Business View Magazine | Volume 8, Issue 11

69 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 8, ISSUE 11 who have been through recessions, economic downturns, and have dealt with other economic issues, and we’ve connected them with younger franchise owners as a support system.” As the economy emerges from the pandemic, A.J. sees some bumps that require ironing out before the sign industry returns to normal. He says, “Supply chain uncertainty is what we are dealing with right now because we cannot be sure what substrate or vinyl will be available in the next week or two. However, we’ve figured out a way to use what comes down the pipeline and ensure our customers get the signage they need when they need it.” Another area that has seen some slowdown is the number of new franchise owners signing with Signarama; something A.J. attributes to temporary economic uncertainty. “We did not hit our franchise sales targets for 2020, but something else interesting happened – sign sales from our existing franchisees were up close to 20 percent, which was a major silver lining in such a difficult year.” Looking ahead over the next three to five years, Signarama’s overarching vision is to remain the leading sign franchise company in the world. A.J. is busy working on what he is calling “Signarama 30,” a blueprint that will outline the company’s trajectory over the next decade. He’s a bit tight-lipped about it since it is still in development. Still, he can share, “We’re in close discussions with various stakeholders, including the Franchise Advisory Council, our parent company United Franchise Group, and others. Part of the blueprint is to solidify our position as the leading sign and graphics franchise in the world by being innovative and being viewed as an industry leader—two things we believe will always keep us one step ahead of our competition.” S IGNARAMA