Ryde resident Kosnen Kwee is the latest excited franchisee to open the doors of his Signwave sign and graphics centre, with the business set up for a pre-Christmas launch.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to finally be opening this centre,” says Kwee. This industrial design graduate was drawn to Signwave by the dynamic nature of the industry but also the potential for profit in what is traditionally a high margin industry with a very low cost of goods.
“I know that our services will be a great asset to local businesses and I think our customers will be very pleased with the level of customer service we are here to provide,” he says.
With a focus on delivering customer satisfaction, Kwee has hired Andrias Suryadinata to join the Ryde Signwave outlet as the centre’s new customer service representative.
Green credentials
Together, the young entrepreneurs are looking for ways to run the centre in an eco-friendly manner and they will be seeking accreditation from a leading environmental certification company.
“Employing green business practices is a cause that is very important to us,” explains Kwee. “We want to ensure that we not only offer the best product possible, but also the most environmentally conscious product we can.”
The Signwave group is looking to partner with Greenbizcheck, which provides an internationally acclaimed environmental certification program that helps companies implement sustainable environmental practices.
Franchise development manager Helen Spencer explains. “We will begin the certification process for all Signwave stores in 2011 and continue to focus on substrate recycling and sourcing sustainable products for our customers where possible. Signwave stores use eco-solvent inks and/or uv cured inks now and a number of owners already have processes and systems in place which encourage sustainability and have a focus on waste reduction.
“We can see the benefit of sharing all of this information and building on it, not only from a philosophical point of view but also because conservation of resources and minimising waste will save every Signwave owner money.”
Kwee also has designs on building a strong presence for the Ryde Signwave store in the local area, with plans to hold an open house where community members will be invited to stop by, learn more about the products the centre supplies and get a tour to see the equipment the team uses.
“We are excited to be part of the business community,” says Kwee. “I want to personally invite anyone who is interested to come in, meet the team and let us show you the products and services we have to offer.”
Located in Victoria Street, Gladesville, the centre supplies a full range of sign and graphics solutions to area businesses, organisations and events, including banners, site and architectural signs, window and floor graphics, point-of-purchase signs, safety and identification signage, trade show displays, exterior signage and vehicle wraps.
With the opening of the Ryde store, there are now 20 Signwave stores across Australia; 2010 has been an exciting year for Signwave with five new owners joining the group and a number of new businesses planned for 2011.
“We really believe in the Fastsigns/Signwave model,” says Australian managing director Andrew McKay. “The marketing infrastructure and support is world class, but we also believe in the product and service that we sell at Signwave.
Today, we are speaking with a much younger demographic than ever before. This is a vibrant industry that requires energy and enthusiasm — coupled with a smart business plan and a respected franchisor and excellent support will translate into an exciting and profitable business future,” McKay says.