Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 11

63 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11 S IGNARAMA He adds, ”Electronic and LED signage has been the future for a while now, and I think it’s safe to say it’s here to stay. It is so important to have great vendors who support our franchisees around the world as this segment continues to grow.” A key partner with Signarama in that regard, Genoptic Smart Displays says one of the fastest and most prominent growth areas of their business is LED Digital Signage. In fact, they have implemented a Leasing program to assist owners in getting involved in the success of this product offering. Signarama sold its first franchise in 1987 and, over the years, has perfected the art of franchising, enabling hundreds of entrepreneurs to open and operate successful sign businesses around the world, focusing on the owner’s and potential owners’ backgrounds before joining the Signarama Network. A.J. explains, “When looking for the right franchisees, we look for individuals with a background in sales, marketing, or operations. Someone who can go out and network, shake hands, and close business deals. We focus on these traits because it’s what we have seen work in the past, and we want to ensure our business matches our franchisees’ strengths before they get started.” However, it isn’t always as simple as looking at someone’s resumé because multiple other factors also play into the final decision to award a franchise. Once a franchisee is on board, the company provides comprehensive training, including offering a personality test, so they can know their weaknesses. “We tell our franchise owners to hire for their weaknesses,” says A.J., “so the business has the right mix of skills to support growth.” Signarama’s operations revolve around recruiting new franchise owners and supporting existing ones. For one of the largest signage companies in the world, it is remarkable that it does no