Lee Eaton, owner of Signs Express (Manchester) has made it to the final of the British Franchise Association's (BFA) B2B Franchisee of the Year Award
Established in 1997, Lee and his father built the business up from scratch, creating the solid foundations that Lee has been able to exploit since he took full ownership in 2012. The centre has grown into one of the largest franchises in the network boasting a workforce of 17 skilled people and ambitions to recruit two more team members soon. The centre’s success has led to 25% growth and an increase in operating profits.
Eaton differentiated his business from the competition by installing a stringent production process, including a timeframe for quotes, a rigorous approval process, a quality management system and a work-in-progress communication system.
He said: “It is great to have our dedication acknowledged and to be announced as a finalist in this year’s BFA B2B Franchisee of the Year Award. “This year I have striven to broaden our horizons and fine-tuned our production and customer service processes, as well as developing existing client relationships and creating firm bonds with them. In turn, this has led to further work, as well as seven new major clients coming to us for our expertise.”