140-151 news section D 2/3/07 4:54 pm Page 5
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FRANCHISE
News
SUMO scoops
business award
A LEADING UK supplier of underground utility
detection services to the construction industry,
SUMO, has scooped an award in the south’s
Growth year for Signs Express
most prestigious business awards ceremony.
SUMO was runner up in The News Business WITH a reputation for providing excellent quality and service, signs franchise Signs
Excellence Awards ‘Small Business of the Year’ Express is pleased to announce that its new centres in Watford, Dundee and Sligo in
category. Competition is tough as the annual the Republic of Ireland have made the investment to purchase their own premises.
awards feature some of the best businesses in the Building on the existing reputation of Signs Express, these moves reflect the
area competing for the top spots. enormous potential for growth within the Signs Express franchise and the strong
Colin Carnachan, SUMO’s Franchise support network offered from the head office based in Norwich.
Director, says: “This comes hot on the heels of Capitalising on a successful year, established centres in Peterborough, Glasgow,
our awards success last year, which included Preston and Aberdeen have all recently moved to their own larger purchased
winning two national awards, and we are premises. The larger light industrial units allow greater on-site work capacity and
delighted. It’s a fantastic way to kick off the have the added investment of being installed with the latest signmaking and digital
new year and I am sure that 2007 is going to be print equipment. In addition larger transport bays for on-site vehicle applications
another great year for the company.” provide an added advantage over their nearest competitors.
The judges were looking for a business they Continued success and increasing incomes has meant franchisees are able to
could admire. It included the achievement of a make the move from leasing. The many benefits include a capital investment from
strong or growing market share in a chosen which profitable income can be generated as a retirement fund for the owner, in
niche, enterprises that have succeeded by getting addition to dedicated production premises in which to grow their business further.
the very best out of their workforce and Signs Express has gone from strength to strength since it was set up in 1989.
successful exploitation of innovation. With over 80 centres across the country, Signs Express is the largest sign company
SUMO’s excellence in innovation was in the UK & Ireland. The group as a whole has had its best ever financial year with
recognised when the company won the a reported turnover of £20 million. And with more centres in the pipeline to be
Highways Magazine Excellence Awards, opened throughout this coming year; the chain of franchisees is growing in record
Innovative Maintenance Product of the Year in numbers. Further details turn to page 24
2006 and the bfa marketing award - Brand
Builder of the Year 2006.
Further details turn to page 88
FRANCHISEE
Craig Moorhouse
DIARY
Keytek, Halifax.
handwriteleft
I HAD always wanted to work independently, with autonomy and with no outside pressure. I knew that
the best way to do this would be to run my own business and so I looked towards franchising to find an
opportunity that would suit me. As I had worked in sales management, I had always been good in dealing
with people and wanted to transfer this skill to my new area of work. In addition to this I liked the idea
of working in a hands-on role and so I set out to find a franchise that would let me combine both. Keytek
was the business that initially grabbed my attention and meeting the franchisor secured my interest.
“Keytek were very open with me - letting me meet a number of franchisees so I could be confident
that I was making the right choice. With my mind firmly made up, Keytek provided me with two weeks
of quality and comprehensive training. I was given all the skills I would need to be able to go out there
and build a successful, business. As well as teaching me the details of actually running a business, the
training also focused upon the technical matters of becoming a locksmith.
“One of the best things about Keytek is the excellent level of support I receive. If I am ever doing a job where I come across a
technical difficulty, they have a dedicated hotline where I can be talked through the procedure. I always feel that Keytek provide me
with a helping hand.
“I launched my business a year ago with a superb level of assistance from Head Office. They helped supply me with stock and made
sure I had an initial source of customers. With business now coming from private homes through to larger commercial contracts,
Keytek’s national advertising has helped me to grow my business consistently. I have now reached a point where I am about to take
on my first employee.
“There is a lot of opportunity with Keytek and my goal is to build a business with an £850,000 turnover within a set
timescale - Keytek will enable me to realise my aspirations.” Further details turn to page 78
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