From Car Stickers to Roll Out Winner of the Year Founded in 1995, The Sussex Sign Company is celebrating 30 years in business this year. Located in Portslade near Brighton and Hove, the company has seen a number of changes over its history and overcome several hurdles to provide quality customer service and value for money to its customers. Recently the company was recognised at the UK Graphic Awards, winning Gold in the Roll-Out award thanks to its impressive project for Paxton Access, a manufacturer of access control systems. The project is reflective of the dedication and perseverance that has led to the company’s reputation and success over its 30-year history. Norman Mayhew, managing director of The Sussex Sign Company, says: “Our company is built on a foundation of honesty and hard work […] Our goal is to continue being the best sign company in Sussex, recognised not only for the quality of our work but also as a company where every person wants to work, and every business wants to partner with.” But how did this 30-year-old signage company begin, and what challenges have led it to become the business it is today? Starting Out The Sussex Sign Company was started by Mayhew and his father-in-law in January 1995 with the intention of using their experience in business and graphics to start a new company. “When we first started, I vividly remember our very first order – placing price stickers on the bonnets of 40 cars for a dealership charging £4 per car,” says Mayhew, adding: “That initial order brought in £160, and in our first year, our turnover was £38,000. We reinvested everything back into the business, often living hand to mouth and never quite having enough to achieve everything we envisioned.” Despite the careful beginnings, The Sussex Sign Company continued to grow over time, allowing Mayhew and his father-in-law to hone their skills, hire talented staff members, and embrace opportunities that were brought about by the growth of the internet. “This steady progress led to significant growth in both turnover and profits,” explains Mayhew. We even acquired two of our major competitors in Sussex, and by 2008, we had three branches and a turnover of £1m.” Overcoming Adversity Over its 30-year history, it’s not surprising that The Sussex Sign Company will have faced a number of challenges, not only on its own doorstep, but challenges that affected businesses around the world. “The 2008 financial crisis hit us hard,” says Mayhew, explaining: “Over-expansion and high debt levels left us vulnerable, and Just in time for its 30th anniversary, we speak to co-founder of The Sussex Sign Company, Norman Mayhew, who tells us about the company’s success, challenges, and promising future ▲ Norman Mayhew, managing director of the Sussex Company at The UK Graphic Awards by the end of 2009, the business was on the brink of collapse. We had to close two branches, consolidate operations into our current location, and begin the challenging process of paying off debt and rebuilding. This took eight years of determined effort.” The difficult time meant that despite overcoming a lot of the struggles of cash flow and lack of experience, it was more heartbreaking when more challenges were on the way. “Banks and financial institutions are often only there when there’s no real risk involved. As the saying goes, they’re happy to offer an umbrella when the sun is shining but quick to take it back when it starts to rain,” remarks Mayhew, adding: “The crisis was particularly tough. “Much of that was my own doing. As a young man, I had expanded far too quickly, driven by the arrogance of thinking everything I touched would turn to gold. It was a humbling and valuable lesson in restraint and strategy.” In 2019 Mayhew and his team were ready to expand again, however, the global pandemic caused more issues and a freeze in expansion plans. Building the team back from just eight members after 2008 to 24 in 2019 put The Sussex Sign Company in good stead to carry out its plans, but the world had a different plan when Covid-19 affected everything around the world. “Nothing could have prepared me for Covid. Beyond the fear of losing my business, I lost many talented team members and, heartbreakingly, some very dear friends. Covid was divisive in so many ways, and its impact still lingers. The scars, both personal and professional, are ones I continue to carry today. These experiences, while challenging, have shaped me and the business into what we are today: resilient, reflective, and stronger for the lessons learned.” The onset of Covid-19 meant that the company had to reduce itself to 12 team members and scale back production, pivoting to new work in order to keep the doors open. “Since then, we’ve been COMPANY SPOTLIGHT / THE SUSSEX SIGN COMPANY 34 Issue 257 - February / March 2025 www.signlink.co.uk
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