Your business,
our know-how.

Real people, real experience.

The story behind
CompellingStory

Portrait of a middle-aged man with short gray hair and a beard, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, smiling in front of bookshelves filled with books.

Hi, I’m Simon Saunders, founder of CompellingStory, 35 years of career dots finally connecting.

Graphic Design is where my career started, but I discovered I was far more interested in working in client-facing roles, and that is when my interest in business grew.

I wasn’t a natural salesperson, so I had to make more calls to hit my targets, but during all those conversations, I realised it wasn’t sales I loved, but understanding how businesses worked, asking lots of questions and uncovering what made each one stand out.

At the time, I was fishing for content so I could sell the client a bigger ad!

That curiosity inspired me to start my own business that ran for 20 years, providing event stationery for organisations including the House of Parliament, BT, Rolls-Royce, Braun UK and Deutsche Bank.

I moved into exhibitions sales first and then print, where I remained until I left to start CompellingStory. I also found some time to work with a charity, managing four social enterprises.

At the start of 2025, a health scare stopped everything for three months. As I recovered, I remembered the CompellingStory domain I’d registered during COVID, and asked myself what was I waiting for,

Every business story begins before the business started, and for me, that’s no different either.

Book a chat with me
Book a chat with me

Some career dots.

Text saying 'Kisharon Langdon' inside a rounded rectangle outline.

Supporting our social enterprises, Simon created new work opportunities, and established a retail buying group that increased revenue, alongside developing KPIs.

He brought real commercial expertise while respecting our social mission — professional, entrepreneurial and reliable throughout.

Julia Brown CEO

Black and white photograph of a man wearing glasses sitting at a desk, speaking into a microphone, with a bookshelf in the background.

Joined to support the sales team and, after an internal reshuffle, became our sole salesperson responsible for selling exhibition stands worth £500,000.

Simon secured leading brands in the luxury office furniture sector in key positions at the show.

Mark Gorden Head of Sales

Logo for Rolls-Royce featuring stylized text with the word 'ROLLS' at the top, 'ROYCE' at the bottom, and a large intertwined 'RR' in the center.
A black and white cartoon-style illustration of an alien spaceship, with a rounded top, a flat bottom, and three circular windows on the side, flying over a small planet with a ring around it in space.

Simon provided all our event marketing collateral and invitations.

He consistently delivered efficient, prompt service with quality results, and proved a trusted, reliable partner over several years.

Alison Fiander Marketing Manager

I worked directly with Simon in directory sales. It's a tough environment, but his conduct, integrity and work ethic were outstanding.

Regularly helping the team hit targets in a very demanding role. Simon is the type of professional every business would want on their team.

Alistair Brett Head of Sales

Saying what we mean
doing what we say

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Open and honest

No false promises, no overselling. Just honest conversations about what works, and the confidence to tell you when something won't.

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Asking the right questions

We ask the questions that help you see your business the way your best customers do, and uncover what makes you different.

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Jargon free

No buzzwords, no complicated frameworks. Just clear, plain English that says what you do, so the right people choose you.

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For today, and tomorrow

We build for lasting growth, not quick wins.
Every story we help you find is designed to keep working long after our first conversation.

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You first, always

Your knowledge of your business. Our experience finding the story inside it. Together, that's where your competitive advantage lives.

Helping you tell your CompellingStory

  • A smiling woman with glasses and shoulder-length hair, wearing a perforated light-colored top, sitting at a table with a glass of drink and a straw against a plain, mustard-colored background.

    Rachelle Bookatz

    EA TO FOUNDER

    Rachelle keeps CompellingStory running smoothly behind the scenes. With a background in property and entrepreneurship, she brings energy, initiative and a genuine passion for the business to everything she does.

  • Black and white photo of a man in a suit, smiling in profile, holding a cleaning cloth against his face, against a solid light yellow background.

    Jordan Daniels

    DIGITAL EXPERIENCE

    Jordan built the CompellingStory website and continues to shape our digital presence. An experienced creator with a sharp eye for UX, he helps make sure every online touchpoint, ours and our clients', tells the right story.

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short hair, wearing a collared shirt, against a solid light brown background.

    Amar Lall

    SENIOR BRAND DESIGNER

    Amar brought CompellingStory to life visually. With 25 years of creative experience, she designs everything from brand identity to marketing collateral, bringing the same care to our clients' brands as she has to our own.

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair, smiling, wearing a black dress with a pearl necklace, against a beige background.

    Renée Waillen

    SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

    Renée manages our social presence and supports our clients with theirs. An experienced strategist with a practical, no-nonsense approach — she knows what works and isn't afraid to say what doesn't.

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling middle-aged man with a beard and short hair, wearing a collared shirt, against a yellow background.

    Simon Saunders

    FOUNDER

    Simon started CompellingStory after 35 years of noticing the same pattern. Businesses with a clear story grow. Those without one compete on price. He works with ambitious founders and leadership teams to discover the story that makes them the choice, not the comparison.