Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> September 2001
When Marnus Roothman sold the conventional printing works which formed part of his marketing firm in 1994 and decided to replace it with a package comprising both high-tech, digital as well as conventional equipment, he knew exactly after 24 years' experience what he wanted to be able to do: all his own type-setting, design and layout, as well as spot colour printing and associated services, with the absolute minimum dependence on outside contractors. He also wanted to be able to handle all his equipment himself, having had more than just the occasional bad experience being dependent on in-house artisans working for his firm.
The concept worked like a charm. But when he left for the USA to attend the internationally acclaimed Mastermind Marketing training offered by marketing guru Jay Abraham about a year later, he had no idea that the in-house printing facility he had
created would or could ever be anything else but that. How wrong he was !
While attending the training with business associate Robin Elliott, Robin pointed out that
his printing concept could become much more than just an in-house convenience, and that it
was the ideal concept to franchise.
On returning to the RSA, Roothman set out to put in place a turn-key business concept,
deciding that he would rather follow the Structured Business Opportunity road than try and
create a proper franchise group on his own.
After 18 months PrintAfford (the name he chose to register as trade mark) was ready to
launch. It proved to be exactly the right concept in the right place at the right time.
Selling 22 businesses in 22 months, PrintAfford SA CC was declared Pretoria Regional
Winner, then Gauteng North Provincial Winner, then a National Finalist, and eventually
National Runner-up in the Old Mutual/AHI competition to find the 1998 Business Undertaking
of the Year for Excellent Service Provision (small business section).
The successful SignAfford business opportunity, aimed at the computerised vinyl signage
market, followed at the beginning of 2000.
A few months ago, Roothman approached Splitz Consulting, a business concern specialising
in generating entrepreneurial funding, with a view to finding a strong role player who
would be interested in buying into the concept, thus enabling PrintAfford/SignAfford to
guarantee financing to approved candidates.
In an unprecedented move for the firm, Splitz Consulting decided that the concept was so
good that they wanted to become involved themselves, and acquired a controlling share in
PrintAfford SA CC while retaining Roothman's services on the marketing, training and
customer support fronts. PrintAfford/ SignAfford are now in the process of applying for
FASA accreditation as proper franchises forming part of a formally structured group.
The “new” PrintAfford and SignAfford will be extremely competitively priced at
less than R250 000 and just over R50 000 respectively, with a combination of the two selling for only R285 000 (VAT excluded).
More information can be obtained from Marnus Roothman, 08244 08047 or Jurie van Niekerk,
083 254 4146.
Interested parties can also visit them at Stand 17/18 at the Biz 2001 exhibition, Sandton
Convention Centre, from 13 - 16 October where they shall be launching the “new”,
upgraded PrintAfford/SignAfford franchises.
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