OPINION: Garth Allison, managing director of Fastsigns UK, gives his own response to the Question of the Week, What are the pros and cons of franchising?
FEATURE: Franchising is one of those things that can work really well or it can go completely pear-shaped very quickly.
FEATURE: The whole topic of franchising is in an interesting one. This is a model which can either work well or end up being a total disaster.
FEATURE: Output's own events calendar for the sign-making, digital signage, wide-format print and production print industries.
NEWS: Estate agent sign board company Countrywide Signs is one of 14 finalists in this year's bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year Awards.
NEWS: USA-based Signs By Tomorrow has opened a new franchise in Texas, owned by Kevin and Cheryl Engle.
NEWS: Signs Express Peterborough owner Ann Hitch has been nominated for the Encouraging Women in Franchising Franchisee of the Year Award.
NEWS: One of Kall Kwik's 'best performing centres' in London's West End was visited this week by new Kall Kwik brand owner Nigel Toplis in celebration of its 30th anniversary.
NEWS: Fastsigns CEO Catherine Monson has described participating in TV show Undercover Boss.
NEWS: Fastsigns has been named top of the sign and graphics sector list in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 rankings.
NEWS: Output can reveal that the licence for the Kall Kwik franchise in the UK has been awarded to the former managing director of Kall Kwik UK, Nigel Toplis.
NEWS: The former chief executive and finance director of Prontaprint and Kall Kwik's parent company have reportedly purchased the Prontaprint brand.
NEWS: The parent company of national print service franchises Prontaprint and Kall Kwik has reportedly been placed in administration as of 4pm yesterday (Monday December 12th).
NEWS: Signarama has announced that Richard Wheeler has become the sign-making company's newest franchisee, having taken over the Reading centre.
NEWS: Craig Brown, managing director of Signs Express, was among the attendees at a meeting with 30 UK MPs recently, at which the issue of franchising and its economic impact was discussed.
NEWS: Alternative ink developer Inx Digital International has named Advantage Sign Supply as its preferred vendor. The partnership will see Advantage supply Triangle EDX inks to Signarama.
NEWS: Signs Express is among ten franchise companies taking part in a series of free seminars in the UK, aimed at introducing people to franchising.
NEWS: UK sign-making franchise Signarama Thames Valley has designed and applied vehicle graphics to the van of Bracknell council's new environment warden.
NEWS: This month's SGIA Expo in New Orleans, USA will feature a franchising showcase from Fastsigns.
NEWS: Nottingham is to get a new sign-maker, when a branch of franchise group Signs Express opens in the UK city next month.
NEWS: Sign-making franchise company Fastsigns says it is 'continuing to defy recession conservatism' in the USA by agreeing twelve new centre deals this year.
NEWS: Malcolm Lant, owner of Signs Express's Gateshead sign-making centre, has been shortlisted as a regional finalist for the north region in the Franchisee of the Year Awards.
NEWS: Malcolm Lant, owner of the Signs Express Gateshead centre, has been named as a semi-finalist for the north region in the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards.
NEWS: Sign-making franchise company Fastsigns has revealed a series of incentives and programmes aimed at helping new centre owners.
NEWS: Sign-making franchisor Fastsigns is to take part in a conference of US mayors, where it will discuss how franchising may create new jobs during the USA's recovery from the recession.
NEWS: Signs Express says it was 'great' to see the signage it produced for the recent Brighton Fashion Week at the event this month.
NEWS: Zinger Digital Signs is to launch its digital signage franchise programme across the USA, it has revealed.
NEWS: Sign-making franchise group Fastsigns has joined the International Franchise Association's public awareness campaign.
NEWS: International sign-making network Fastsigns has signed its first franchise agreement in Saudi Arabia, with the branch expected to open in Jeddah early next year.
NEWS: Signs Express has revealed it has sponsored all the signage for the upcoming Brighton Fashion Week, including PVC banners.
NEWS: International sign-making and graphics franchise Fastsigns has been recognised by the Franchise Research Institute as a 2011 World-Class Franchise.
NEWS: The Gateshead branch of the Signs Express franchise chain is expanding into the premises next door to its current unit, which it says it has outgrown thanks to 'exceptional growth'.
NEWS: Sign-making franchise Signarama has announced its latest branch opened recently in Surbiton, and has been 'delighted' by the initial response to the new site.
NEWS: Sign-making franchise group Signs Express has reported that a recent training scheme for its staff has been so successful that two additional courses are already subscribed.
NEWS: Fastsigns, which has franchises across the globe including the UK, has announced it attend the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA) Expo this month, and will host a number of invitation-only events at the trade fair.
NEWS: The winners of Signs Express's annual Sign Excellence awards have been announced, with franchises large and small winning gongs.
NEWS: Signs Express has announced that it is looking for a new franchisee for one of its branches in the London area.
