Home Storefront signs
Storefront signs in Raleigh, NC
The front of your shop has a few seconds to tell people what you are and that you are open. We plan the whole storefront: the main sign, the blade, the windows and the door.
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More than the sign over the door
Storefront signs work as a set. The main sign over the door is for people driving by or scanning a shopping center from the parking lot. A blade sign catches people walking along the sidewalk. Window graphics and door lettering tell someone standing at the glass what you sell and when you are open. Leave one out and a group of customers is left guessing.
We look at your storefront from each of those angles before suggesting anything. Most shopping centers and downtown districts also have sign rules, so we read your lease criteria and the local code first and design within them. Once you approve the mockup, we file the permit, build the signs and install them.
The pieces of a storefront
Lit letters over the door
Channel letters on the sign band, readable from the parking lot day and night.
Mall storefronts
Malls set tight rules on letter size, depth and lighting. We build to the criteria and schedule installs around the mall's hours.
Canopy and awning letters
Letters set on top of a canopy or awning, where they read against the building or the sky.
Blade signs
A double-sided sign that sticks out from the wall and faces people walking toward your door.
Window graphics
Perforated film you can see out through, or frosted and solid vinyl for privacy and branding.
Door lettering and hours
Your name, hours, phone and website in cut vinyl on the door glass. Small and inexpensive, and read by every customer who walks in.
Storefronts we've signed
Irish PubLit sign at night
Claire'sMall lit channel letters
CinnabonMall kiosk lit sign
CellaxsMall storefront lit letters
Element GastropubCanopy-mounted letters
AlpacaDimensional letters on building
Sushi-ODimensional letters on panel
Boardroom SalonCorner storefront wall signs
Anise PhoLit logo and letters on brick
SwarovskiStorefront letters in mall
Window graphics
Kids R KidsStorefront graphics, SMARTER
Shaba ShabuLit letters on restaurant facade at dusk
From empty sign band to open for business
A storefront usually needs landlord approval as well as a city permit. We handle both.
Site visit
We come out, measure, check sight lines and look up the sign rules for your property, city and HOA.
Design
You get a drawing of the sign on your building or site, with materials, colors and lighting worked out.
Permits
We prepare the site plans and drawings and handle the permit with the City of Raleigh or your town.
Build
The sign is made from commercial-grade materials chosen for North Carolina weather.
Install
Our crew sets foundations, runs electrical for lit signs and leaves the site clean.
Where your shop is changes the rules
- Shopping centers
- The lease usually spells out letter height, colors, lighting and whether letters must sit on a raceway.
- Malls
- Strict criteria on depth and brightness, plus install windows outside shopping hours.
- Downtown and historic districts
- Some districts add a design review before a sign permit is issued, which takes extra time.
- Freestanding buildings
- More freedom, and often more than one wall to sign, so you can be seen from every approach.
Storefront sign questions
What storefront signs do I actually need?
Most shops need a main sign people can read from the parking lot or street, door lettering with your hours, and something at eye level for foot traffic, like a blade sign or window graphics. We look at your space and tell you what will earn its keep.
Do I need landlord approval for a storefront sign?
In a shopping center or mall, almost always. Your lease usually includes sign criteria, and the landlord signs off on drawings before the permit is filed. We prepare and send those drawings.
Do storefront signs need a permit in Raleigh?
Permanent exterior signs generally need a sign permit in Raleigh and nearby towns. Window graphics and door lettering often do not, but it depends on the town and the size. We check and file what is needed.
Should my storefront sign be lit?
If you are open after dark at any time of year, yes. A lit sign keeps you easy to find on winter evenings. If you close by late afternoon, unlit dimensional letters can save money.
How long does a storefront sign take?
Lit signs usually take 4 to 8 weeks from design approval, with permits the biggest variable. Window graphics and door lettering are much faster, usually 3 to 5 business days from art approval.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in North Raleigh and work across the Triangle, including Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Garner, Morrisville and Fuquay-Varina.
Get a free storefront sign quote
Tell us what you need and where it goes. Carlo will get back to you with questions or a price.
- Free quote, no obligation
- We handle the permit
- Design, build and install in one shop
Rather talk it through?
Call 919-696-0353