Business Action | Summer 2023
Summer 2023 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes details of BBxpo Bideford business exhibition on 26 October 2023, articles on new shops across the area, profiles of all the North Devon Business Awards 2023 winners, more awards scheme you can enter plus local business directory listings.
Summer 2023 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news on business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes details of BBxpo Bideford business exhibition on 26 October 2023, articles on new shops across the area, profiles of all the North Devon Business Awards 2023 winners, more awards scheme you can enter plus local business directory listings.
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AWARDS<br />
North Devon <strong>Business</strong> of the Year<br />
sponsored by<br />
Signs of<br />
North Devon <strong>Business</strong> of the Year <strong>2023</strong>: (from left) Poppy-Lea Price accepts<br />
the award from sponsor Philip Milton watched by editor Robert Zarywacz<br />
Investment in equipment: director and principal designer Shaun Price is<br />
responsible for lasered and engraved signs and CNC programming<br />
Thebiggestchallengeforawardsjudgesistoselectwinnersfrom<br />
exceptionallyhigh-qualityentrants–certainlyachallengeforour<br />
independentjudgeswhoassessed122excellentawardsentries.<br />
JudgesselectedtheSignMakeraswinneroftheMadeinNorth<br />
DevonAward–sponsoredbySeldonsSolicitors.<br />
While navigatingtherecent<br />
economicturmoil,TheSign<br />
Makerhascontinuedtoinvest<br />
inanddevelopitsbusiness.<br />
Thisisreflectedby its<br />
successinwinningtheNorth<br />
Devon<strong>Business</strong>Awardsbelow<br />
andbyreachingthefinalof<br />
Devon&PlymouthChamber’s<br />
Green<strong>Business</strong>oftheYear<br />
Award<strong>2023</strong>andbeingnamed<br />
NorthDevonManufacturers<br />
Association’sChampion<br />
Manufacturer2022.<br />
Made in North Devon <strong>2023</strong><br />
AwardsponsorSeldonsSolicitors<br />
said:“Seldonswerevery<br />
pleasedtohavebeenapartof<br />
the<strong>Business</strong>Awards<strong>2023</strong>and<br />
announcethewinnerofthe<br />
MadeinNorthDevonAward.<br />
“Asalocalandtalented<br />
business,wefeelTheSign<br />
Makerareverydeservingofthe<br />
award.Congratulations!”<br />
<strong>Business</strong> of the Year <strong>2023</strong><br />
AwardsponsorPhilipMilton<br />
presentedTheSignMakerwith<br />
theNorthDevon<strong>Business</strong>of<br />
theYearAward<strong>2023</strong>andsaid:<br />
“Itisalwaysapleasuretobe<br />
involvedwiththeNorthDevon<br />
<strong>Business</strong>Awardsandtoseeall<br />
theentrantsandthenthe<br />
winnersofeachcategory.It<br />
givesmenogreaterpleasure,<br />
however,torecognisethe<br />
overallwinner,TheSignMaker,<br />
andIwishthemtheverybest<br />
astheybuildanddeveloptheir<br />
businessgoingforwards.”<br />
A family business<br />
TheSignMakerisagenuine<br />
familybusiness,started20<br />
yearsagobyKatePrice<br />
(director,financeandwebsites)<br />
andShaunPrice(directorand<br />
principaldesigner),andjoined<br />
bydaughtersPoppy-Lea<br />
(managerandpaintsprayer),<br />
Danielle(castsignage<br />
specialist),Anna(onmaternity<br />
leave)andsonJake(developer<br />
ofitsbespokesoftware).<br />
Poppy-Lea Price at the awards...<br />
Theteamhasgrownto18in<br />
total,with15womenand3<br />
men,andhasalowstaff<br />
turnoverduetothefamilyfeel<br />
ofthebusiness.<br />
Flexibilityplaysabigpart,<br />
enablingindividualstowork<br />
parttimeandevenchange<br />
careerdirection.Threeladies<br />
whostartedworkinginthe<br />
officehavenowtrainedupasa<br />
stonemason,carpenterand<br />
paintsprayer,traditionallyroles<br />
heldbymen.<br />
Materials and products<br />
WhatsetsTheSignMaker<br />
apartinitssectoristhemany<br />
differenttypesofsignit<br />
manufactures.Mostsign<br />
makersarelimitedtooneor<br />
twotypesofmaterialand<br />
product,whereasTheSign<br />
Makerworksinwood,stone,<br />
metal,vinyl,acrylic,fibreglass<br />
andothermaterials,making<br />
productsfromresidential<br />
housesignstomemorials,<br />
businesssignageandmore.<br />
Expertise and equipment<br />
“Weliketokeeponestep<br />
ahead,”saysShaunPrice.<br />
Toachievethis,TheSign<br />
Makerensuresitnurturesthe<br />
appropriateskillsneededto<br />
createproductsfromeachtype<br />
ofmaterial.Theserangefrom<br />
12 business action | <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2023</strong> | business-action.co.uk
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