After moving back to Fort Worth, Texas, couple Jim and Sheryl Francis knew they wanted to start a business that combined their respective backgrounds in information technology and art. After discovering the Minuteman Press franchise, they knew it was the perfect fit and officially opened for business on June 5, 2017. To help get their franchise up and running, the Francis’ acquired the first two Xerox Versant 180 Presses, which officially launched on April 4.

“My entire business is hinged on digital technology, so I did the research to pick the best tools for the job and I’m really excited to be an early adopter of the Versant 180,” said Jim Francis, who left a 30-year career in software development that included a stint at Microsoft, to open a family printing and marketing services business. “Xerox is a name you can trust. They are known for excellent support, and the new Versant models are more advanced and automated, so you can do a lot more with them.”

Their Minuteman franchise is one of only two in Fort Worth, and the only one on the city’s north side, which Francis says “is growing like crazy” – including in the small and medium-sized business segment he is targeting. Services include digitally printed direct mail, brochures, fliers and business cards; wide-format printed banners, signs and vehicle wraps; promotional items like pens, mugs and t-shirts; graphic design and 3D modeling. Their son, Chris, who is an experienced 3D modeler and graphic designer, will run the new presses.  

One of the new Versant 180’s is equipped with several inline finishing devices that automate production, including an inline booklet maker, a two- and three-hole punch, an inserter module and two large-capacity trays. The second Versant 180 provides redundancy and additional capacity.

The Versant 180 prints as fast as 80 pages per minute, handles stocks as heavy as 350 gsm and as large as 13”x26”, and prints with Ultra HD Resolution. Standard automation features include Registration Alignment and Production Accurate Registration, which ensure image-to-media alignment and density uniformity, and a Full Width Array, which automates many image quality adjustments.

The couple has ambitious financial goals for the new business, including surpassing $31,000 in monthly revenues by their sixth month, and reaching $1 million in annual revenues by 2020.

About Minuteman Press International
Minuteman Press International is a number one rated business marketing and printing franchise that offers world-class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. Started in 1973 by Roy Titus and his son Bob, Minuteman Press began franchising in 1975 and has grown to over 950 business service franchise locations worldwide including the U.S., Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Minuteman Press is ranked No. 1 in category by Entrepreneur 25 times and 14 years in a row, including 2017. Franchise Business Review has also named Minuteman Press International to its 2017 Top Franchises and 2017 Top B2B Franchises lists thanks to positive feedback and reviews from owners.

About Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an $11 billion technology leader that innovates the way the world communicates, connects and works. Our expertise is more important than ever as customers of all sizes look to improve productivity, maximize profitability and increase satisfaction. We do this for small and mid-size businesses, large enterprises, governments, graphic communications providers, and for our partners who serve them.                

We understand what’s at the heart of work – and all of the forms it can take. We embrace the increasingly complex world of paper and digital. Office and mobile. Personal and social. Every day across the globe – in more than 160 countries – our technology, software and people successfully navigate those intersections. We automate, personalize, package, analyze and secure information to keep our customers moving at an accelerated pace. 

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