As the son of Ray Titus – CEO of Signarama and parent company United Franchise Group (UFG) – and grandson of franchise legend, Roy Titus, A.J.’s business pedigree ensures he’s positioned to lead Signarama, the winner of Best Signage and Communications Franchise in the Global Franchise Awards 2024, boldly into the future.
“At Signarama, we’re always looking toward what’s coming up next,” he told Global Franchise, “And I think that’s the difference between us and other brands. We’re a 37-year-old company so it’s very easy to get caught up in telling those war stories about what has happened in the past, but we’re not – we’re focused on the future.”
Artificial intelligence is set to be an industry gamechanger, and as the world’s largest sign and graphics franchise, Signarama is utilizing rapidly evolving tech.
“It’s really going to transform the design front of our business – designing signs, designing products,” A.J. continued. “I foresee a day when we’ll be having our first conversation with customers through AI, getting them straight through to design and speeding up the entire process.”
Family firm
Growing up with a family business means work is truly personal to A.J., who reports directly to his father, Ray, a mentorship that runs deeper than most.
“I’ve gained the trust of our franchise owners because they can see and understand the seriousness in how we operate as a family,” he explained. “We put our personal lives into the brand. But I also know the blueprint of how to be successful. My dad did it, my grandfather did it. I have great examples before me who I can really lean on.
“I’m not just doing it only to make money – we’re all in it to make money. I’m doing this for the next generation, just like my dad, and my grandfather before him. I want the business to be passed down to my kids and to my cousin’s kids and to my brother’s kids, so our focus is different.”
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