Both New and Established FASTSIGNS® Sign and Graphics Centers Experience Significant Sales Growth

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2006

CARROLLTON, TX - In 2005, average annual gross sales for established U.S. FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics centers increased significantly, while year-to-date sales for new North American centers are more than a third higher than FASTSIGNS International, Inc.’s historical averages, the international sign and graphics company said.

According to the company’s Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC), average gross sales were $582,221 for U.S. centers that were open at least 12 months in calendar 2005, compared to $534,889 for calendar 2004. This represents a nearly 9 percent increase year over year.

In addition, average sales at new North American FASTSIGNS® centers are 35 percent above historical sales averages for other new FASTSIGNS® centers that opened at the same time of year, company executives said.

“One reason we’re seeing higher new-store sales is that our new store development team provides direct, comprehensive support to new centers,” said Trent Lensch, the company’s vice president of operations. In January, FASTSIGNS International, which has nearly 500 locations in six countries, created the four-person dedicated new store development team. The team’s director and three franchise business consultants work with new centers from the time the owner signs the franchise agreement until the center’s sales and operations meet predetermined qualifications. In addition to support they receive from the overall FASTSIGNS International corporate staff, new center owners receive operations, marketing, technology, production and management support from the team, whose members have experience working inside a FASTSIGNS® center.

Other reasons for the higher average new-store sales are the more aggressive marketing efforts that are made immediately by new centers, formal grand opening events and more advertising/selling activities that attract immediate attention to the new locations, and highly motivated new franchisees, said Lensch. “We’re getting great new franchisees coming through our system,” he said.

As far as the increase in average gross sales for established FASTSIGNS® centers from 2004 to 2005, FASTSIGNS International officials said one reason for the higher sales is more centers have adopted large-format, full color digital printers. With these printers, centers can produce customers’ marketing and promotional materials, trade show graphics and displays, point-of-purchase materials, vehicle graphics, banners, exterior and interior signs and many other kinds of signs and graphics. All new FASTSIGNS® centers open with these printers, and most established centers have already added digital printing equipment as well. In the last 18 months, 50 FASTSIGNS® centers have purchased UV-curable printers.
“Our typical store is moving away from traditional vinyl signs to digital printing,” said Bill McPherson, the company’s vice president of franchise sales for North America.

About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics centers focus on meeting the needs of the business community, and offer a full range of custom sign and graphic products, including large-format, full color graphics; banners; window and vehicle graphics; floor graphics; safety and identification signage; trade show displays and exterior signage.

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. has territories available for new centers throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as in Brazil, Mexico and Australia, where locations operate under the SIGNWAVE® name. For more information, visit franchise.fastsigns.com or call 800-827-7446.