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At William Smith, our unique 'Buddy System' brings together two distinct roles to create a seamless customer experience. With an External Account Manager like Ian actively building relationships out in the field, and an Internal Account Manager like Sarah ensuring every client's needs are addressed promptly from the office, this partnership offers a compelling combination of hands-on and back-end support. In the South, Ian and Sarah exemplify just how potent this system can be.

Q: "Firstly, could you both share a little bit about your background and how you joined William Smith?"

Ian: “Sure! I joined the William Smith team a year ago, and it’s flown by! I’ve worked in the sign and graphics industry for over 20 years, starting at a typical fast-paced sign company before moving into account management. I think this experience helps massively when supporting customers, as my opinion is often based on real-life experience.”

Sarah: “I started at William Smith in May 2016, with very little true ‘sales’ experience. However, I have worked in customer-facing roles for most of my working life and think that has helped during my time here.”

Q: "What were your first impressions of each other?"

Ian: “Sarah was incredibly friendly, helpful, and just a genuinely lovely person to be around. She helped me settle in and learn the systems and processes very quickly. Having that second person to help support our customers is a massive benefit.”

Sarah: “I thought Ian was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and brought a lot of enthusiasm to our team, which was great to see.”

Q: "What makes your buddy excel in their role?"

Ian: “I think it’s Sarah’s personable approach and her dedication to serving the customer that makes her excel. She embodies what William Smith stands for, offering quality support without the rush to move on to the next call.”

Sarah: “Ian has a lot of knowledge and insight into the sign and graphics industry. He has a very professional and dedicated outlook and has built up some amazing customer relationships in his short time here.”

Q: "What were your first impressions of your area?"

Ian: “I was already quite familiar with the area before joining William Smith and knew many of the companies. The mix of familiar and new faces has been excellent, as it allows for a great blend of existing and new relationships.”

Sarah: “It was certainly challenging but also very friendly. I found the environment to be supportive and a good place to build relationships with customers.”

Q: "What's the best aspect of working with your buddy?"

Ian: “The best part is that Sarah makes things easy—no trouble, no fuss. Just dependable, solid support all the way.”

Sarah: “Ian is conscientious and knowledgeable. His background in the industry is apparent and has been a great help in growing our area.”

Q: "Finally, if you had to describe your buddy in one word, what would it be?"

Ian: “Dependable.”

Sarah: “Driven.”