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Monthly Archives: March 2022

SpeedPro Norcross Wins IFA Franchisee of the Year

March 30, 2022

SpeedPro’s John Barber is recognized for being an outstanding owner-operator by The International Franchise Association; Exemplifying excellence as a leading Business-to-Business large format printing franchise in his community.

Larry Oberly, CEO, and John Barber, owner SpeedPro Norcross

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DENVER, March 22, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — SpeedPro, the nation’s leader in large format graphics, today is pleased to announce The International Franchise Association (IFA) named John Barber of SpeedPro in Norcross, Georgia, as Franchisee of the Year. Barber was honored at IFA’s 62nd Annual Convention in San Diego, California, for being an outstanding franchise establishment owner-operator.

“Franchisee of the Year Awards are the highest honors presented to individual franchisees,” said Matthew Haller, President and CEO of the International Franchise Association. “These local business owners like John Barber, represent some of the best entrepreneurs in the country and we are proud to recognize his contributions to their communities, their employees and all those they serve.”

The Franchisee of the Year Award, sponsored by IFA’s partner Paychex, recognizes leading franchisees who exemplify at least one of IFA’s “Open for Opportunity” core pillars: Community, Workforce, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Veterans. SpeedPro is a 163-location franchise in the U.S. and Canada specializing in large-format printing. SpeedPro’s primary product applications include wall, window and floor graphics, event displays, digital displays, signs and vehicle and fleet wraps. A variety of industries are served by SpeedPro including advertising and marketing companies, retail, healthcare, museums and galleries, restaurants, franchises, event venues, educational institutions and more. SpeedPro’s mission is to partner with businesses to achieve success through innovative visual solutions.

Barber joined the SpeedPro Norcross studio as a partner in June of 2015, and has been the sole owner since September 2019. A graduate of the University of Minnesota Business School, Barber has worked for large corporations including Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo and a series of private equity ventures primarily in the hospitality and food service franchising industry.

“The past 2 years of the pandemic solidified Norcross’ leadership position in our marketplace as we added 642 new customers by leveraging our digital marketing strategy,” he said.

The reasons Barber received this award in the community category are many. As the pandemic started, the studio donated over 300 yard signs and banners to restaurants and retailers by driving around and giving them away for free. The businesses used the signs to message and communicate to people where they could still obtain meals.

Barber also partnered with 4 other companies during Easter weekend to feed 26,000 meals to displaced food service workers in greater Atlanta. The program was named “Feeding Food Service.” Barber has supported the hospitality and franchise industry after the great learnings he had in his early years in food service.

Creating art files used by the entire SpeedPro system, Barber’s studio donated over 200 8-foot Heroes Work Here signs and installed them at hospitals, police and fire stations, city halls, public works and regional medical facilities. Additionally, the studio donated the signs to the first COVID drive-thru locations at the Peachtree Immediate Care Medical facilities in Atlanta, and has been supplying all 30 plus locations with graphics since.

Additionally, the studio printed signs for all 16 cities in Gwinnett County, which was contacted by the Gwinnett Municipal Cities Association once they heard of the program. The 128 signs the studio printed and installed was at a 50% discount with Barber donating 10% of the revenue to the North Georgia Community Foundation to support families impacted by COVID.https://c255cfb4a4730682068c22489004aa88.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

“My experience as a franchisor and now as a SpeedPro franchisee has been a highlight of my professional career,” shared Barber. “2022 is shaping up to be another record year for our Norcross studio and hopefully the SpeedPro system as a whole.”

A recent IFA study showed that franchising helped lead U.S. economic recovery in 2021, with exceptional job and business growth across all franchising sectors. The industry on average provides higher wages, better benefits and more leave than non-franchised businesses, as well as greater opportunities to underserved communities and aspiring entrepreneurs, according to Oxford Economics research.

