Our project mix has become far more diverse, and with that, our average order value has risen. By deliberately broadening the types of jobs we take on, we’re securing larger contracts that give the team far more creative scope.
After a long wait, the new mezzanine area is finally complete, complete with all required health and safety measures. This dedicated finishing space will be kept clean, organised, and dust-free to support a higher-quality workflow. We also had an interesting challenge getting the finishing tables up there with the forklift!
Our planned team trip to Barcelona for further HP training has now been moved to the new year due to our workload, but it’s something we’re looking forward to and we’re excited to gain fresh inspiration while also using the trip as an opportunity for some team-building activities and downtime together.
The new printer continues to make a substantial impact, vehicle wrap production is significantly quicker as we can now run two rolls simultaneously and demand for bespoke large-format wallpapers has also surged, proving extremely popular with customers.
On the sustainability front, our environmental commitment is not only something we value personally, but it’s also helping us secure larger contracts. Many of our customers are choosing us specifically because our sustainability offering strengthens their own credentials. We’re also recycling more creatively by repurposing incoming cardboard packaging to wrap and protect outgoing signage.
We were especially proud to see one of our vehicle wrap projects named as a finalist at the Sign Industry Awards. It’s fantastic recognition for the team’s dedication, and we’re excited for the awards ceremony in February 2026. Ten other Signs Express centres are also finalists across seventeen categories, giving the network great visibility and credit.
We’ve also submitted our entries for the Signs Express Awards, which will be presented during the Signs Express 2026 Convention in January. These awards are particularly meaningful as they are voted for by fellow centres.
Next on our agenda is a marketing strategy and training session with the Franchise Support Centre’s marketing team. We’re eager to explore how we can elevate our local presence and strengthen the brand even further.
In other news and in the spirit of the season, we’re giving the centre a festive makeover to create a warm, welcoming environment. We’re also preparing for an exciting business event next week at the new Everton Stadium, where over 100 school representatives from across Liverpool will be attending. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase our full signage solutions, rebranding expertise, and the support we can offer the education sector.
Recent standout projects include last-minute wayfinding and crowd management signage for Liverpool Cathedral, and a major installation at Croft Business Park involving four large-scale flex face signs, each over eight metres long and six metres high, installed safely at height!
One of our most rewarding projects this year has been the Indigo Art Book Manifestation. The client wanted to print onto original book pages while keeping the underlying text visible. Using our HP Latex R530 flatbed printer, we carefully removed and flattened each page onto foam board before printing directly onto them. Every page was numbered, aligned precisely, and reattached before final installation. The finished result was exceptional, and the customer was delighted, a project we’re incredibly proud of.
Looking ahead to 2026, our priorities include further training, deepening our sustainability efforts, and exploring potential local expansion for the centre. As always, a huge thank you to our incredible team. They’ve embraced significant change throughout the year, contributed to a major transformation, and handled everything with enthusiasm and professionalism. We’re genuinely excited for what next year holds.
