changing their minds.

While some go on to pursue part-time careers to maintain some structure and specialized skillset, more former retirees are finding a successful second-act career by building their own business. More than 50 percent of small-business owners are over the age of 50.

Pat DelBrocco was one of many who reached retirement age but wasn’t yet ready to close the door on his career. Instead, after nearly four decades as a top sales executive at The Coca-Cola Company, he decided to open his own SpeedPro franchise.

“When I was looking for a new opportunity as I was retiring from Coca-Cola, I ran across the SpeedPro brand, which from my perspective was a very exciting prospective business for a number of reasons,” said Pat. “With the endless opportunities and growth potential, I kept going back to that brand for business ownership.”

Taking the First Steps toward a Second Act with SpeedPro

After looking further into the SpeedPro franchise opportunity, and the booming large-format printing industry, Pat was sold on the business. He and his wife, Charmane, decided to open their own SpeedPro franchise and begin building the business in their Tampa Westchase community.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for 20 years before Pat and I bought this franchise, and while I was at home, I was very active as a community volunteer – particularly with the PTA,” Charmane said. “When we decided to invest in SpeedPro, I was browsing the client verticals. One of those verticals was education, and I immediately felt a connection there.”

Almost four years after opening their doors, the DelBrocco’s continue to have longstanding client relationships and partnerships with area schools to this day.

“When I’m dealing with SpeedPro and particularly with Pat and Charmane, I know that they are going to partner with me and help my vision come to fruition – and see that process all the way through,” said Robert Florio, a longtime SpeedPro client and local high school principal.

At SpeedPro, no two days – or two studios – are the same, but developing a strong B2B client base for long-term, repeat business remains a universal, system-wide key to success.

That’s why the DelBroccos spend much of their time nurturing these client partnerships, in addition to participating in the hands-on printing and production process.

“For us to be successful, it’s really important to have a longstanding relationship with clients,” said Pat. “That way, we can understand the client’s buying and printing needs, so we can develop solutions they may not even be thinking about and really ‘wow’ them. That’s one of the areas we pride ourselves on – going above and beyond to really impress our clients.”

“There’s nothing better than having a client say they love the work you did,” Charmane added.

A Strong Base of Repeat Business that Builds Itself

Plus, by developing a foundation of high-value, repeat clients, SpeedPro franchisees benefit from a built-in network of business prospects – so they can seamlessly grow their business without spending their days generating new leads.

Instead, they can also enjoy the creative and collaborative process that goes into the creation of unique marketing solutions, which help clients achieve their business goals with large-scale graphics.

“My role in this industry is helping customers take advantage of our resources that can help build their brand, generate awareness and boost their business,” said Pat.

Although neither Pat nor Charmane came from a background in marketing or large-format printing, the comprehensive, interactive training and support they received from the SpeedPro home office helped prepare them for any and all projects thrown their way.

But, because each day, project, graphic and client is so unique, the DelBroccos still haven’t found a dull moment in business ownership with SpeedPro.  

“In this industry, I’m always challenged to find the best possible solution for our clients,” Charmane said. “It is a challenge, but it’s extremely rewarding as well.” 

To learn more about becoming a business owner with an industry-leading franchise, contact us today!