Signage franchise business Signarama plans on reaching 100 stores in 2013.

“It’s a target we’ve been closing in on for the past few years; we’ll certainly have a big celebration when we get there,” said Evan Foster, national director for Signarama’s parent franchisor, United Franchise Group.

The company is opening Signarama Geelong later in March and franchise numbers have been boosted in regional areas of Australia.

Foster said the regional expansion has been a deliberate strategy for the company as it sees huge opportunities in these markets.

“Some of our best stores are outside of our major metropolitan markets and we recognise that there are great growth opportunities for us in those areas,” he said.

Signarama expanded its franchise network in January with new stores in Mackay, Queensland, and Whyalla, South Australia. This brings the group to 92 stores in Australia.

Part of the growth is coming from unexpected quarters.

“We’ve started to see many printers looking to add signage to their existing offering and have looked to us as an established brand name in the signage industry to be able to do that.”

Mackay Signarama owner Dean de Pinto’s store has a range of signage services including banners, lightboxes, custom logos, trade show displays and decals.

“Dean at our Mackay location is thriving in a printing franchise and added Signarama to complement the services he offers to his clients,” Foster said.