Two young staff members from local Strathfield print centre Worldwide Online Printing have been handed the chance to pioneer a new wealth creation programme for print communication entrepreneurs.

 

Renee Woodward, 26, and Carly McIlvride, 22 are the first members of the scheme, which gives young Australian entrepreneurs the opportunity to unlock their commercial potential with an equity stake in a company alongside experienced business owners.

 

According to BRW Magazine, Worldwide has been the country's fastest-growing printer for the past three years and now has 82 writing, design and print centres across Australia.

 

Woodward currently manages Worldwide's centre in Strathfield and McIlvride works at the same centre, as senior designer and customer service representative. Under the new scheme they will become co-owners with current Strathfield owner Vince Grieco of new centres in Brookvale and nearby Silverwater.

 

The scheme is the brainchild of Grieco, one of Worldwide's top-performing franchisees. He saw how hard it was for young people to move from management into business ownership, and so devised a rapid roll-out plan which could take Renee and Carly from designers to successful multi-business owner in less than three years.

 

Woodward says, "It's a huge responsibility and if I think about it for too long, it can sometimes seem a bit daunting. The fact that this can happen to someone like me shows just how far printing - and franchising - have come.

 

"Being a print professional at Worldwide today means working with clients to develop their marketing and communication collateral and help them to build stronger brands. Because all the printing is done in our giant production facilities, staff in the centres are left to focus on customer service."

 

According to Grieco the scheme shows what can be achieved when talented young people get a chance to unlock their potential and leverage the commercial value which often otherwise lies hidden within crafts such as graphic design and copywriting.

 

He says, "Franchising provides a great opportunity for people to own and grow their own business without also taking on all the usual risks, but it doesn't help successful managers become owners. This scheme opens up that route, and will hopefully pave the way for a new breed of entrepreneur who has bags of drive and ability but hasn't been working long enough to build up the capital base needed to make their business ownership dreams into reality."

 

Picture: Go-getters: Worldwide Online Print staff Renee Woodward (left) and Carly McIlvride now offered route to ownership

 

 

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