Minuteman Press thrives in Oxford

Franchisee Amad Hassan, the owner of Minuteman Press Oxford, knows the value of his design, marketing and printing business for his clients.

“Basically, we can design and print everything for them. I have received phone calls from new customers asking for one of our products, such as printed banners. I ask how they heard about us and they say either positive Google reviews or direct referrals from another customer. That makes me feel like our customer service sets us apart. Strong word of mouth builds your brand.”

Another element of his printing business that makes Amad and his team stand out is that Minuteman Press provides a wide variety of customised products and services.

“We do more than printing. We do custom designs, promotional products and branded apparel. When we pack any order, we include brochures about banners, signage and promotional products. We let our clients know what we can do and they tend to respond well to that.”

Being part of the Minuteman Press International franchise system, Amad’s business is independently owned and operated. Like any business owner, he prides himself on being active in the community and making a positive difference.

“I strongly believe that working in the community is the backbone of our business. If there is a community event, we support it. People know us and we generate a lot of business doing this. I do a lot of charity work, work with schools, anything I can to help.”

One of the best aspects of working in the printing industry is that print is universal, meaning that clients come from all different industries.

“When we started, we noticed a lot of restaurants coming to us. We also work with charities, schools and colleges, training companies, and many small businesses around us. We have a lot of variety and that’s how we’ve built the business.”

Prior to franchising with Minuteman Press, Amad Hassan worked in the automotive industry.

“I worked in the BMW Mini plant in Oxford for 10 years. I also drove a taxi part time. I didn’t know the printing industry when I started, and Minuteman Press gave me the training and support I needed for this transition.”

In addition to the training and ongoing local support that he receives in Oxford, Amad saw other benefits of franchising with Minuteman Press.

“The first benefit is that Minuteman Press has a royalty incentive programme. Also, when I inquired online about owning a Minuteman Press franchise, they contacted me right away and were very efficient. They took me to the different centres and the whole process was very straightforward.

“Minuteman Press works for me. When I started I didn’t know anything and they taught me everything. They gave me the support, and my local area manager has been a huge help. My own initiative and their support is a winning combination.”

Amad concludes: “I appreciate being profitable and the time and flexibility I have with my life.”