Centre owner Adam Greaves reflects on ten years of growth, new technology investments, and welcoming long-term staff member Stephen Handy to co-ownership
Signs Express Newcastle is celebrating ten years in business this September, having been established by centre owner Adam Greaves in September 2016. Reflecting on a decade of operations, Greaves has overseen steady commercial growth, expanding the business into a five-person team while transitioning from an industrial manufacturing background into a prominent regional signage supplier.
Coming from an industrial background in shipyards and steelwork, Greaves initially focused on serving the manufacturing sector before expanding into retail, commercial, and vehicle graphics markets. Over the past decade, the Newcastle branch has built a customer retention rate of 99 per cent, navigating challenges such as the Covid pandemic by focusing on niche solutions and service quality.
To support changing customer demands, the business has continuously invested in production equipment, including the addition of an HP Latex 630W printer supplied by Papergraphics last year. The investment has enabled the company to expand its vehicle graphics and digital signage capabilities while taking advantage of supplier relationships to outsource specific production tasks efficiently.
Reflecting on his journey and the decision to join a franchise network, Greaves said, “When I first launched Signs Express Newcastle, my main goal was simple: I wanted to build a successful centre and create a business I could be proud of.”
He added, “As the business became more established, my confidence grew. That allowed me to broaden our customer base and move into new industries.”
On the key factors driving regional success, Greaves explained, “For us, it is quite simple: quality and service. Price is second or third on the list. The priority is understanding what the customer needs and delivering a quality product with a strong level of service.”
Having recently renewed his franchise agreement for a further ten-year term, Greaves is preparing for the next phase of growth by welcoming long-term staff member Stephen Handy into business co-ownership.
Looking ahead to the next decade, Greaves commented, “I feel motivated to push the business forward and grow even more over the next couple of years. I have a strong team behind me, with Steve in particular helping to drive sales.”