February 2025

Moving into business ownership in 2004 and celebrating 20+ years at Signs Express Grantham, we recently caught up with business owner Ian Charles to discuss his career journey and how the industry has changed.

1. Tell us a little bit about your journey to joining Signs Express as a franchisee?

I joined Signs Express as a sign maker initially which was only meant to be temporary while I found a ‘proper career’! I soon found that I really enjoyed the variety of work and seemed to be ‘ok’ at the job, so I stuck with it, gradually working my way up to Centre Manager under the then owner, Grant Rogers.

In 2003 when Grant decided to move to Canada and sell the business, to my shock he offered to sell it to myself and a colleague of mine. After lots of panic about financing and trying to figure out if we could actually do this, we took the plunge and purchased the business in February 2004 when I signed the biggest cheque I’d ever seen (and was quite rich for all of about 90 minutes!).  In 2007 my business partner at the time stepped out the business for personal reasons and so I took sole ownership and the rest as the cliché goes is history!

It's been some ride over the past 10 years in particular with some amazing highs and some despairing lows, but we are still here alive and kicking and wondering where we will get to next and what 2025 and beyond has in store!

2. What motivates you to stay within the industry?

As cheesy as it sounds, it’s the job satisfaction and being able to make a difference. This is a hard industry when you think of the complexity even a simple job can entail. It’s imagination, creativity in design, up-to-date cutting-edge machinery, skilled and accurate production, the ability to sell a vision (and deliver on that vision) consistently AND exceeding customer’s expectations. All complex in their own right, but when put together becomes a whole different beast - but then that’s all part of the challenge! Maybe that’s it, maybe it’s really the challenge that makes me stay, it’s addictive!

3. What do you enjoy most about the business?

Rarely any two days are the same making each day interesting! You can be applying simple black text on a white board one day and the next be fitting high impact built up halo illuminated letters onto a brick wall – equally important jobs, but totally different in their aims.

4. Tell us a little bit about any of your favourite projects you’ve worked on over the years?

I must admit there have been a few decent projects where you can honestly say you’re proud of the work you’ve done (of course I’m proud every day)!

We have two Signs Express awards for which I’m extremely proud, as these are voted for by our Signs Express peers. First for a Nottingham Regeneration project for a bespoke totem sign. This was a totally unique job where we created a bespoke monolith from an architect drawing which highlighted (via a thick edge illuminated acrylic piece), Nottingham’s skyline – quite unique and an absolute nightmare! The second was for AVG in Newark, where we installed 11metres of wall graphics which wrapped around corners. Hugely technical because the entire artwork was emblazoned with motivational messages which took some lining up but definitely created a striking effect!

A total rebrand of the iconic Crumbie stand at Leicester Tigers will always stand out as we had just one week to install all the Breedon branding both internally and externally including high level roof mounted signs.

More recently we have just completed signage for One Big Star in Newark, creating a striking finish and involving many elements, the project also secured us a finalist spot at the UK Graphic Awards!

5. How have Signs Express as a franchisor supported you over the years?

In the early days when I was ‘green’ to running a business the franchisor along with some key franchisee colleagues were crucial in helping me drive business and also keep me sane! I honestly wouldn’t still be in business if it wasn’t for the help and support the Franchise Support Centre (FSC) has given me. We have seen change of ownerships, direction and staff at the FSC over the past 20 years, but I have always felt supported, championed and cared about in my time. Knowing you have a group of people that have your back when times get tough gives you amazing strength.

I have to also mention the support and guidance of my good friend and fellow franchisee, Richard Howes from Signs Express (Lincoln) who has given me so much advice and help over the years. We have both seen our struggles but when you can pick up the phone or meet in the pub to thrash out a strategy, sometimes those struggles don’t seem so hard anymore.

6. How has the signage industry evolved in the past 20 years?

It’s changed beyond belief! Wide format digital printing was in its infancy when I started but now it’s an essential service to ensure business success. The ability to provide larger more ambitious projects by even the smallest of sign makers (I include my own business here) has never been better – some of the projects I’ve delivered this year, I would never have looked at 10 years ago as it would have been too costly or difficult to handle.

Digital screens and more innovation in sustainability are becoming a bigger focus, however you can’t beat preparing some vinyl text and fitting it on to a van for me! The world of marketing has also definitely changed the way we work, long gone are the days of the yellow pages ad, over the past year I’ve had to really find my voice on social media and learn to share my stories.

7. What are your aspirations for the business for the next 5-10 years?

I’m still fairly young so have a few more years left in me yet. Covid had a massive impact on all businesses, and we weren’t immune to that, so recently we’ve been concentrating on building confidence and business levels back up, it’s not easy in a small market town such as Grantham, but we’ve got some fantastically loyal customers. I’m very much working towards business growth over the next 5-10 years and whilst our territory has limitations, there are also a whole host of untapped opportunities so I’m determined to make the most of what we can and bring the business to a position I can be truly confident with.

8. What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of the team. We are only small, myself, Rachel, and Andrew, but we manage to deliver some astonishing projects. Both Rachel and Andrew have been consistently with me over the 20-year journey and the business would not function without them – any franchisee knows you are nowhere without a good team around you.

9. What can customers expect from Signs Express Grantham?

Our customers can expect a personable, professional and high-quality service from us. We are able to deliver any signage project large or small and have 60+ years of signage knowledge to help customers find the best solution for their needs and we’re only a phone call or email away!

Referring to his business as a ‘tiny sign making business in rural Lincolnshire’, in our opinion, Ian has created a phenomenal business with some hugely loyal customers, a portfolio of outstanding projects, an incredible flare for design and problem solving and he’s picked up a few awards along the way too. Ready to tackle any challenge with new and innovative solutions and with a real drive and passion to see business growth over the next few years, we’re excited to see where Ian can take his business.

As part of the UK’s leading signs and graphics franchise with over 60 locations throughout the UK and Ireland, we hear from Jonathan Bean, Signs Express Limited’s Managing Director: “Ian is an amazing franchisee, businessman and friend who I’m delighted to have had the pleasure of working with over the past 20 years. His work ethic is superb, he’s a real advocate of the brand and of late; after reading his social posts he appears to be something of a wordsmith too! Over the past couple of years, I’ve been thrilled to see Ian recognised at a number of prestigious industry awards, which is a real testament to the incredible amount of hard work he pours into his business each and every day. Ian has achieved some fantastic accomplishments over the past 20 years and I’d like to say a personal thank you and congratulations as he reaches this milestone and I’m looking forward to see what 2025 brings for him.”

Looking for a Career Change?

If you're looking for a change in career and would like to find out about franchising opportunities with Signs Express, please get in touch today!