A storefront sign has about three seconds to tell a passer-by what you sell and that you are open. We build signs that read clearly from the pavement and from a moving car: the right letter height, the right brightness for your street, and a mounting method that suits your facade.
Storefront sign types
- Front lit channel letters — the classic illuminated shop front.
- Back lit and halo lit letters — a softer premium glow on the wall.
- Light box signs — even illumination for logos and menu boards.
- LED neon signs — slim, flexible, popular for bars, salons and studios.
- Non-illuminated metal or acrylic letters — for heritage streets and interior frontages.
Letter height and street visibility
Undersized letters are the most common mistake in shop front signage. As a guide, budget around 50 mm of cap height for every 10 m of viewing distance, then go one size up if the traffic passes quickly.
- Pavement shoppers, 5 m viewing distance — 100 mm letters.
- Across a street, 20 m — 200 mm letters.
- From a vehicle, 40 m — 300 to 400 mm letters.
- Highway or mall frontage, 80 m and more — 600 mm and up.
Brightness and colour temperature
- Warm white 3000K — restaurants, bakeries and hotels.
- Neutral white 4000K — retail, clinics and offices.
- Cool white 6500K — convenience, fast food and forecourts, reads brightest at night.
If your shop front faces housing, we can dim the output or add a diffuser so the sign reads well without flooding the street.
Mounting methods
- Raceway — the letters sit on a painted base that hides the wiring.
- Flush mount — letters fixed straight to the wall, cleanest look, wall must be flat.
- Wireway — a discreet channel between letter groups.
- Remote — driver indoors, only low voltage cable reaches the sign.
Permits and landlord approvals
We supply dimensioned drawings and mounting details that you can attach to a permit application or a landlord request, and we can adjust the design to meet a size or projection limit.
Materials for weather
Inland storefronts are usually 304 stainless or painted aluminium with 3-5 mm acrylic faces. Within a few kilometres of the coast we specify 316 stainless and seal the wiring points differently, because salt air attacks fixings first.
What we need to quote
- Your logo or artwork file — AI, PDF, EPS or SVG is ideal.
- The available width and height of the fascia.
- A photo of the shop front, taken straight on.
- The city or postcode, so we can allow for climate and voltage.
- Whether you need installation, or your own contractor will fit it.
Frequently asked questions
What do you need from me to quote?
A logo file, the available width and height, a photo of the facade and your city. A sketch drawn on a phone photo is enough to start.
How bright should my sign be?
For a typical shop front we balance brightness to the street; tell us if the frontage faces housing and we will lower the output or add a diffuser.
Can you match my brand colour?
Yes — send a Pantone reference or a physical sample and we match the acrylic or the paint finish.
Do you supply drawings for permits?
Yes. We provide dimensioned drawings and mounting details you can submit with a permit or landlord application.
How long does a storefront sign take?
10-15 working days from approved proof, plus shipping. Rush production is available at +30%.