SignsExpress in Aberdeen Signs Express (Aberdeen) has changed owners after Olive Hamilton bought it from Jim Gifford who had run the franchise since 1996. Jim decided to sell on the business to concentrate more on his political career, while Olive’s motivation was to get back into business having experience with her own craft shop business in the past. She and her husband had been living abroad when she decided to return to Scotland and began researching buying a franchise and plumped for the sign-making franchise in Aberdeen as Jim had built it into a strong company.

Olive says: “With a long history in Aberdeenshire, Signs Express has an excellent reputation and a solid customer base so I was very interested in taking on the opportunity. I could see the vast potential of signs and graphics as every organisation uses them. In a recent survey, 98 percent of people said that they believe signs and graphics give a positive first impression to a business.

“In addition, our survey indicated that 77 percent would prefer to buy locally from suppliers—excellent for my business as we are locally based but have the back up of a national brand for nationwide requirements.”

Jim Gifford is a Conservative Councillor for Mid-Formartine and recently hit the headlines when he clashed on a phone-in programme with Alex Salmond, who has recently stepped down as Scotland’s First Minister.

Meanwhile in Glasgow Stephen at the independent family-run firm i-spi Signs says: “We seem to be picking up more and more business in Scotland due to the increase in sign companies up here. We used to find that the majority of our customers were from England but there seems to be more of a balance now in the last few years.

“We found that business was a bit slower leading up to the referendum and I am unsure as to why that was. Perhaps people outside of Scotland were awaiting the result as there was so much uncertainty regarding cross-border trading. We also had this worry. After the referendum we found business picked up again and I don't think this was a coincidence.”

The Scottish Government has demanded greater tax and spend powers for Hollyrood following the promises made during the referendum debate by Westminster politicians. The result has been the publication of the Smith report. Lord Smith has recommended giving the Scottish Parliament power to set income tax rates and bands, something that is of interest to those in business.

Andy Willox of the Federation of Small Businesses says: “No matter how the Scottish Parliament chooses to use new powers, we cannot see a new administrative burden fall on Scottish businesses, or firms who trade or employ north of the border. We must develop smart tax and regulatory sys-tems which take the administrative sting out of any changes for the business community.”

Many in England use airlines to go to Scotland to do business rather than drive. It is in the interests of Scottish sign-makers and those in allied trades such as printers that this traffic is not affected. It prompted Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh airport to say: “We welcome the Smith Commission’s recommendation that air passenger duty (APD) is devolved to the Scottish Parlia-ment. This should not and need not wait for legislation on other tax changes.

“We strongly believe that there is a real case to see it devolved as soon as possible so that Scotland can capitalise fully on the benefits of this fantastic year where we have been in the global spotlight. The removal or reducing of this tax will see millions of more passengers come to Scotland, as our major airlines have indicated. Airline planners are finalising 2015 now and we run the risk of losing that momentum as those people who wish to visit us are deterred by the highest aviation taxes in the world.”

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