New President for Fastsigns as Dad or mum Firm Eyes Extra Acquisitions | Franchise Information

It’s been about two years since Propelled Manufacturers—the umbrella firm of Fastsigns, NerdsToGo, Salon Plaza and My Salon Suite—was fashioned, and CEO Catherine Monson knew it was time so as to add a devoted Fastsigns president to the crew.
Till this previous October, when Andrea Hohermuth took on the position of president, Monson was serving as Propelled’s CEO and president of Fastsigns. Propelled employed a search agency in February 2022 to seek out an excellent candidate for the position.
“Lastly, they discovered Andrea for me,” Monson stated. “She has very strategic pondering expertise, she’s extraordinarily organized, she’s educated about applied sciences. … I hate to say ‘checks all of the packing containers,’ however she actually checks all of the packing containers.”
Hohermuth labored in know-how and most lately was chief working officer at house providers platform firm Threshold Manufacturers, the place she additionally served a stint as interim CEO. She stated she’s spent her first few months at Fastsigns studying the ropes.

“As somebody who likes to be taught, a lifelong learner, altering industries is definitely one thing that excites me,” stated Andrea Hohermuth, the brand new president of Fastsigns.
“I name it ingesting a bit from the firehose, as a result of it is a new business to me,” she stated. “However as somebody who likes to be taught, a lifelong learner, altering industries is definitely one thing that excites me.”
Fastsigns focuses on promotional merchandise for companies and people, resembling content material growth, graphic design and set up. The franchise additionally sells customized banners and quite a lot of indicators.
As president, she’s dialing in on forming a robust enterprise basis. Based in 1985, Fastsigns has 760 shops in eight nations; it reported $638 million in systemwide gross sales in 2021, and $729 million in 2022. Of the model’s a whole lot of facilities, 74 exceeded $1 million in gross sales final 12 months, with one retailer bringing in over $18 million.
“It’s a very, very profitable model. So, I need to capitalize on the sturdy enterprise basis expertise, which means the expertise of the parents throughout the company group right here, in addition to throughout the community,” she stated.
At Propelled’s conference this 12 months, franchisees welcomed Hohermuth as their president, which Monson stated is “a superb indication that I did choose the precise chief on the proper time.”
Monson will give attention to searching for further acquisitions for Propelled, she stated. Propelled acquires business-to-business manufacturers, or franchisors whose gross sales come largely from business-to-business transactions.

Catherine Monson is the CEO of Propelled Manufacturers.
Its most up-to-date acquisition, My Salon Suite mother or father firm Suite Administration Franchising, has fared nicely thus far. Final 12 months, Propelled opened about 50 new My Salon Suite items, Monson stated, which follows steady development from earlier years. The model has greater than doubled in unit depend since 2019.
“Our franchisees are working 97 p.c occupancy, which may be very, very sturdy,” Monson stated. “That enterprise is rising dramatically.”
Monson stated to look at for brand spanking new acquisitions this 12 months. Propelled has already made a suggestion on a model, and he or she expects “a few thrilling acquisitions” on prime of extra development inside its current manufacturers.
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