Still feeling refreshed after a good dose of sun in Australia and coming home with bundles of energy after seeing family and friends, I’m heading into the end of the last quarter feeling positive, energised and ready and rearing to go with our 2025 plans.
We’ve delivered some top jobs in the run up to Christmas including a window graphic project for the Eastern City Business Improvement District which fosters support in creating community engagement in driving positive change in the region, something we’re really proud to be part of.
A quick turnaround job in Mayfair for Mandelli came in two parts for their new shop opening which is always exciting to be involved in. To begin with we created and installed window blackout graphics whilst the store underwent its refurbishment, followed by creating their final window graphics upon opening, along with their main entrance signage, creating a slick and upmarket finish reflecting the new brand image perfectly.
We were also delighted to support the Lord Mayor’s Procession as we applied vehicle graphics for The London Archives, which even got a little photobomb from Santa himself!
Keeping with the Christmas theme, wrapping a food truck for Winter Wonderland was a personal favourite of mine and any excuse to get involved in the celebrations as we brought the truck to life for the festive period!
Onto CoreBridge, as we’re now six months into our new system replacement which underpins the backbone of the whole Signs Express business. Operating across 60+ locations, this was always going to be a huge project, so I’m thrilled to have been the early adopter and guinea pig during the process!
Starting with apprehension and a slight aversion to change, myself along with the team are noticing big improvements within the business as a result of the new system and thrilled with just how easily adaptable the whole programme has been. We’ve worked with it, adjusted it, changed and challenged it and scrutinised the system, but it’s grown with us and something that we can see will continue to evolve with the business.
Assisting us with significant advancements in operational efficiencies and day-to-day management, for me, the top 10 benefits include:
- Streamlined operations allowing smoother workflow management from start to finish.
- Improved customer experience with the systems robust tracking capabilities allowing for more accurate project updates.
- Centralised information hub housing all essential data in one system.
- Enhanced quoting and pricing tools saving time and improving profitability.
- Real-time data access ensuring that informed decisions can be made quickly.
- Time-saving automation tasks like invoicing and scheduling, freeing up time for staff to focus on more strategic, value-driven activities.
- Scalability for future growth supporting expanding customer bases and territories.
- Enhanced reporting and analytics providing detailed insights into business performance.
- Integration capabilities allowing seamless integration with other tools and software already in use.
- Full support, training and expert guidance from the Franchise Support Centre gives us the confidence that help is a phone call away.
With this in mind, our 2025 planning has been streamlined with more data at our fingertips. Using the analysis, real-time information and marketing insights, we’ve created a focus list of industry sectors which will hope will propel the centre to the next level and reach the next bracket of turnover and profitability.
In my last diary entry, my summary would be that CoreBridge isn’t just about making processes more efficient or data more accessible, it’s about giving us, as a team, the tools to deliver better service, work smarter, and stay ahead in an ever-changing industry. It’s an investment in not just how we work today but also in the future of Signs Express and helping us remain the leading signage and graphics network in the UK.
The journey with CoreBridge is just beginning, and as we continue to learn and adapt, it’s clear this is more than just a software update, it’s a step towards a more efficient, collaborative, and successful future for Signs Express.
