06-10-2005 - printing.com - Printers make their mark at British Franchise of the Year Awards - entrepreneur.co.uk
Two printing franchises were among the big winners at this year's Franchisor of the Year Awards organised by the British Franchise Association.Printing.com, a print specialist based in Manchester, was crowned winner in the HSBC Award for Enterprise category at the Franchisor of the Year Awards.
Founded in 1998, Printing.com sold its first franchise in 2002 and is looking to list 175 outlets nationwide by the end of this year, with a franchisor turnover in excess of £9 million.
The basis of Printing.com's rapid success is really threefold. Firstly, it operates a unique hub and spoke structure and a centrally controlled supply chain - something that other print shops do not. By centralising production, the company allows franchisors to take on jobs requiring giant commercial printing presses offering high print standards, very fast print times and at a significantly lower cost to the customer.
Secondly, Printing.com provides a buying guide, detailing more than 2000 fixed price costings, eliminating the time normally spent by printing companies fielding individual enquiries and supplying estimates and quotations.
Thirdly, Printing.com has targeted existing printing companies, offering its system as a bolt-on franchise that could be run in tandem with an existing print business. It's a move that has proved popular with established printing businesses - there are 72 'bolt-ons' currently up and running.