Start the sign conversation the week you sign the lease, not when the fit out is nearly done. The delay that catches people out is almost never manufacturing; it is consent, landlord approval and artwork.
Ask us for a current lead time as part of that first conversation, and build the rest of the schedule around it.
The order things actually happen in
1. Lease signed. Read the signage clauses that week. Many leases limit fixings, require the landlord's written approval of the design, or demand full reinstatement at the end of the term.
2. Check the local rules. Whether you need advertisement consent, and whether the site sits in a conservation area or on a listed building. This is the step with the longest and least predictable clock, and it is entirely outside anyone's control.
3. Get the artwork ready. A usable vector logo. If yours only exists as a small web image or is still being designed, that is a real dependency, not a detail.
4. Get a survey and a design. This is where the sign type, size and mounting method are settled against the actual wall.
5. Landlord and consent approvals. Both usually want to see the design, so they follow step 4 rather than running alongside it.
6. Manufacture and install. The only step with a predictable duration, and the only one people plan for.
The four things that cause delay
| Cause | Avoid it by |
|---|---|
| Advertisement consent not applied for | Checking requirements in week one |
| Landlord approval not sought | Reading the lease before designing anything |
| No usable logo file | Commissioning vector artwork early |
| No power at the sign position | Telling the electrician while walls are open |
What to bring to the first conversation
- ✓ A photograph of the fascia, straight on, in daylight.
- ✓ Your logo, in the best file you have, even if it is not final.
- ✓ The width and height available. Approximate is fine.
- ✓ Your target opening date. Say it out loud so we can be honest about it.
- ✓ Anything you already know about lease restrictions or the conservation status of the site.
You do not need to know which type of sign you want. That is what the recommendation is for, and it depends on the wall as much as on your taste.
Nobody has ever regretted starting the sign conversation too early, and a great many businesses have opened with a bare fascia and a paper notice in the window. Send us a photograph the week you get the keys, ask what the current lead time is, and work backwards from your opening date with the consent process included rather than assumed away.
Start with a photograph of your fascia.
Frequently asked questions
When should a new business order its sign?
Start the conversation the week the lease is signed. Manufacturing is the predictable part; consent applications, landlord approval and getting usable artwork are the steps that take unpredictable time and all have to finish first. Ask for a current lead time in that first conversation and schedule backwards from your opening date.
What usually delays a storefront sign?
Four things, none of them manufacturing: advertisement consent not applied for, landlord approval not sought, no usable vector logo, and no power at the sign position. All four are avoidable and all four are cheapest to solve in the first fortnight.
Do I need approval from my landlord?
Very often, yes. Many commercial leases require written approval of the sign design, limit the number of fixings permitted, or require full reinstatement of the facade at the end of the term. Read those clauses before anything is designed rather than after.
When should I tell my electrician about the sign?
While the walls are still open, even if the design is not finalised. A cable left at the right position during fit out costs almost nothing; adding one afterwards can mean opening finished surfaces. It is the single cheapest thing to get right early.
Do I need to know what kind of sign I want first?
No. The recommendation depends heavily on the wall, the mounting options and any local restrictions, so bring a photograph of the fascia, your logo and your opening date, and let the sign type follow from that.
We have made neon since 1998, and we still make it ourselves. If something here does not answer your question, ask us.
