Meet Our Franchisees
Lee Simpson
From Photographic Specialist to Co-Branded Signage Executive
Executive Summary: Already running a successful, well-established photographic reproduction business in St. Albans, Lee Simpson recognised his company was capable of more. Seeking to diversify into new product lines without sacrificing his original business identity, Lee partnered with FASTSIGNS® in 2020, to co-brand his operations. Despite launching amidst the immediate challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee leveraged FASTSIGNS’ global brand power, expert training and proven business model to build a resilient, high-performing enterprise. Today, Lee leads an expanding team, secures major corporate contracts and uses his profitable business to give back to his local community.
The Background:
Lee Simpson was already an established business professional with a strong reputation in the St. Albans area when he joined FASTSIGNS.
At the time of purchasing his FASTSIGNS centre, Lee’s well-established photographic reproduction company was already well established. Noticing that his product was in a declining market, Lee recognised the need to expand his customer base and portfolio.
Rather than starting from scratch, he saw an opportunity to Co-brand FASTSIGNS to his already profitable business, allowing him to share in the global brand’s skills, expertise and equipment.
By co-branding, by integrating FASTSIGNS into his existing operation, Lee gained immediate access to 40+ years of global expertise, pre-vetted supply chains, proprietary operational software and high-impact B2B marketing, creating an instant commercial synergy.
The Evolution of His Business
As Lee’s business ramped through the pandemic, by 2024 FASTSIGNS St. Albans was now one of the FASTSIGNS UK networks shining lights. Lee and his team regularly secure major corporate and public contracts, including high-profile projects for McLaren Hatfield, Universal Studios and Brocket Hall.
For Lee, commercial growth goes hand-in-hand with community investment:
- Charity Support: Donated complete interior and exterior signage to local youth mental health charity YouthTalk, freeing up their operational funds for counselling services.
- Apprenticeship Focus: Drawing from his own early career as an apprentice, Lee brought on apprentice signmaker Charlie Gordon in 2023 to offer practical career opportunities for young people outside higher education. Charlie has now graduated from his course and manages Lee’s production and install requirements.
The Background:
Lee Simpson was already an established business professional with a strong reputation in the St. Albans area when he joined FASTSIGNS. At the time of purchasing his FASTSIGNS centre, Lee’s well-established photographic reproduction company was already well established. Noticing that his product was in a declining market, Lee recognised the need to expand his customer base and portfolio. Rather than starting from scratch, he saw an opportunity to Co-brand FASTSIGNS to his already profitable business, allowing him to share in the global brand’s skills, expertise and equipment.
By co-branding, by integrating FASTSIGNS into his existing operation, Lee gained immediate access to 40+ years of global expertise, pre-vetted supply chains, proprietary operational software and high-impact B2B marketing, creating an instant commercial synergy.
Lee’s Journey: Navigating COVID-19 to Strategic Expansion
Since joining the FASTSIGNS network, Lee has demonstrated remarkable resilience, turning unprecedented global challenges into long-term commercial success.
Overcoming Initial Challenges & Building the Team
Just as Lee prepared to launch his new venture in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Undeterred, Lee viewed this period as an ideal opportunity to master the business. With FASTSIGNS swiftly adapting its traditional Dallas-based training for online delivery, Lee completed his preparation and immediately hit the ground running, by supplying essential sneeze screens, floor graphics and temporary safety signage.
As trading normalised, Lee focused on expanding his team and infrastructure. Today, the FASTSIGNS St. Albans team has grown to 5 key members:
Sign Maker and installer Tre
Trained directly by Lee to develop the next generation of industry talent.
Internal Sales Professional Layla
Dedicated to actively fielding, pitching, and closing incoming sales enquiries and are also empowered to deliver local marketing content.
Production & Support Staff Greg & Charlie
Ensuring smooth daily execution and high customer satisfaction.
By empowering his team to handle design, quoting, and production, Lee focuses his energy on high-level strategy, client retention and driving new commercial account acquisition.
2026 and Beyond
Having grown his FASTSIGNS business by an average of 60% year on year since opening and with his Co-brand business continuing to grow, Lee was approached with an offer he simply couldn’t refuse to sell his original core business. Lee made the decision to sell Sim Imaging and focus fully on his FASTSIGNS business. The sale prompted a relocation, which positively moved his business into the heart of St Albans, connecting him more closely to the local business community.
As a seasoned business professional, Lee has his eye on the future. Lee has his sights set on raising the turnover of his centre to exceed £1 Million, when he hopes to execute his exit strategy. Although in a recent collaborative meeting, whilst he has his end game in sight, if he did choose to resell his business when the time is right, he questions, “what he would actually do with himself in early retirement!” Whatever Lee chooses to do, he knows he has the support of the FASTSIGNS team to help facilitate his plans.
Explore Cobranding or Conversion Opportunities
As someone who was used to doing it all on my own, it was a shift to let FASTSIGNS in, but by accepting and working within the model, I’m free to work on my business! An example of their support is with recruitment. I know what I want when I’m hiring, but having the support team create the job ad and sift through the incoming applications, it helped me focus on what’s important. This is just one example of how the FASTSIGNS support team helps me run my business.
By adding FASTSIGNS to my already profitable business, I was in a strong position to adapt my business. It’s an opportunity I am glad I took.