The Christmas period was busy, but in a good way. The centre looked great dressed for the festive season, and despite the workload, we made sure to take time out of the business with the whole team to give something back. Partnering with a brilliant group of people from Age UK Liverpool, Wirral and Sefton, we put on a Christmas party for 50+ pensioners, we joined their great choir singing, played some fun games and ran a raffle with them, but most of all the best thing was seeing them all enjoying themselves, which really meant a lot to all of us. Being able to support the local community in a meaningful way is something we care deeply about, and this is only the beginning. Our next plan is to take the lovely people from the care home out on a coach trip for the day, which we are all really looking forward to.
We have also been delighted with the calibre of new clients coming through the door. Recently, we completed a brilliant project for JD and New Balance, carrying out a full wrap on an 11-metre minibus to promote the most recent New Balance campaign. Seeing our work travelling all over the place was a real moment of pride for the whole team.
Another particularly rewarding experience was hosting a group of school children from local school St Austin’s Primary. We gave them a tour of the centre, demonstrated our equipment and made mini high-vis jackets for them to keep. They also designed their own bespoke wallpaper and watched it being printed, which was incredible to see through their eyes. Even better, the children will be involved in the installation at the school, allowing them to see the project through from start to finish and really understand the process.
One of the highlights has to be attending the Signs Express Convention 2026 at the Alton Towers Resort. It was a fantastic day and something we thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. Spending time mixing with peers from across the network, sharing experiences, networking and getting to know more of our suppliers was hugely valuable. The three panel sessions in particular really stood out, with a strong focus on laser cutting and engraving, the pros and cons of in-house production versus outsourcing, and a sustainability panel which was right up our street. All three sessions sparked great discussion and gave us plenty of ideas to take back into the centre.
Following the days convention, the gala dinner and awards evening exceeded expectations. To walk away with three awards after just one year of ownership was incredibly special. We were proud to receive the Sustainability Award for our eco commitments in centre, the Best Interior Sign Award for our Indigo Art Book manifestation (a true labour of love), and, most notably, Team of the Year. This was the first time this award has ever been presented, and winning it was a massive achievement for us. It allowed us to showcase just how much our team means to us and how central they are to everything we do.
The convention also had a very tangible impact on the business. Enjoying it as much as we did, we made the decision on the day to invest in a new HPC laser engraver to complement our existing laser cutter, showing that demonstrations really make a difference in bringing visions to life. This investment will allow us to continue innovating, expand our in-house capabilities and further strengthen our sustainability credentials.
As we move through 2026, our focus remains clear. It’s about our team, our community, sustainability, innovation and continued business growth. With everything we’ve achieved so far, I couldn’t be prouder of where we are and where we’re heading next.
