Worldwide Online Printing was Australia's fastest-growing design and print franchise group again last year.

 

It's the fourth year in a row that the national network of 83 Centres has outperformed all other print franchises - and this comes hot on the heels of news that the owner of Worldwide's Spring Hill and Rowes Arcade Centres in Queensland was voted 2007 National Franchisee of the Year by the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA).

 

Worldwide's growth performance emerged from BRW magazine's latest annual Top 50 Fast Franchises study, which was published in February. The $60m Perth-based group also scooped top honours in the publication's 2004, 2005 and 2006 growth surveys.

 

CEO Mark Manderson said:

 

"We knew we'd had a great year, but it's always tremendously thrilling when all our efforts to bring so many talented entrepreneurs into the system are recognised independently. It's great for them - and a real pat on the back for our national team and state support offices around the country."

 

This year's Top 50 league table includes several new franchise groups as well as the more established ones like Worldwide, which has been operating for over a decade.

 

"We were the first print communications group in Australia to introduce a 'hub and spoke' production model, and invested around $4m last year to further develop our production and technology capabilities," added Manderson. "It means Worldwide's franchisees can focus on sales, marketing and business development instead of getting bogged down with the intricacies of managing printing presses. Our investment is clearly paying dividends."

 

"Before I started with Worldwide, I didn't even know what a printing plate was. The system lets me - a complete industry novice, succeed in a highly technical industry. It's a fantastic model and a great organisation to be part of."

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