XpressArt
turning retail into SHOWTIME

‘This is not a business for anyone who’s a bit shy,’ says Alan Marriott. ‘When we’re printing out a huge picture, you could just about sell tickets. We turn retail into showtime!’

Fortunately, Alan is not a shy person. The XpressArt franchisor clearly loves being ‘on stage’ in the company’s kiosk at Birkenhead Mall, and enjoys having such a highly visual product with which to draw the crowds. XpressArt reproduces people’s favourite photographs on to anything from metre-wide canvases to mugs or mousepads. ‘People can see new items being created all the time and get interested in the process. When I’m on site, I’d have maybe 50 conversations a day that start that way. I explain that we can take a simple snapshot and turn it into something really special, and somehow we always end up discussing a favourite photograph of theirs.’

Alan explains that the business isn’t actually about photography – it’s about memories. ‘A photograph doesn’t have to be a work of art to mean something to someone. In fact, it doesn’t even need to be a photograph at all. We’ve transferred everything from old newspaper reports of weddings to a battered old Certificate of Service from the Great War to canvas, and they look great – especially when hung next to the original wedding photo or a portrait of great-granddad in uniform.

‘The market is enormous. Apart from helping people present their own memories, canvases make perfect gifts for friends and relatives, classmates and team mates, colleagues and clients. We make to size so if someone wants the perfect picture for over their fireplace, we just ask, “How big’s the wall?” It doesn’t even have to be your own picture – we can provide stock images of landscapes, people and paintings to suit your taste. At the moment, we’re doing work for a hotel that is being refurbished: if a visitor likes the canvas that’s on the wall of their room, they can buy a smaller version to take home.’

Simple To Operate, Easy To Sell

Alan first saw the XpressArt concept in the UK, where artwork printing has become a $95 million business. ‘XpressArt was developed in association with FujiXerox, so it has the support of a huge global company and some very sophisticated equipment and systems that are simple to operate yet minimise costs for franchisees. Having worked in franchising for many years, I was hugely impressed.

‘Yes, you can find shops that can get photos printed on canvas but we do it better, more affordably and with same day turn-around. Furthermore, we offer a real service. I would say that we adjust 90% of what our customers give us, brightening, cropping, taking out red-eye or removing power lines or rubbish from backgrounds. We can produce collages of photos to capture memories of once-in-a-lifetime holidays and have even prepared displays for funerals. These are quite straightforward when you have all the right tools and training, and if there is anything really complicated then we just send the file to a specialist. Franchisees also make arrangements with local photographers who will take portraits locally as part of a package.

‘This is a happy business – you’re dealing with people’s memories and producing something that will hang on their walls for years. What you need to do is take time with each customer, get them to tell you the story behind their precious picture and then come up with a way to preserve it forever for them. That’s why our slogan is “Making Moments Memorable.” It’s what we do.’

Walk around Birkenhead Mall with Alan and it’s clear this is also a people business. He has a smile for everyone and greets many of the other shopkeepers and even the security guards by name. ‘We do a lot of work, such as point of sale material, for local businesses,’ he points out. ‘And time spent talking to people is never wasted. We had one customer come in for a couple of coasters with her kids’ handprints on. We got talking, and that led to a commission to produce wall art for the export offices of one of the biggest companies in New Zealand.’

Low Investment, High Margins

After almost a year of operation, the XpressArt systems are well-proven in New Zealand. ‘The systems are robust, the suppliers are reliable and there is very little stock because there doesn’t have to be – until someone orders a product, we don’t actually make anything. The result is a nice, clean retail business with low ingoings of around $75,000 and high margins. It’s easy to manage but surprisingly hard to copy. You need the right equipment, the right training and the right know-how to produce high quality products quickly.’

With the second XpressArt kiosk already open, in Papatoetoe, Alan is now looking for franchisees throughout the North Island, especially Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington. ‘Many territories have the potential for more than one outlet,’ he says. ‘But you can’t really understand the appeal of the business until you see it in action. Come and visit us at the Franchise Expo in August (see page 29) or meet me in Birkenhead. It’s always showtime at XpressArt.’

This advertorial is taken from Franchise New Zealand magazine Volume 20 Issue 2 

Contact details for XpressArt

For more information and advice on buying a franchise get your FREE copy of Franchise New Zealand magazine. 

We welcome links from other websites to this article. Please note that this article is copyright © Franchise NZ Marketing Limited, Franchise New Zealand magazine and Franchise New Zealand On Line. While it may be downloaded for personal use, no part may be reproduced on any other website, in electronic or printed form or in any other form whatsoever.