With nearly 70 years experience in the sign industry working at FASTSIGNS, there can be little that Melanie Martinez, Jose Martinez and Alan White don’t know about the business. So when the opportunity arose to take on a management buyout, the co-workers didn’t hesitate, as Melanie explains...

We have always loved our jobs and over the years we have represented the company as though it was our own, however when it finally is yours it’s a wonderful feeling and the enthusiasm fuels you. The reaction and support we have received from our customers when we have shared our news with them really has been quite overwhelming, particularly from those based locally, close to our centre within the Manor Royal Business District. 

Between us we have nearly 70 years of experience working for FASTSIGNS so buying the centre ourselves was always our long-term goal. Murat our sign maker has also been with the Crawley centre for 20 years and I think our longevity is testament to the genuine enjoyment and passion we all feel for the business we love and know so well.

I was the first employee at the Crawley centre in 1995 with Alan joining me in 1998. Jose was the first FASTSIGNS employee in the UK at the pilot store in New Malden in 1993. Over the years as employees, we have been able to focus on our own roles as well as developing our knowledge in every aspect of the business.  This preparation has put us in the perfect position to take on the challenge of ownership.

This is an extremely exciting time for us all, we know the business inside out and are taking on our new venture with a genuine passion for what we do. We plan to take FASTSIGNS to the next level, with the years of experience we have behind us as well as being blessed logistically, situated in the heart of the Gatwick Diamond we feel everything needed is in place to enable us to achieve our goals.

This year started very well for us with the rebranding of the stadium at Crawley Town Football Club, where we are a main sponsor and signage partner. The People’s Pension also located in Manor Royal are the new stadium sponsor and working on their signage was a fantastic way to begin our year.

We are confident that the future is bright for FASTSIGNS Crawley with new clients on the horizon as well as building on the existing relationships we have with our customers. We consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have clients dating back the full 24 years we have been trading, this is something we are extremely proud of as we pride ourselves on providing a top level of customer service.

Signage is ever evolving and we are looking forward to the opportunity of showcasing some really innovative products, there is always something new to explore within the sign industry. The three of us really could not be more excited about what 2019 will bring!

Fastsigns International Inc. provides custom sign and graphics products, across the globe, and is at the forefront of the sign industry. There are currently over 700 Fastsigns locations worldwide in United States, Canada, the UK, the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Chile and Australia (under the name Signwave).

The Sussex centre benefits from the support network, resources and economies of scale offered by a multi-national group, as well the local knowledge of the Crawley owner-managers.

For any one wishing to know a little bit more about what FASTSIGNS can offer please pop in to see us at Unit 2, Bank Precinct, Gatwick Road, Crawley, RH10 9RF, call us on 01293 520776 or visit www.fastsigns.com/854

As well as core signage such as Fascias, Banners, Exhibition Graphics, Illuminated signs and Vehicle Graphics FASTSIGNS can provide many more innovative products. These include Digital Signage, Stationery, Bespoke items, Wall Graphics, Monoliths and much more.