The team approached The Women’s Organisation for business development support under our growth programme; New Markets 2. We sat down with Becky to find out how our business advisor, John Jones, helped the family to prepare a business valuation and transition strategy...
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| Lewis Howes Signs & Engraving as its known today |
The team approached The Women’s Organisation for business
development support under our growth programme; New Markets 2. We sat down with
Becky to find out how our business advisor, John Jones, helped the family to prepare
a business valuation and transition strategy.
So, what’s Lewis Howes Signs & Engraving all about? Sign
manufacturing is the bread and butter of the business, which specialises in
high quality engraving on a range of materials. From nameplates and badges, to
memorial plaques and switch plates, the team have seen it all. Over time a complete
sign service has been developed, now offering a full service from design
through to manufacture, installation and maintenance.
Perhaps the biggest change came in 2006 as Lewis Howes diversified
in to digital printing, a change which managing director, David, dubs as ‘the
best move we ever made’. Proof that businesses need to keep up the times and
embrace new technologies. The firm has also recently invested in a state of the
art new Rowland printer, as well as a laser cutting machine, allowing them to offer
much quicker delivery times.
With a strong service offering that has proved the test of
time, we asked what makes Lewis Howes unique? Becky says: “Reliability, speedy
service and quality, bespoke products. Everything that we do is bespoke -
there’s very little we can’t turn our hand to.”
Formerly David Lewis Signs, the past 28 years have seen a
lot of change within the business. Originally based in Wallasey on the Wirral,
David Lewis Signs was born in 1988, before merging with J & J Howes just
two years later to becomes Lewis Howes Signs & Engraving. More change was
still to come and in 2001 Dave and Fran Lewis bought out John and Jackie Howes to
take sole ownership of the business.
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| David Lewis' first shop in 1988 |
By the mid-noughties the business was thriving and trade was
strong. When the recession hit in 2008, the management team went to great
lengths to keep the business going and admit that they still feel the effects of
it 10 years later. Becky says that “this time has been the most difficult for
the business, but also a great achievement” to weather the crash. After a
number of hard and turbulent years, the company is now starting to slowly
progress and grow.
After approaching The Women’s Organisation for support in
taking the business to the next phase, the team was set up with business
advisor, John Jones, under the New Markets 2 dedicated growth programme. Becky
commented: “John has been excellent for us, offering advice and in constant
contact.”
What would Becky say to those looking to grow their business
in the North West? “The region is fairly robust at the moment. For those
looking to grow I would say: provide high quality products, on time and at
competitive prices.” Great advice!
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| Becky Sheen will be taking the reins of the family business |
Becky and her family received growth advice through our New
Markets 2 Programme, which is aimed at women who are running a business
focussing on business to business activity in the Liverpool City Region
(Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, St Helens, Knowsley and Halton) are who are ready
to take their business to the next level, either by expanding their team or significantly
increasing turnover. For more information, contact us on hello@thewo.org.uk or
ring us on 0151 706 8111
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