Opened for only a year, and SpeedPro in Magnolia, Texas, has a constant flow of business opportunities generating revenue for franchise owners Brian and Kathy De Noble. Ironically, wide-format printing was unfamiliar for Brian, whose background was in locksmithing, and Kathy, who spent 17 years working in her family’s oil and gas business.
Despite being new to the printing industry, the couple didn’t waste any time letting the community know they could handle its printing needs. They got their first job in April 2017, only a month after signing the franchise agreement. The De Nobles didn’t open their SpeedPro studio until March 2018.
Clearly, the couple had the energy to drum up business. But, it was support from SpeedPro and Brian and Kathy’s community engagement that complemented their drive and boosted their success.
Community Support from SpeedPro
The De Nobles discovered a support system with community spirit at SpeedPro, which helped them get their business up and running and helps them get over obstacles as new business owners in the printing industry.
For example, a “buddy studio” produced the De Noble’s first job before they even had a studio of their own.
During the site selection phase, the couple was paired with a real estate agent familiar with the SpeedPro concept. She has experience finding a studio space for another SpeedPro franchisee.
“She was very familiar with what we were looking for,” Kathy said.
Being a new business owner naturally comes with some challenges. For Brian and Kathy, it was entering an industry foreign to them. But the ongoing support provided by the SpeedPro corporate team and fellow franchisees helped set the De Nobles up for success.
“Learning a brand new industry was the biggest struggle,” Brian said. “The way we overcame it was SpeedPro’s support from corporate and existing owners. If you have a question, you’re going to get help from everybody. It’s a great network.”
Because wide-format printing was an industry so foreign to them, Kathy worried about not having all the answers if asked a question by a potential client. But, the SpeedPro corporate team trained her how to handle those situations. She learned that it was OK to potential and real clients that she’ll get back to them with an answer as soon as possible – and was able to because there were more than 100 other SpeedPro owners and the corporate team providing her with information.
“People are so appreciative of that,” she said. “SpeedPro has never told me, ‘Sorry, you’re on your own.’”
Often, you don’t even have to ask your question to the corporate team because someone else already has and received an answer on the SpeedPro forum.
“SpeedPro has a family culture,” Brian said. “They don’t open studios near each other and create competitors out of each other. Therefore, everyone is naturally inclined to help.”
The Reward for Helping Your Community
A desire to help others is a large part of who the De Nobles are and a big reason for their success. The couple, for purely altruistic intentions, got involved in their community upon joining the Greater Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce in 2017.
Brian and Kathy volunteered for high school and chamber of commerce events, and their efforts began to be noticed by the community.
The De Nobles and SpeedPro Magnolia were awarded Volunteers of the Quarter in last quarter of 2017.
“When we started doing all these things, I discovered they were things I really enjoyed doing,” Kathy said. “It wasn’t about getting our name out there, it was about helping the community. When they gave us the award, it spurred us on for 2018.”
The next year included judging margarita-making and cooking contests at the annual Magnolia BBQ Cook-Off in March. Because they donated banners to the event, they were recognized as sponsors, too. In December, they did fundraising and made banners for the annual Christmas parade.
Their work earned SpeedPro Magnolia a prestigious Greater Magnolia Parkway Chamber of Commerce award – Business of the Year for 2018. It also earned them a lot of clients. Without thinking about it, every event they participated in turned into a networking opportunity. They met hundreds of people and developed a reputation for caring.
“We are supporting our community, and in return, the community is supporting us,” Kathy said. “Anything we sponsor, we try to volunteer our time, too. Even with all the money and signs, it’s the time and people community organizations need the most. I think that’s one of the contributing factors to us winning Business of the Year.”
Continued Success for 2019
The De Nobles can expect to have a fruitful 2019, too. Since becoming SpeedPro franchise owners, their work-life balance has improved. In addition to spending more time with family and traveling, they have more time to remain actively volunteering in Magnolia.
“We can have our name out there,” Kathy said. “SpeedPro is a company people can count on and the De Nobles are people who will help out.”
To learn more about what sets SpeedPro apart from other franchise opportunities, visit our website.