Choosing the right supplier for a wide range of sign-related products and accessories is about far more than keeping plenty of stock on the shelf.
David Allen, operations manager at Signs Express, tells us about the company’s long-standing relationship with Sign Trade Supplies (STS).
Signs Express operates a national network of independently owned centres. Our supplier relationship plays a direct role in helping our centres deliver the quality, efficiency, and growth they are looking for.
We quickly recognised that Sign Trade Supplies works with signage businesses across the UK and can support everything from routine jobs to complex, time-critical projects very professionally. Beyond the fundamentals of reliability and availability, consistency is absolutely critical for us. With a national network of centres, we need confidence that materials, finishes, and performance are the same whether a job is produced in Aberdeen or Exeter.
That consistency goes beyond the product itself. Clear communication, dependable lead times, and transparent pricing all play a part, allowing centres to quote accurately and manage customer expectations with confidence.
Consistency and credibility across the network
Sustainability is another area where expectations have shifted. For Signs Express, it is no longer optional; it’s a growing expectation from our larger and corporate customers. We look to suppliers to provide credible, practical solutions rather than broad claims.
That includes access to recyclable or lower-impact materials, but also honesty about real-world performance. In some cases, a traditional PVC vinyl can still be the more sustainable choice over a full life cycle. A PVC vinyl might be the best long-term solution rather than replacing a PVC-free material three or four times. It’s very important that suppliers are open about proven data around PVC-free materials.
At the centre level, the biggest gains often come from simple, practical changes. The biggest difference comes from actions that are easy to adopt day-to-day, such as improved waste reduction and better quality control processes, so mistakes and reworks don’t happen, reducing the amount of material used.
Balancing consistency with local flexibility
While Signs Express centres operate independently, they share a brand promise. Suppliers need to strike a careful balance between consistency and flexibility. The key is providing a strong, consistent core range along with additional services. That might include CNC cut-to-shape sheet materials or fabricators printing and applying graphics, enabling in-centre production efficiencies while teams focus on other jobs.
Flexibility matters too, particularly when it comes to delivery times and pricing. The best suppliers understand that flexibility and competitive pricing can co-exist and that loyalty is rewarded. Centres will use them not just for difficult projects, but also for the bread-and-butter jobs.
Becoming a preferred partner within the Signs Express network requires more than competitive pricing. A supplier needs to demonstrate long-term commitment to the network, not just price. Technical support, training and product education are extremely important as technologies, materials and customer expectations continue to evolve.
That support can take many forms, from hands-on training and clear technical guidance to ongoing help when challenges arise. Suppliers who help centres use products more efficiently, more profitably and with greater confidence add real value. Ultimately, a preferred partner helps centres do better business, not just buy products.
Enabling growth through efficiency and partnership
Looking ahead to this year, growth across the network will be driven by efficiency rather than headcount. Sales growth is increasingly achieved through productivity, automation and smarter use of technology, rather than simply hiring more staff.
Many centres are investing in the latest generation of large-format printers from partners such as HP and Epson. These offer higher speeds, improved colour consistency and greater reliability, along with a more environmentally friendly printed product. They allow centres to produce more work in less time, helping to maximise output from existing teams.
Software plays an equally important role. Signs Express is rolling out a new CRM platform from Corebridge, giving centre owners better visibility of jobs as they move through production. By reducing manual administration and improving workflow control, centre owners and managers spend less time managing production issues and more time focusing on sales activity, customer engagement and driving profitable growth.
Suppliers are central to making that shift work. Not just by providing equipment and materials, but by supporting centres in selecting the right technologies, implementing them effectively and using them with confidence. When suppliers help centres streamline production, they directly enable owners to focus on winning new business and increasing sales performance.
Sign Trade Supplies adds value by acting as a partner rather than a vendor. An effective supplier relationship is built on trust, consistency and open communication. Part of my role is recommending suppliers to the network, and I have to be confident they will support centres with the best solutions, additional services and value for money.
Strong relationships benefit both head office and individual centres. “For centres, it’s about responsiveness, reliability and feeling supported in their day-to-day operations. When a supplier can align that with head office expectations, the relationship becomes genuinely effective and mutually beneficial.
We have very strong relationships with both new and established suppliers. The fact that so many attend our annual convention shows the value of face-to-face engagement and being visible to the centres. It’s proof that a mutually respectful supplier relationship really does work.
See Sign Trade Supplies in the Partner Zone