Mario Signorelli, President of PosiGrip, Discusses Slip Resistance Technology

Posted on September 06, 2011 by Ben Baggett

Why is slip resistance technology a great industry to start a business in today?

Why not start a business today?  I mean what are you waiting for, the economy to improve?  How much better does it have to get before you decide to jump in and do something millions of people have successfully done before you and that's own your own business.   With true Entrepreneurs, the economy is only a small consideration if at all.  I know that we do more business every time there is a recession because we increase our advertising while others are cutting back.  While those cutting back become less visible we become more visible therefore the only company people will remember because they are now seeing us more often.  If you're going to start your own business then do it with conviction, work hard and don't look back.  It's those that go into a business or a relationship, partnership or marriage without any heart that soon find out you need your heart and soul to accomplish your goals and without it, you won't survive. 

How has the slip resistance technology industry changed in the last 10 years?  20 years?  

We are the industry, I mean we are the company that educated the public, commercial businesses, government and military installations and others about our product, and we did it one brochure at a time.  Once the internet had become mainstream by 2000- 2002, it became an easier task, but the first 8 years were hard because we were trying to gain traction on a brand new industry with something that people had never seen before. 

Today with YouTube and other social media you can now within days reach out to millions of people with your message.  In 1999, print media accounted for 98% of our revenue and electronic media accounted for only 1% and the other 1%, trade shows and things like this.  My goal over the next 10 years will be to dominate the current  and most popular venue which is electronic and social media within our industry  and as we add owners around the globe that becomes more of a reality because you're able to tap into this infrastructure that's been created and connect them all.  

The reason that's important is because as our customer base grows, so do we.   KFC for example is only one of the many franchise companies that we service and they are finishing up on their 3 year expansion in China with 15,000 new locations.  Who do you think can handle a contract like that?  I can tell you right now it's not going to be the guy with a few locations in Beijing, it's going to be us because they will only award a contract to someone who can logistically complete the job in a reasonable time frame and we have the numbers to do that.  So as I look at the next decade we have a lot of work to do and it will take lot energy and resources to accomplish those tasks and we have both within Posigrip Corporate, our owners here in the states and around the globe.    

What trends do you see in the slip resistance technology industry over the next 5 years?  Next 10 years? 

We have become more diverse our approach to our industries needs and that's only because we consider ourselves to have the largest R&D department in the world with our 2000 operators involved in day to day operations and customer relations.   So we will continue to roll out the most innovative and marketable products to meet the demands of our growing client base as we progress.

What is the biggest concern about the slip resistance technology industry that a franchisee candidate should be aware of and investigate? 

Over the years there have been many companies that have tried to duplicate our product and gain a foothold on an industry we dominate.  Those companies are gone and others have taken their place.  People trusted their investment would be safe with these other companies, only to be left holding the bag when the parent company folded.  Take a close look at the companies that have just started over the last 2 or 3 years and if they haven't been able to afford proper state and Federal registrations and disclosures, that will mean you will have no recourse when it comes time to get your money back.

Why do you think your company stands out in the slip resistance technology industry?  

There are many reasons we stand out, but the main one is because we were the ones who took a unique product global.  We have many operators who do 90% of our industries business so naturally our customers know us and trust our products.  We are consistent in delivering results and work hard at satisfying the needs of our customers and that's very hard to overcome.   The only way I can see a competitor giving us a run for our money is if you have a product so much more unique, innovative and even more cost effective than our current line.  That's not likely to happen and recently we have accomplished just that with our nano products which are completely organic and exceed the standard we originally set, so this is why were #1 and continue to raise the bar.

What makes the Posigrip opportunity more attractive than your competitor's? 

Our money is made when you re-order and not up front with some arbitrary fee to get you into business.  Our money is made after you are successful and not before.  We provide leads, corporate jobs, and funnel work directly to you.  You receive equipment, product, marketing materials, marketing support, proposals, brochures, training and 24 hour technical support 365 days a year, and we do all of this for $9,995.  In a nutshell?  Value!  It's what you're getting for your money and how long it will take for you to recover that original investment.  That's real attractive.  

Describe the ideal Posigrip candidate.  Do you think your requirements are any different than your competitor's?

 I don't know much about the people that have bought from a competitor because we currently have 2000 operators worldwide and all my competitors combined may have 150, so I have to assume that the only reason that they may have bought from a competitor is because they didn't see us or the area they live in was full and we had to turn them away.  If they compared apples to apples the offer we make is difficult to compete against.

What's the strongest skill you require in a Posigrip candidate?  

Commitment to their goals and customers needs and the energy to follow up and follow through because the clients will see this as dedication to their needs and that is very important when you are building your base.

Describe the working environment of your franchisees.  Is your environment typical of other companies in the slip resistance technology industry? 

This can easily be run from your home because all demonstrations and work must be performed at the customer's location.

Why has Posigrip been successful? 

Hard work and dedication and a love of what they are doing and knowing this will likely be the last job they will have so they stay with us for many years.  Some have been with us for over 20 years and as long as they are committed to us were committed to them.  Were also job specific, meaning each person is responsible for their job and so they do it well and repetitively.  We are very much a big family and you don't want to let another family member down so we do it right the first time.

What advice would you give someone interested in buying a franchise in the slip resistance technology industry? 

Don't give in to high sales pressure.  Our sales techs are purely informational meaning they only provide you the information and based on that information you can make a sound decision on whether this will be a good fit for you.  We don't want someone taking up an area because they were sold, we want someone who is a Posigrip owner because he wanted to be and it was right for him or her.

How much experience in this industry should a franchisee candidate have should they consider buying a franchise in the slip resistance technology industry?  

If they have some experience its probably okay, but we would rather show them how to do things our way.  We will train them and pay for the air and hotel in order to do that, so they need no experience.