- Hammersmith
- About Us
- Meet Our Team
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Simon Slee
Owner Read BioSimon Slee
Owner1. What is your job description within FASTSIGNS Hammersmith?
Owner / Director2. Tell us a bit about yourself, where you from, what you do outside of work?
I grew up in Melbourne but have worked in Sydney, London and Abu Dhabi. Having four daughters keeps me pretty busy. I like to travel and look forward to my holidays. I am a keen skier and also was once a fairly good rugby player. I still follow the Wallabies but this tends to do too much for my blood pressure!3. What’s a fun fact about you related to work?
People who know me are not too wrong when they describe me as having two left hands! So the hands on stuff in the business is not my main focus. I prefer looking after the front of the business managing clients and looking for prospective clients.4. Tell us about your background as a designer/installer/consultant?
I use to be a banker so I came into the signage business with very little knowledge. I have spent most of my time in sales of financial products.5. What does your typical day usually entail?
It usually starts with a to do list of about 6-8 items and usually ends with a do to list of 6-8 items! I am constantly reprioritising my list as opportunities or problems emerge during the day. Being a business owner but also working in the business, I wear many hats during the day. As well as managing the financial aspects and overseeing the team, I also spend a large portion of my time in sales and managing key accounts. A part of my day is also always dedicated to marketing and networking as I value this as a key part of business growth.6. What is the most interesting part of your job?
It would have to be the diverse range of people and enquiries we face. From -
Friederike Slee
Owner Read BioFriederike Slee
Owner1. What is your job description within FASTSIGNS Hammersmith?
The Boss2. Tell us a bit about yourself, where you from, what you do outside of work?
I'm German and a trained landscape gardener and landscape architect by training (I can drive a digger and front loader). I've lived in 5 countries spread over 3 continents (Germany, NZ, UAE, Switzerland and UK). My days are split between the office and being a mum to two busy and creative girls.3. What’s a fun fact about you related to work?
Most of the times when I go to meet a client they expect a man (due to my name and the perception of it as it's a male dominated industry) - so the surprise is always on my side.4. Tell us about your background as a designer/installer/consultant?
Starting off as a landscape architect and working on sites, I've been working in the creative industry and doing design consultations for nearly 20 years.5. What does your typical day usually entail?
A little bit of everything. Starting with keeping the other boss (Simon) in check. :) I oversee a lot of bigger projects and consultations. My day includes a combination of emails, site surveys, client meetings, design consultations, preparation of design and costing. Never a dull day.6. What is the most interesting part of your job?
That no one day is like the previous. You never know what kind of jobs might end up on your desk and how every project is guaranteed to be different. I love the variety and that there's always a new challenge and something to find out and explore.7. How do you approach a client brief/enquiry?
I listen. I think this is key to understanding a project. Secondly -
Neena Patel
Senior Signage Consultant Read BioNeena Patel
Senior Signage Consultant1. Tell us a bit about yourself, where you from, what you do outside of work?
I’m a true Londoner and mother of two adorable men. Outside of work I love fashion, consider myself to be a bit of a gymaholic and absolutely love pizza!
2. What’s a fun fact about you related to work?
Being a consultant suits my personality perfectly. I am friendly and approachable and probably talk a bit too much.
3. What does your typical day usually entail?
My day is filled with client contact. I filter between checking emails and addressing incoming quote requests and following up on existing estimates or open enquiries. I’m also on the phone talking to customers, creating new relationships with incoming inquiries or consulting on a project. In between it all, I look through potential pipelines and follow up on potential clients.
4. What is the most interesting part of your job?
After working on all the details with the clients and seeing the designers work on the brief, my favourite part is seeing it all come together. I find the end result the most interesting, to see how the project unfolds from the initial conversation to completion.
5. How do you approach a client brief/enquiry?
Listening to the client and making sure I understand the details of the enquiry. Or sometimes the client does not know the exact specifics of what they need. In those cases making sure we have good communication to help guide them and explore all the options. I like to find out where the signage is going, any restrictions in access or location, size, brand or colour requirements, purpose of the sign, budget and also discuss potential product options.
6. What is your favourite type
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Joe Dodd
Production Manager Read BioJoe Dodd
Production Manager1. Tell us a bit about yourself, where you from, what you do outside of work?
I was born in London and grew up here. I studied Graphic Design at Staffordshire University. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and playing football although in more recent times I seem to be watching my son, Jake play rather than playing myself. I’m a big Spurs fan and enjoy going to the games.
2. What does your typical day usually entail?
My typical day starts with coffee! I then catch up on emails and plan the day’s design and sign-making jobs, Hasan and I will go through the new work orders and decide who they are assigned to. I will then ensure the sign-maker/s are up to speed with what they need to do and have all the required materials/information to complete their jobs. The majority of my day is spent preparing artwork proofs and designing proposals, dealing with subcontractors and confirming orders with suppliers. In the afternoon I will make sure we are prepared for the following days install/s. Briefing the installers, ensuring they have all the relevant information and install sheets then checking the jobs are ready for them. Overall making sure the downstairs (production) runs smoothly.
3. What is your background?
After completing a degree in Graphic Design I joined FASTSIGNS in 2005 and have since filled pretty much every position available. I started in sales, moved into sign making and installation, then graphic design and now production management.
4. How do you approach a client brief/enquiry?
This is the exciting bit. It's important to listen and understand the clients’ needs (even if they are not always right) but I still enjoy being given the freedom to creatively work on projects and provide solutions that ‘WOW&
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Hasan Tahir
Production Specialist / Graphic Designer Read BioHasan Tahir
Production Specialist / Graphic Designer1. What is your job description within FASTSIGNS Hammersmith?
I work as part of the Design and Production team. Mostly focusing on Graphic Design.
2. Tell us a bit about yourself, where you from, what you do outside of work?
I am part of diverse group of people working here at Fastsigns Hammersmith being a Turkish Cypriot, born in London. I love cycling and luckily can add that into my daily routine by cycling to/from work. I also like to participate in big cycling rides across the UK.
3. What’s a fun fact about work?
You learn something new every day! Not a lot of people can say that about their work. Every client and project brings it’s own challenges and unique approach to their signage. I get to solve these problems by helping to create and make their visions into reality. Trying to use materials in new ways to realise a design.
4. Tell us about your background as a designer?
After studying Fine Art & 3D Design and completing my BA Graphic Design, I've been in the sign industry for 8 years.
5. What does your typical day usually entail?
On a usual day I will have a few tasks to complete. Mostly it is creating artwork proofs for clients to showcase their signage for approval. We do this to give the client a chance to see a mock-up of their signage and to approve that all the specs is correct. Some projects also require new designs to be created for the business, like logos or menus. After completing the artwork stage, I will then prepare the design for production.
6. What is the most interesting part of your job?
Seeing the final outcome! It is one of the best parts of this industry to see something from conce