FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/27/06

Salt Lake City Area FASTSIGNS® Center Owner Named 2005 FASTSIGNS® Franchisee of the Year by International Franchise Association

CARROLLTON, Texas ­ Dean Stokes, who owns three FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics centers in the Salt Lake City area, was named FASTSIGNS® “Franchisee of the Year” for 2005 by the International Franchise Association (IFA) in a ceremony today at the IFA’s annual convention in Palm Springs, Calif.

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is a worldwide sign and graphics franchise with nearly 500 locations in six countries. The “Franchisee of the Year” award is given to franchise small-business operators who “have been singled out for their outstanding performance,” said officials of the IFA, the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising. Only one FASTSIGNS® owner is given this recognition each year.

“I am really honored to receive this recognition from FASTSIGNS® and the IFA,” said Stokes, who attended the IFA convention at the Palm Springs Convention Center. “I have terrific employees at all three of my centers, and their contributions are key to our success. We also appreciate all the support we receive from FASTSIGNS International, Inc. The FASTSIGNS® business model is something that we really believe in.”

“Dean is one of our top franchisees, both in terms of sales achievement and involvement in his community,” said Gary Salomon, FASTSIGNS International, Inc.’s chairman and chief executive officer.

At the franchisor’s annual convention, held recently in Orlando, Fla., the three centers owned by Stokes won five top sales achievement awards, and the manager of each of Stokes’ centers received manager of the year awards. In addition, two other employees of his centers received sales achievement awards at the FASTSIGNS International, Inc. convention.

In 1990, Stokes opened the FASTSIGNS® center in Murray at 6570 S. State Street and in Salt Lake City location at 675 E. 2100 South St. He opened the West Valley City location in August 2002.

Combined, the sales at Stokes’ three centers had the highest total sales from October 2004 through September 2005 of multiple U.S. FASTSIGNS® centers owned by the same person, winning Stokes and his staff that award at the FASTSIGNS International, Inc. convention. In addition, the Murray location won the “Two Million Dollar Award” from FASTSIGNS International, Inc. for achieving more than $2 million in sales over that same time. The Murray center also had the highest sales of any single FASTSIGNS® location in the Western U.S. for the same period.

The Murray center can be reached by phone at (801) 261-3000 or on the web at www.fastsigns.com/102. The Salt Lake City center can be reached at (801) 467-9944 or on the web at www.fastsigns.com/101. In West Valley City, the FASTSIGNS® is at 2196 W. 3600 S., Unit C-3, and can be reached by phone at (801) 746-2600 or on the web at www.fastsigns.com/402.

“Dean and his staff excel at making sign and graphic solutions simple for their customers,” said Salomon. “He is also generous and helpful in working with other franchisees to increase the strength, size and integrity of our network.”

About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics centers offer a full range of custom sign and graphic products, including banners, window and vehicle graphics, floor graphics, safety and identification signage, trade show displays and exterior signage. The FASTSIGNS® centers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Australia (where centers operate under the name, SIGNWAVE®) focus on serving the needs of the business community. For more information, visit www.fastsigns.com, or call 800-FASTSIGNS.

About the IFA
The annual IFA Franchisee of the Year Award presentations are made possible by a contribution from the PepsiCo Foodservice Division. The PepsiCo Foodservice Division’s principal businesses include Frito-Lay snacks, Pepsi-Cola beverages, Gatorade sports drinks, Tropicana juices and Quaker foods.

FASTSIGNS International, Inc.
2550 Midway Road, Suite 150
Carrollton, TX 75006
Phone: 214 346-5663
E-Mail: margaret.smallwood@fastsigns.com
Website URL: www.fastsigns.com