Fast growing franchiser Instant Imprints plans to double its four-store Metro Vancouver presence within the next 90 days, the company’s CEO Ralph Askar told Business in Vancouver June 22.
Four different franchisees have bought franchises from the company, which sells signs, uniforms and promotional items for businesses.
They plan to open locations:
- on Seymour Street downtown;
- on Marine Drive in Vancouver;
- in Burnaby; and
- in Coquitlam.
The company first opened in Vancouver in 2009 and has since added a second Vancouver store as well as ones in Burnaby and in Surrey.
A ninth location is in the final stages of negotiation with new franchisees who want a White Rock location.
The company has plenty of competition for signs, including Sign-A-Rama, Signs By Tomorrow, Signs Now and Fast Signs. It also has competition for embroidery, custom T-shirts and other promotional items.
None of its competitors sell all of those products under one roof, Askar said.
Askar is the former president and CEO of UPS Store Canada and he built that company to 330 stores. He then separately invested to be the Instant Imprints Canadian master licensee before buying the parent company in San Diego.
He believes Vancouver is a good location for new stores partly because the region has a higher percentage of small- and medium-sized businesses than do many cities.
“Ultimately, we’re going to have 40 stores in B.C.,” he said. “About 80% to 85% of who we market to are small businesses.”
