In this Company Spotlight, we speak to Andrew Ballington-James, managing director of Just AJD, about the company’s quarter-century history and how it maximises its output with a small but experienced core team
While the modern trends of signage demand most providers to maximise their service range and offerings, what makes Just AJD stand out from the crowd is its commitment to a bespoke service and a personable approach. Based in Wimborne, the company has carved out a niche as a wide-format specialist that balances the high-capacity demands of national contracts with the meticulous care of a bespoke manufacturer.
Under the leadership of managing director Andrew Ballington-James, the firm is currently navigating a period of significant brand consolidation and site expansion, including adding 1,000sq ft of space to its factory with a new mezzanine floor – all while maintaining the core values that have sustained it for over a quarter of a century.
Explaining his current role heading the business, Ballington-James says: “My role is focused on new business and the strategic direction of the firm. I look after key customers and keep them abreast of our developments so they know we can provide the services they want. I also do R&D on new materials and equipment and stay abreast of industry trends. I like to do my homework properly.”
An example Ballington-James gives of this kind of research is a recent purchase of a new printer. Rather than relying on brochures or showroom demonstrations, he spent three days in Barcelona meeting the supplier and manufacturer of the new solution and seeing demonstrations of it in action before placing the order. As he explains: “I wanted to put it through its paces with real work examples we’d already produced for customers over here, so I could make a meaningful comparison. I had to make sure it was going to be right.” This level of ‘homework’ ensures that when Just AJD invests in hardware, it is with the certainty that it will deliver for their clients.
The story of Just AJD is one of strategic evolution. While the new brand name is a recent introduction (the company was previously known as AJD Group), the operational roots of the business stretch back to 1999. Ballington-James, a former printer in the media industry, sought a fresh start following a move from London to Kent. This transition led to the acquisition of an existing print business, which has since grown through a combination of organic expansion and the tactical acquisition of smaller firms.
Until recently, the business operated under several different brands within the AJD Group banner. However, a strategic decision was made to unify these disparate identities under the ‘Just AJD’ name, simplifying the company’s market presence while reinforcing its focus on a comprehensive, ‘one-stop-shop’ service model for the wide-format sector.
Just AJD takes pride in hand-building and assembling the vast majority of its signs and signage on-site in Wimborne. By controlling the entire process from design to final assembly, the firm avoids being beholden to third-party schedules. This vertical integration allows for more confidence in delivery timetables and quality control. A night team covers contracts like Transport for London (TfL) which require installs at night to minimise disruption to the public and for health and safety reasons. Just AJD also has its own scaffolding and holds cherry picker licences, keeping much of the work in-house.
Our ethos is customer service. We put the customer first: something I’ve done all my life
Explaining the company’s character, Ballington-James says: “Our ethos is customer service. We put the customer first: something I’ve done all my life. We try to get the job done quickly and properly first time, and do everything we can to get a happy customer, resolving any issues without allowing anything to hold up delivery. We don’t have a blame culture, because things can go wrong but we learn from them when they do.”
The workforce supporting this operation is small but highly experienced – while it has a headcount of eight, some team members having been with the firm for over 20 years. This institutional knowledge is essential to the company’s ability to handle complex projects, while remaining agile enough to keep every stage of production under direct control. As Ballington-James describes it: “Our position in the industry is having the experience and capacity to handle large customers and projects, but small enough to keep everything under our control.”
A typical day at Just AJD illustrates the flexibility required to service its diverse client base. Activity often begins as early as 7:30am, with the team processing material deliveries and responding to quotes that have arrived overnight. Printing typically starts at 8:00am and continues throughout the day, often interspersed with site surveys or face-to-face client meetings.
However, the factory’s work is far from over when the traditional working day ends. Evening printing sessions usually run from 5:00pm until midnight, with the machines monitored remotely. Because the site is located on an industrial estate, noise is not a concern, allowing the team to scale up to 24-hour production during peak periods. This flexibility is particularly evident in August, when the firm handles the intense requirements of the Notting Hill Carnival. Ballington-James sums this approach up, saying: “We are very flexible and will do whatever each job demands.”
Logistics are managed with equal precision. The company utilises two courier services: one for mid-afternoon collections and a second for evening deliveries around 6:00pm. This structured approach is designed to ensure that products are dispatched promptly, keeping the workflow moving and meeting customer deadlines without delay.
While a lot of the focus is on logistics-handling, the end goal is always customer service. Ballington-James comments: “It sounds like a cliché, but we do go the extra mile. We have built some great long-term relationships with our customers, which is based on our reliability and giving them what they want. One of the most rewarding parts of the job is when our customers ring to thank us for the work. We love the personal contact, and we like the fact we often speak to customers and not just take orders over email or our website.”
For Just AJD’s public sector and print management clients, sustainability is no longer an optional extra but a core requirement. The company has responded by modernising its equipment to reduce raw material consumption and improve reliability. Other environmental initiatives at the Wimborne site include the use of green energy and solvent-free, water-based inks. In addition, the company has shifted the majority of its banner production to non-PVC vinyl. By recycling waste materials and focusing on a reduced carbon footprint, Just AJD provides its clients with the necessary credentials to meet their own environmental targets.
The next 18 months will mark a significant transition for the company, with Ballington-James planning to become an executive chairman and step back from the day-to-day operations to focus on key accounts and new business. Current operations manager, Stephen Russell, will become the company’s new managing director with James Arnold stepping up to the role of production director, with the transition set to follow the completion of the 2027 Notting Hill Carnival project.
Explaining this shift, Ballington-James adds: “I’ll always stay involved, of course, and be hands on. I will continue to handle key customers and new business, but Steve and James will be looking to shape the business for the years ahead once I step back. Steve has already taken the lead on the logistics and negotiations for the new Wimborne factory space, and both have been increasingly involved in long-term decision-making.”
With a solid foundation of offerings, a long-standing team, and a clear strategic path, Just AJD should be well-positioned to continue its growth while remaining true to the ‘customer first’ ethos that has defined its first 25 years in the industry.
Statistics
1999 - The company was founded at the end of the last century as AJD Group
1,000 - The company is adding 1,000sq ft of space to its Wimborne factory
8 - Just AJD employs eight employees, with some having been at the firm for over 20 years
£1m - The business has an annual turnover of around £1m a year
