Veterans Finding Homes in the Sign and Graphics Industry

Signing up to be a franchisee is the chosen career path for many veterans once they’ve retired from military service, and it’s noteworthy that many of them seem to work their way into the sign and graphics industry.

“I’ve always kind of had a soft spot for our troops and what they do and what they sacrifice,” says A.J. Titus, CEO of West Palm Beach, Florida-based Signarama. “I think of one owner we had for 20-plus years up in Kingston, Massachusetts, and he’s a Vietnam Veteran. He actually does the floats-each year in his town they do an armed forces parade for Memorial Day, and he actually builds the floats for Vietnam veterans. So we’ve given to that, we’ve helped him in those endeavors, and we’re more than willing to do that again with other franchise owners in the country and around the world.”

One way Signarama supports veterans, according to Titus, is by offering discounts based on the length of military service. The company also offers franchisees access to the services provided through VetFran, a veterans’ support organization that provides them with assistance post-military.

Signarama has been ranked one of the top three “Best for Vets” franchises according to Military Times, and was recognized as one of the top 50 franchises for veterans by USA Today.

“We like to deal with veterans because they’re process-driven people, so they care about the process and they want to be successful,” says Titus, whose father, Ray, founded Signarama 32 years ago. “They’re used to following a system so they usually make great franchise owners. We like working with them and they like working with us, so it’s a natural fit.”

Other sign shop franchise companies also find value in partnering with veterans in building successful sign and graphics businesses. Ten percent of Carrollton, Texas-based FASTSIGNS International Inc.‘s franchisees are veterans. It also offers offers a veterans discount program, and the company has been recognized as one of the “Top Franchises for Veterans” by Franchise Business Review and as a top “Military Friendly Franchise” by G.I. Jobs.

FASTSIGNS has also received recognition from the Military Times, and in April its CEO, Catherine Monson, was the keynote speaker at a Texas dinner honoring companies that support their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. In 2016, FASTSIGNS was awarded the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award at a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

Franchise Business Review has also named Farmingdale, New York-based Minuteman Press International as a top franchise for veterans. In issuing a statement honoring Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, Minuteman says it’s proud to support the men and women who have served our country.

“I opened Minuteman Press in Dayton (Ohio) one year ago in 2017; I had exactly zero years of experience,” says Mason Hutton, a former U.S. Army paratrooper. “Although Minuteman Press was not the first franchise I reviewed, it is the one I selected to be a part of.”

Hutton says he appreciates the support the company gives him not only in terms of helping him speed up his learning curve but also the respect they have shown him in terms of being allowed to spend quality time with his family.