Today, we proudly celebrate an incredible milestone for one of our most valued team members; Annette, who marks 20 years of continuous service at the YES Group.
In a heartfelt, honest and humorous interview, Annette walked us through her journey from an unexpected start to becoming a cornerstone of our operations. Her story is one of adaptability, dedication, and an enduring passion for the work she does.
From Redundancy to a New Beginning
Annette’s journey with YES began in a rather unexpected way. Working at a company across the road from YES Group, she was made redundant, and immediately offered a new job by Roy Burton, founder of the YES Group.
“I finished on the Friday and started at YES on the Monday,” she recalled. “I didn’t know anything about the company. I walked in thinking, ‘What have I got myself into?’ But here I am, 20 years later.”
Her First Day: Fear, Fabric, and Finding Her Feet
With experience in textile machinery from her time as a neck linker, Annette was no stranger to technical work, but that first day was still daunting.
“They put me in front of a single-head embroidery machine and told me it worked the same as a six-head machine. I went home and told my husband I didn’t think I’d like it. He said, ‘Give it a month.’ I did, and I never left.”
A Front-Row Seat to Innovation
Annette has seen the company evolve from a single-focus embroidery business to a multifaceted print and embroidery solutions provider.
“Back then, it was just embroidery. Now it’s embroidery, DTF, DTG, labels, and more. I started as an embroidery sampleist, testing the digitising files each morning. Now I’ve been involved in everything from training to store support.”
She recalled tough times with early DTG printing machines and how far the company has come since then:
“The Kiosk series was a nightmare in 2003. But we got through it supporting the user. The job is so varied, I’ve done everything from filing to cleaning, to customer training. I love that I’m never tied to a desk.”
Moments That Mattered
When asked for a standout moment, she simply said:
“Today. Today is the standout.”
But Annette has also been part of incredible projects. From massive embroidered designs sent overseas to helping at major trade shows, her work has literally travelled the world.
“One of my favourites was a massive wave design with a boat on it, digitised by Steve. It was framed and sent to Korea. I also loved the wide-field Piccadilly piece that used metallic thread—it really stood out.”
Skills Gained, Friendships Made
Over the years, Annette learned to use a computer despite not growing up with one.
“When we started with printing, I didn’t even know how to switch on a computer. One of the directors would line up 10 prints for me so I could just keep reloading shirts. Now, I can manage the machines myself.”
She also reflected on the people who’ve made an impact.
“I’ve worked with some brilliant people, Steve, Wayne, John-Paul, Roy. You can always ask for help, and you’ll get it. That’s what makes this place special.”
Advice for New Starters
Her advice for anyone joining YES?
“Just do your best. You’ll know pretty quickly if it’s the right fit.”
Favourite Machine? No Contest.
“I’m partial to SWF embroidery machines, they’re what I started on. I wasn’t keen on the big printers at first, but I’m getting there.”
What’s Kept Her Here?
“It started as a local job, just two miles from home. But what’s kept me here is the variety. I never get bored. One day I’m in stores, another day I’m training or helping a customer. I’ve even been loaned out to another company to help run their machine!”
What’s Next?
“I’m just glad we’re still here. We’ve weathered two recessions, and the company’s always looked after me. That says a lot.”
From everyone at YES Group, we want to say a huge thank you to Annette for her two decades of loyalty, versatility, and hard work. Your contribution is woven into the very fabric of this company, quite literally.
Congratulations on 20 incredible years!
