Kevin Jones: Speedy Signs – A Whānau Legacy in Business
For Kevin Jones, Director of Speedy Signs New Plymouth, stepping into business
ownership was about taking charge of his future. After decades working for
others, Kevin realised he wanted more control over his working life. When the
chance came to partner with his son Matt, already experienced in the signage
industry, Kevin and his wife Cheryl took the leap. They opened Speedy Signs
during the Global Financial Crisis — a bold move that tested their resilience but
ultimately set the foundations for long-term success.
Seventeen years later, Speedy Signs is thriving, with three generations of the
Jones whānau working alongside local staff. “What I love most is the challenge,”
Kevin says. “No two jobs are the same. One day it’s a simple vinyl cut, the next
it’s complex engineered signage. We work with our customers from concept to
completion — problem-solving and delivering what they need.”
Business ownership hasn’t been without lessons. Kevin admits he
underestimated how tough it would be to start from scratch and build a client
base. His approach in the early days was simple but effective: walking the
streets, knocking on doors, introducing himself. He also discovered just how
much compliance and regulation shapes the industry. “It’s all part of it, but it can
take more time than people realise.”
For Kevin, success comes down to integrity and people. He never asks staff to do
something he wouldn’t do himself, and he believes in always making it right for
the customer.
To the Māori Business Network, Kevin says Speedy Signs is ready to help whānau
businesses lift their visibility and tell their stories through signage. “We’re proud
of what we’ve built together — it’s more than a business, it’s our whānau
legacy.”