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About SpeedPro
SpeedPro specializes in transformation through large-format printing and graphics. SpeedPro’s expertise is in translating its client’s vision into flawless large-size graphics using the industry’s most innovative printing technologies. Whether you have print-ready artwork or you need to commission an original custom design, SpeedPro works with clients and marketing agencies of all sizes and industries to produce graphics and prints that add branded experiences to retail windows, sports arena banners, event graphics, trade show displays, vehicle fleet wraps, wall murals, and so much more. For more information, visit SpeedPro online at http://www.SpeedPro.com

About the International Franchise Association
Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 775,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.2 million direct jobs, $787.7 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development. For more information, visit the IFA online at https://www.franchise.org

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How SpeedPro is Sustainable

March 22, 2022

Today’s customers demand sustainability. With conscious consumerism on the rise, businesses are looking for ways to infuse sustainability into their everyday operations. Eco-friendly marketing is one important—but often overlooked—piece of an organization’s sustainability efforts.

Fortunately for our business partners, SpeedPro has embraced sustainability in multiple ways! By making our large-format printing products and operations greener, we’re helping reduce not only our own but also our clients’ impacts on the earth’s materials and resources. This gives our franchise studios a leg up over the competition and a greater sense of pride as they do their work.

What sustainability means to us

In corporate operations, “sustainability” is often linked to reduced carbon emissions and pollution levels. While these are certainly important, we think of sustainability in a broader sense.

SpeedPro’s sustainable efforts encompass the health and wellbeing of the planet, air quality and human beings. The ways we make our business “green” are safer and healthier for our employees, produce less waste and are better for the environment! These efforts speak to our clients’ desire for eco-friendly production.

Why is sustainability important? First and foremost, it helps solidify a healthy future for new generations. By protecting the planet today, we give our children and their children a healthier environment.

SpeedPro’s sustainability efforts also help attract clients. Customers are prioritizing businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. SpeedPro’s B2B clients will come to us because of our range of sustainable product options, then use their green marketing to draw in customers of their own.

How SpeedPro chooses sustainability

SpeedPro’s everyday operations and product line support our commitment to sustainability. And the best part is, what we offer is always growing! As the industry evolves, we continue to present eco-conscious clients with products that are less impactful on the environment—without losing any of their professional quality or impactful messaging! Here are just a few ways we do it.

New ink types

Inks used in large-format printing have been some of the most pollutive over the years. Traditional inks contain solvents, which emit chemicals during the printing process. Fortunately, newer, more sustainable inks have become more common—and are even produced and endorsed by some of the largest names in the industry!

For example, UV-curable inks produce fewer chemical emissions than traditional inks, making them a safer and less-pollutive option. Another benefit of these inks is that they can be used to print on almost any surface. This means the sky’s the limit when it comes to sustainable materials!

SpeedPro studios also have choices for eco-solvent inks, which emit fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and are less harmful to the environment. These inks also break down more easily during the recycling process, further minimizing the impact they have on the earth.

Sustainable substrates

What our projects are printed on is also extremely important. When our clients are finished using their banners, trade show displays or window graphics, they might throw them out. If our studios use greener substrates, they help minimize the amount of time it takes for those projects to decompose.

Historically, plastic materials have been among the most popular substrates in the large-format printing industry. But many plastics contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is non-biodegradable and takes decades to decompose on its own. Newer plastic materials like PVC-free vinyl are becoming more mainstream and have a much lower impact in terms of waste.

We have plenty of recyclable substrate options, as well. Cardboard and cardstock are versatile and can be completely recycled. Wood products like wood veneer and MDO as well as textiles are also eco-friendly and growing in popularity thanks to evolving print technology. When printers are able to print on more materials, our clients’ options get broader and more sustainable!

Some of the materials we source from suppliers like Hewlett Packard come with a bonus recycling service. HP will provide shipping labels so clients can mail their old banners and other recyclable materials to be recycled properly.

Conscious and adaptable operations

SpeedPro isn’t just sustainable thanks to the products and equipment we use. We’re sustainable because we’ve made a commitment to the movement. Our day-to-day operations are designed to lower our carbon footprint and reduce waste. By investing in the latest printers and other technology, we’ve made large-format design and printing easier, faster and more efficient.

