Looking for a new business venture, Sharon and Phil Perkins come back to the UK from living in Saudi Arabia with the goal of getting involved in a franchise. After looking at a number of different options including cleaning companies, motor vehicle repairs, and brands like Body Shop, and McDonalds (before they were “everywhere” as the couple puts it) the pair settled on Signs Express due to the fact every company needs signage, removing the need for hard selling. On January 16th of this year, Sharon and Phil were award the Franchisee of the Year Award at the Signs Express Convention at Alton Towers Resort, an award that was made even more special as 2026 marks Signs Express Swansea’s 30th anniversary. Following the award win, along with many other award wins over the past year, we take a look back at the 30-year history of Signs Express Swansea and take a look at what makes the franchisee tick. Choosing Signs Express Signs Express Swansea celebrates a significant milestone this year as it celebrates 30 years in business after officially opening in February 1996. Sharon and Phil started business after living overseas for six years and wanted to build a business from the ground up, but with the support of a national brand, such as Signs Express. Sharon and Phil visited Signs Express Norwich in 1995 where they me met with the then-owners Frank Eliel and David Corbett to learn more about the franchise and an overview of how Signs Express businesses operate. Sharon and Phil were said to have recognised the strength of the franchise model, its longevity, the demand for signage across all sectors, and the impact the brand was beginning to make. Following training in September 1995, Signs Express opened, “fully kitted-out After winning the Franchisee of the Year Award, we speak to Sharon and Phil Perkins, owners of Signs Express Swansea, and Emma Wakefield, head of Franchise Recruitment at Signs Express, who all tell us about the success of Signs Express Swansea Flying the Signs Express Flag in Wales and ready-to-go” according to the owners. However, in 1995, Signs Express wasn’t as large a brand as it is today, and without internet, social media, and no pay-per-click campaigns, building upon the business meant a more traditional approach. In the early days, Sharon was out in the community dropping off leaflets, knocking on doors, and picking up the phone in “true telesales style” in order to drum up new ▲ Signs Express Swansea celebrating its win at the Signs Express Convention COMPANY SPOTLIGHT | SIGNS EXPRESS SWANSEA Their recent successes demonstrate that their passion has not diminished, each day remains different, and the drive, enthusiasm, and passion remains 28 email: editor@signlink.co.uk Issue 264 - April | May 2026 30YEARS
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