One of the most common hesitations aspiring entrepreneurs express when exploring SpeedPro is a fear that they aren’t creative enough for the industry. But there’s no need to worry about your graphic design skills (or lack thereof). The secret to SpeedPro’s most successful Studios isn’t artistic talent; it’s the ability to serve as a visual consultant—and most B2B professionals already possess the skills they need.
The reality of the industry is, you don’t need a fine arts degree to do well in large-format printing. In fact, many of our franchise network’s high-performing owners don’t have print or design experience at all. Instead, they’re logistics experts, brand strategists and professional problem-solvers who can navigate complex communication challenges for their B2B clients. Here’s how these important skills translate into top-notch service in SpeedPro’s market.
What Creates the Consultant Mindset?
In the large-format graphics industry, there is a massive difference between being a commodity printer and a strategic partner. A commodity printer simply takes an order for a banner. A SpeedPro consultant, however, asks: “What is the goal of this project, and how can we use this client’s physical space to achieve it?”
Most B2B clients don’t actually want a “sign.” They want to increase foot traffic at a grand opening, boost employee morale in a new office or ensure their brand stands out in a crowded trade show hall. When you shift your mindset from selling a product to providing a solution, you move up the value chain. This is where you stop being a vendor and become an essential extension of your client’s marketing team.
Solving Complex Communication Challenges
At its heart, being a SpeedPro owner is a masterclass in project management and logistics. Consider the real-world scenarios our owners tackle every day.
- The stadium takeover: When a sports venue needs to be branded for a championship event in a few-day window, they need a partner who understands scale, speed and precision across a variety of signage types and placements.
- The fleet rebrand: When a local service company with 50 vehicles decides to rebrand, they need a logistics pro to handle new vehicle wrap rollout. Their ideal partner is someone who can coordinate the scheduling, ensure color consistency across different substrates and execute installation without taking their entire fleet off the road at once.
- The “experiential” healthcare space: A hospital system needs a wayfinding solution that reduces patient stress and improves flow. This requires an understanding of human psychology and environmental design—and how those things tie into a product lineup.
In each of these cases, the creative work is only one piece of the puzzle. The real value is the consultative strategy that ensures the project is delivered on time, on brand and on budget.
You Bring the Strategy, We Provide the Tools
If you are worried about the technical side of production, remember that the SpeedPro model is designed to support you. SpeedPro’s world-class training equips you with the technical vocabulary you need. You’ll learn about substrates, laminates and finishes so you can speak confidently with a CEO or a marketing director, providing the expert guidance they can’t get at a big box or online print shop.
You’ll also have the opportunity to hire employees to assist in the creative realm. Your lean team will include a production manager and/or graphic designer who lives and breathes the technical side of the craft. Your job is to lead that team and manage relationships with the clients.
Why the Consultant Model is More Scalable
When you sell a product based on price, you are in a race to the bottom. When you sell a solution based on expertise, you build a recession-resilient business.
Once a client trusts you to solve a complex branding problem, you have the opportunity to become an integral part of their annual marketing spend. This creates a recurring revenue loop that is much more stable than one-off retail sales. Your professional background in sales, corporate management or operations is exactly what is required to build these high-level, high-margin partnerships.
Are you ready to trade your corporate title for a consultant role that you actually own? Learn more about SpeedPro’s large-format printing model and the opportunities that await you in this lucrative industry!