True Install Franchise Offers Ground-Floor Opportunity
Ray Palmer Jr. and Ryan Keogh (above) have decades of combined experience in the sign and graphics industry. They’ve worked on both sides of the franchise model, and, literally, from the ground up. So, as executives with Alliance Franchise Brands, their excitement about True Install Sign & Graphics, a new niche franchise under the Alliance umbrella, is well founded.
“I’ve been there. I’ve done it – from working in the frigid temperatures and drilling into the side of a building up on a ladder to digging holes in the July heat and fighting through rock,” says Keogh, who now serves as True Install’s Senior Operations Director. “But I’ve also seen a client’s face light up when we delivered on a project perfectly. I’ve been on a team that was the difference maker for a grand opening or a community event.”
Until now, however, businesses seeking those perfect installations might’ve struggled to hire companies that would consistently deliver. That’s where True Install comes in. The brand’s distinction is that it doesn’t compete with companies that produce signs and graphics. “We only handle sign and graphics installations,” says Palmer, Alliance Franchise Brands COO. “This focus allows us to excel in our field.”
Demand for Sign and Graphics Installation
The global printed signage market size is expected to reach $47.8 billion by 2030, increasing at a combined annual growth rate of 2%. The market’s expansion “is driven mainly by cost-effectiveness since it provides affordable and effective signage solutions for various sectors,” according to Straits Research.
Alliance Franchise Brands serves print, sign and graphics communications services industries in North America with brands including Allegra Marketing Print Mail, American Speedy Printing Centers, Insty-Prints, KKP, Speedy Printing, Image360, Signs Now, Signs By Tomorrow, and RSVP Direct Mail Advertising, in addition to True Install.
True Install professionals are certified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and trained and experienced in installing all types of visuals including vinyl-based, exterior and interior applications, and more.
Experience Matters
Palmer’s experience with Alliance Franchise Brands includes serving as President of Franchise Operations prior to his promotion to COO. He formerly was a multi-unit franchise owner with Signs By Tomorrow. “As a franchise owner of five locations, I faced the challenge of finding reliable installers. This, along with my role as a franchisor, gave me unique insights into balancing the needs of both our members and our company for shared success,” Palmer says.
Keogh, whose early experience includes 11 years with Image360, agrees about the need for professional, safety-conscious signage installers. “There may be a lot of installation providers out there with tremendous skills that they’ve learned along the way and through the school of hard knocks, but there hasn’t really been a standardized effort to create an all-encompassing training platform that maintains best practices of both safety and performance in multiple avenues of product and project type – until now, with True Install.”
True Install Advantages
Palmer and Keogh offer the following insights into the demand for professional sign and graphics installation, and advantages offered by True Install for customers and franchise owners.
Q: How did the True Install brand come to be?
RP: As a franchisor for sign and graphics franchises for over 45 years, we recognized the growing need for reliable, professional installation services. After four years of market testing, we found a significant demand. Existing installation services often underperformed, lacking professionalism and reliability. True Install’s brand promise addresses these gaps, supporting our franchises and other companies in this sector by filling a real market need. We began franchising in the autumn of 2023. We currently have nine markets signed, with six of those being multi-unit territories. Four franchise members are open and operating, with more candidates progressing through our due diligence process.
Q: How is True Install’s business model unique?
RP: We believe we are pioneering the franchise installation business model catering to this market demand. This is a fantastic chance for early entrants to tap into this market.
Q: What benefits does True Install offer for potential franchise owners?
RK: First, there’s an immediate need by existing sign, graphic and print providers to develop trusting partnerships with professional and reliable installation teams who can truly serve as an extension of their businesses. In addition, True Install can offer an alternate career path and opportunity for many people, from a younger generation looking for construction-adjacent opportunities to the entrepreneur looking for a high-impact venture within their communities.
RP: The signage and graphics industry is expected to keep expanding with growing demand for installation services. Installing signs and graphics remains a vital part of the business. Early participants will have the benefit of gaining market share and forming crucial relationships with their sign, graphics and print company customers. Alliance Franchise Brands offers comprehensive training and support, having been a franchisor for over 45 years and serving more than 550 franchises across North America. True Install franchise members have a unique chance to leverage an emerging brand backed by a well-established and successful franchise system.
Q: What characteristics does the ideal franchise member possess?
RP: An ideal True Install franchise member should possess self-drive, appreciate partnerships with clients, be receptive to learning established techniques, prioritize quality and service, and work collaboratively with a team to grow the business. They must ensure timely, budget-friendly job completion and deliver an exceptional five-star experience to both their clients and their clients’ clients.
Q: What kind of training and support does a franchise member receive in sign and graphics installation?
RP: We offer an extensive three-week, in-person training program where our members receive instruction on graphics and mechanical installation techniques, business operations and safety, as well as sales and marketing strategies. Moreover, in-market training is conducted during the business launch phase. Continuous support and training are also provided for all facets of the True Install model, as long as they remain franchise members.
RK: Our No. 1 Core Value is ‘Members First.’ And we have a true level of empathy and understanding of their journey and the challenges they may come up against. We’ve applied the knowledge gained from many of our current owners, as well as the incredible 100-plus subject matter experts on our home office team. We’re committed to showing up every day with a mission to serve and help empower our members to achieve their goals while our backpack of tools, strategies and tactics continues to get bigger.
Read the full press release via the link below.