Signarama UK has been acquired by Anas Saltaji (pictured), master licensee for Signarama Canada.
The 39-year-old businessman has pledged to put the signs and graphics franchise back on the map by getting back to basics.
Anas, who also owns the master licence for co-working franchise Venture X, is responsible for growing the Canadian Signarama network to 49 locations since 2012.
He believes the UK market has significant potential and his plan to replicate his overseas success is simple: he’s making existing franchisees his number one focus.
“Initially, my plan is to focus on the current network,” Anas explains. “I want to reinvigorate them, help them to grow and remind them why they became franchisees.
“I want to get them excited about their businesses again. Excitement is contagious. It’s not difficult to generate leads, but if you can then take people to a store and they see excitement, positivity and all that wonderful stuff, that’s when they start wanting to be part of it.”
For Anas, the acquisition of the UK is a long-term commitment, which involves, among other things, a planned relocation of his young family. His aim is to build the UK network to 100 units.
Signarama’s 10 UK franchisees are cautiously optimistic about their new leader.
Harrogate franchisee Mark Squires says: “We had a national meeting a few weeks ago and I think we all came away feeling positive afterwards.
“Anas shared his intentions and goals for the UK. He made it clear he wants to build up our confidence and satisfaction - build a relationship with us, basically - before launching into any aggressive recruitment activity.
“He’s wants to replicate his success in Canada here in the UK and, having shared his first five-year plan with us, I certainly feel more confident.”
Established in 1986, Signarama has over 900 franchisees in 60 countries.