Meet Our Franchisees

Simon & Friederike Slee, FASTSIGNS Hammersmith

Simon & Friederike Slee have built a hugely successful family business that is as much about providing the excellent FASTSIGNS service to its customers, as affording them a positive work life balance.

In 2010, Simon Slee, an Australian investment banker met his wife, German-born, Friederike, a qualified landscape architect whilst working in the Middle East. After relocating to London, the couple considered how their future would look. Following a redundancy opportunity for Simon and with him being uninspired to return to the banking floor, the couple considered launching a business of their own.

Initially, Simon and Friederike identified their combined skills, qualifications, and experience, using this analysis to generate ideas for business opportunities that would be most suited to them. Ideally, the couple wanted to start a business utilising strong foundations, with a solid structure, and excellent future prospects. After some discussion and research into ways of starting their new venture, purchasing a franchise seemed to be the best option for the couple.

Simon and Friederike attended the National Franchise Exhibition in Manchester, where they were first introduced to the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity. As a B2B franchise, FASTSIGNS provide customers with practical visual communications solutions, based on several decades of experience in the signage industry, since its founding in 1985. The brand offers a tried and tested business model combining creativity with sales and technology – a seemingly perfect fit for Simon and Friederike.

As they spoke with FASTSIGNS management, Simon and Friederike realised the combination of their skills and the FASTSIGNS business model were the ideal partnership. “My sales experience and confidence operating in international business was complemented by Friederike consultative and graphic design experience,” explains Simon.

The couple were also drawn by the wider franchise network, FASTSIGNS really stood out from other franchise opportunities. “It was apparent from the start that the FASTSIGNS vetting process was superior to other franchisors.” says Simon. “We saw they were selective about who could join their network. Their approach demonstrated to us how seriously they considered their franchisees, and this sense of exclusivity was appealing; we wanted to be a part of it.”

Following their decision to join the network, just four months after attending the franchise exhibition, the couple embarked on the franchisee training programme, which covered all aspects of building a successful FASTSIGNS business. This included a two-week residential training course at the FASTSIGNS head office in Dallas, Texas, laying the foundations for their business success.

Since acquiring FASTSIGNS Hammersmith centre in 2011, the couple have expanded their team to become one of the best-performing centres in the network seeing sales growth of 156% in 2024 compared to their first year of trading. They have also won various network awards including Franchisee of the Year, and the coveted Comprehensive Customer Solutions award. In recent years, they have even had to relocate to a purpose-built facility, to accommodate their rapidly growing business.

Of the move, Simon comments, “We grew so much in the first five years that we soon required a much larger space. Since moving into our new premises, we offer clients a wider range of services, from marketing materials to large format signage, a greater percentage of which we can now produce in-house! Throughout the expansion process, the FASTSIGNS UK support team were brilliant, giving us a tremendous amount of support and the confidence to grow.”

Having a positive work life balance was also a key consideration for Simon and Friederike when they began their search for business opportunities especially for Friederike, who was keen to strike an effective balance between raising a young family whilst continuing how she wanted to work.

The FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, being B2B focused, allows Simon to work a standard working week, with Friederike being in the business part time; a decision the couple made in the early days of their franchise ownership. Now with two daughters who often join their parents at their centre, Friederike can work during the mornings, and be fully focussed on the children in the afternoons.

Simon explains, “We wanted to create a level of consistency for Friederike, our staff, and customers, so we made a commitment for Friederike to come into the office daily, but with the ability to leave at midday. The kids also enjoy being with us in the centre! We joke that they are the youngest members of our team, and even have them featured on our website!”

The couple understand how being able to balance the family and the business is a privilege they wouldn’t necessarily have if they had remained in the corporate world. “As a family business, we’re really lucky.” Simon says, “Friederike has perfected balancing the business with family incredibly well, working together in the business means we can lean on each other for support. We are working together to build a future for our family.”

To find out more about how FASTSIGNS could suit your family, contact us on: 01785 253140, or visit the next steps page of our website and complete the online form to request a call