News

Steve Laundon

 

Steve, the Head of Sales at William Smith, brings a unique blend of financial acumen and strategic leadership to the team. As a father of four and a dedicated professional, Steve’s journey at William Smith, spanning five years, is a testament to his adaptability and vision for business growth.

 

Q: “Briefly introduce yourself. How did your journey with William Smith begin?”

Steve: “I’m Steve, 47, a proud father of four. My path to William Smith began with a career in finance, but a visit to Barnard Castle and a meeting with Rob and the management team here was a game-changer. I knew immediately that I wanted to join the business and thankfully, they offered me the job. Fast forward five years and I'm still here, more committed than ever.”

 

Q: “Outside of work, what are your passions or hobbies?”

Steve: “My life outside work is all about my kids and sports. I’m an avid football fan, with a special place in my heart for Leicester City.”

 

Q: “How do you describe the main responsibilities of your role?”

Steve: “As the Head of Sales, my role revolves around team development and growth. It’s about building business partnerships and driving results that reflect our commitment to excellence.”

 

Q: “What's a personal strength or trait you believe greatly benefits your role?”

Steve: “Dedication.”

 

Q: “Share a fun fact about yourself that your colleagues and customers might not know.”

Steve: “A unique chapter in my life was living with a Mormon family in Salt Lake City for a few weeks. It was extremely different to my normal life but also very interesting and enlightening.”

 

Q: “How do you feel your role contributes to the wider William Smith team and benefits our customers?”

Steve: “My role is about providing direction and strategizing for success. It’s about understanding our customers’ needs and tailoring our approach to meet them effectively.”

 

Q: “How do you stay aligned and in sync with the broader sales team?”

Steve: “Communication is key. Whether it's calls, emails, texts, or meetings, ensuring a constant flow of information and feedback is essential to ensure we’re all working towards the same goals.”

 

Q: “What is the most challenging aspect of your role?”

Steve: “Navigating the complexities of people management and maintaining profitability in a challenging market are the most demanding parts of my job.”

 

Q: “How would you describe the culture and ethos of William Smith?”

Steve: “It’s all about togetherness here. Being part of William Smith means being part of a family that values care, support, and going the extra mile.”

 

Q: “What's the best piece of business advice you've ever received?”

Steve: “The best advice I’ve embraced is to balance hard work with smart work, and to focus only on what I can control.”

 

Q: “What do you think of the wider sales team and how they operate?”

Steve: “I’m incredibly proud of our team. Their commitment to our customers and to William Smith is outstanding.”

 

Q: “In a few words, describe your vision for William Smith’s future.”

Steve: “Continual improvement, embracing change, and staying at the forefront of the signage and wrap industry, while exploring new markets and products.”

 

Sarah Seymour

 

Sarah, a familiar face in the sign and graphics industry since 2003, has been an integral part of the William Smith family for over a decade. Beginning her career with the company as an External Account Manager, Sarah has now embraced the leadership role of Sales Manager, bringing her wealth of experience and passion to the forefront of William Smith's customer relations.

 

Q: “Briefly introduce yourself. How did your journey with William Smith begin and evolve?”

Sarah: “I'm Sarah Seymour, and I've worked in the sign and graphics industry since 2003. My journey with William Smith started 13 years ago as an External Account Manager and very recently moved into my new role as Sales Manager.”

 

Q: “Outside of work, what are your passions or hobbies?”

Sarah: “Outside of work I spend most of my spare time with my family and our dog, Sparky!”

 

Q: “How do you describe the main responsibilities of your role?”

Sarah: “Having recently stepped into the Sales Manager role, my primary focus is to manage and support our External Sales Team, helping them navigate any potential issues and provide solutions for our customers.”

 

Q: “What's a personal strength or trait you believe greatly benefits your role?”

Sarah: “I’m passionate and love my job here at William Smith. I’m a team player and an attentive listener, which is non-negotiable when you’re managing a large team of individual characters!”

 

Q: “Share a fun fact about yourself that your colleagues and customers might not know.”

Sarah: “Growing up, my dad thought he was Steve Irwin. Our home was filled with all kinds of animals, including, dogs, cats, gerbils, hamsters, fish, snakes, tree frogs, and stick insects!”

 

Q: “How would you describe the culture and ethos of William Smith?”

Sarah: “It's commonly said, but it genuinely feels like a family. There's a deep-seated respect and passion for what we stand for, and every individual embodies it.”

 

Q: “What's the best piece of business advice you've ever received?”

Sarah: “There will always be issues but it’s how you manage and resolve those issues that matter most.”

 

Thomas Hutchinson

 

As the Internal Sales Team Leader at William Smith, Thomas — or Tommy as he's known to most — brings a dynamic blend of patience, knowledge, and dedication to his role. With over 13 years of experience at the company, he’s evolved from an order processor to the leader of our Internal Sales Team.

 

Q: “Briefly introduce yourself. How did your journey with William Smith begin and evolve?”

Thomas: “I'm Tommy and I lead the Internal Sales Team here at William Smith. I’ve been with the company for 13 years, starting as an order processor. During my time here, I’ve specialised in a variety of products including window films and the ROLLSROLLER. I’ve also handled technical complaints which has stood me in good stead for my current role.”

 

Q: “Outside of work, what are your passions or hobbies?”

Thomas: “When I'm off the clock, I'm either playing golf, cheering on the mighty mags, or watching just about any sport that's on!”

 

Q: “How do you describe the main responsibilities of your role?”

Thomas: “As a team leader, my main focus is to share my knowledge and experience with team members so that they can offer the best customer service and technical knowledge in the industry! I provide regular training and guidance on how to execute their roles effectively.”

 

Q: “What's a personal strength or trait you believe greatly benefits your role?”

Thomas: “Patience and a willingness to bring the best out of my team.”

 

Q: “Share a fun fact about yourself that your colleagues and customers might not know.”

Thomas: “I've had the thrill of scoring at the Gallowgate end at St James’ Park—an experience that's etched in my memory!”

 

Q: “How would you describe the culture and ethos of William Smith?”

Thomas: “I think one of our core values sums it up perfectly. Treat everyone like family.”

 

Q: “What's the best piece of business advice you've ever received?

Thomas: “It’s all about the customer. Their needs, their issues, their goals!”

 

Q: “What do you think of the wider sales team and how they operate?”

Thomas: “The buddy system bridges internal and external sales. I think, on the whole, we gel extremely well!”

 

Q: “In a few words, describe your vision for William Smith’s future.”

Thomas: “My vision is for a high-performing internal sales team that's eager to learn, generous in sharing knowledge, innovative in approach, and fully aligned with our company's goals and values.”