And, of course, the large-format printing industry is always changing. New technologies and business practices are making what we do more and more sustainable every day. We consistently research and invest in up-and-coming options to help lead the industry and remain on the cutting edge. One of the best parts of being part of SpeedPro’s network is that you’ll get access to new training and equipment that reflect evolving print practices. At SpeedPro, we stay on top of changes so your business can adapt and benefit!

Are you ready to launch your own large-format printing business? SpeedPro’s franchise investment offers more than just financial opportunity. Our model is built on flexibility, sustainability and collaboration for the best possible experience. Fill out our contact form to get started.

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The Rise of Out-of-Home Advertising

March 8, 2022

There’s a common saying in marketing that “print isn’t dead.” Although this most often referrs to materials like direct mail, it also rings true for larger print products like window graphics and vehicle wraps. In today’s advertising landscape, digital might be growing, but large-format printing is still a win.

SpeedPro has positioned itself as a leader in the large-format printing industry and is successful for a reason. Our B2B clients understand the value of out-of-home advertising. The large, eye-catching designs customers see on the road or along the street have great ROI. Better yet, these types of advertisements are even more popular in today’s post-pandemic world. Opening a SpeedPro studio now allows our franchisees to meet the growing demand for out-of-home advertising products.

Out-of-home advertising draws eyes

“Out-of-home advertising” or OOH refers to any advertisements a customer sees while they are outside of their home. This includes billboards, vehicle wraps, large posters or banners and murals in public spaces. Recent evolutions have also added digital screens and backlit graphics to the OOH mix.

What’s great about out-of-home advertising is that it’s able to be seen by a large number of people every day. Plus, it’s not dependent on precise targeting or timing like digital advertising is. If a customer isn’t on their phone much, they might not see the emails a brand sends out. But as they drive to work or run errands, they have a high chance of seeing a banner or wrapped vehicle on the road!

When done well, OOH advertising is extremely eye-catching and holds customers’ attention. They’re great for brand and event awareness but can also send targeted messages and encourage actions. Because of all these benefits, organizations in almost every industry have invested in out-of-home advertising.

Post-pandemic advertising looks different

The current marketing landscape has also given OOH advertising a boost. The pandemic changed the way customers interact with ads. For the better part of two years, people spent the majority of their time at home. This drove brands toward digital advertising, reaching customers on their phones and computers. Unfortunately, this resulted in a lot of digital “noise” and clutter that buyers quickly began to tune out.

With the world largely opened up once again, people are spending more time outside of their homes and away from digital spaces. Brands are investing more of their money and effort into out-of-home ads that buyers see in the real world. Not only are these ads reaching customers where they are, they’re also cutting through that digital noise and making buyers take notice.

SpeedPro is positioned to deliver

In order to execute a successful out-of-home advertising campaign, brands need a reliable partner in the large-format printing space. Banners, window graphics, vehicle wraps and other large, physical ads must be carefully designed, printed and installed to maintain a professional appearance and have the biggest impact on viewers. This is the exact area where SpeedPro excels!

SpeedPro’s product line is well suited to meet the heightened demand for this large OOH advertising needs like billboards, signage and more. Our studios are capable of producing a vast array of large-format products. We even have the flexibility to print on new and unique substrates, like wood, glass and eco-friendly materials, allowing us to keep pace with emerging trends.

What’s even better is that many of our products are cost-effective for both us and our clients. Vehicle wraps are one of the most cost-effective out-of-home advertising products in the industry, with an average cost of four cents per thousand impressions. That’s a lot of impact for a small investment!

Breaking into the large-format printing industry can come with some obstacles, especially if you don’t have the technical expertise or experience. Fortunately, SpeedPro has built a national presence and a stellar reputation for quality, professionalism and collaboration. Clients interested in launching or expanding their out-of-home ad campaigns know SpeedPro is the printing partner to choose for a full range of product choices. We provide all our owners with ongoing training and the latest equipment and technology in the industry to ensure they uphold the SpeedPro standard.

Are you interested in launching a business that is prepared to capitalize on the growing OOH advertising industry? SpeedPro’s franchise opportunity might be a great fit for you! Contact us today to get in touch with a franchising representative.

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