Channel Letter signs are an impactful type of sign that has been around since the 1920s. Since then, they’ve functioned as an excellent way to advertise your business and generate more revenue. Additionally, you can see them from a long distance, which is perfect for businesses with large signage. If you are looking to increase the visibility of your business, Channel Letters might be the best option for you! Therefore, if you are shopping for Channel Letter Signage, this article will give you some insight into how to choose them for your building facade.

What are Channel Letters?

Channel letters are a type of commercial signage that adorns the exterior of many businesses. They consist of a graphic element with an individual structure and bold letters that are mounted in a way that gives them a striking, three-dimensional effect. Also, there are four main pieces to channel letters: The face, the return, the backing and the lighting element(s) if the sign has illumination.

They can be made from aluminum, steel or acrylic which typically means they’re rugged and affordable. Channel letters can either be illuminated or non-illuminated, but the bold lettering is striking either way. They can be illuminated by lights either internally (LEDs) or externally with LED lighting fixtures mounted to the back of the letters. Dave Signs also illuminates Channel Letters this way with neon lighting.

Where You Typically See Channel Letter Signs

Channel Letter signs for GANAS Auto in Oxnard, CA.Channel letters are typically installed on the front of a building, or high up on buildings that don’t have convenient space for them. For example, pole-mounted channel letter signs stand tall in retail locations where there is not much room for installation.

We created the two Channel Letter Signs for GANAS Auto above. Their storefront sign can attract people passing nearby, and the pole sign can attract motorists from far away.

Other places you can commonly see Channel Letters are on Monument Signs… 

…and on Indoor Signs.

Why Channel Letters?

Building awareness for your brand is important for your business’s success. Likewise, 59% of consumers say that they would rather buy new products from brands that are familiar to them.

In addition, Channel Letters are a popular choice among many grocery stores, retailers and restaurants wanting to enhance their brand recognition. You can see Channel Letter Signs used by chains and national brands since they are often a very effective part of promoting brand awareness.

The Four Basic Types of Channel Letters

The main difference between channel letters is the type of illumination they use. Of course, you are free to choose letters with or without lighting, as well as which kind of lighting element you want. There are four basic types of channel letters you need to familiarize yourself with as a CEO, solopreneur or decision-maker: Front-lit, Halo-lit, Front/Back-lit and Open Face.

Let’s look closely at the four basic types of channel letters:

1. Front-Lit: This type is the most common. LED bulbs or neon lights light the face of each channel letter. Because of the materials used, this option is extremely customizable.

2. Halo-Lit: For sign projects that require a unique and distinguished look or brand image, you can’t beat Halo-Lit. Illumination for halo-lit channel letters comes from behind the letter. However, they do not have a face and cast halos of light around each letter.

3. Front/Back-Lit: This type of signage combines front-lit letter channel letter with halo-lit. The result looks pretty fancy, too. For instance, if you are considering a sign with a red illuminated face and white halo effect, this option really pops.

4. Open Face: The back and sides of the pen-lit channel letters are aluminum. Neon lights versus LEDs typically illuminate these signs, too. Additionally, the sign face either has no sign face or is clear so that the exposed neon light inside can shine through.

Mounting Options for Channel Letter Signs

When purchasing a channel letter signage, you decide the type of mount you need. Channel letters have three main mounting options: the raceway mount, flush mount and backer mount.

• • Raceway Mount: Many property managers often request that channel letters be mounted atop a raceway. Raceways are containers that neatly and safely holds the electrical components (wires, power supply, etc.) for the individual letters. A raceway also alleviates the # of holes drilled, too. We typically paint raceways so they match the hue of the sign band or storefront. This technique also ensures that it blends well with brand guidelines and the surrounding architecture.
  • Direct Mount: This mount is the most common. And it gets its name because the letters mount directly to the building’s face. Housing for the power source and electrical wiring is behind the bulkhead wall with this option. For Back-Lit letters, separation from the surface comes from standoff spacers.
  • Backer Mount: This mount is more common for illuminated channel letters. This option sees the channel letters attached through a pre-made opening in the building’s frontage or mounted atop the backer board. The electrical hardware and power supply are contained within the backer cabinet or situated behind the facade or bulkhead wall.

Next Steps for Getting Your Channel Letter Signage

There you go! Now you know the basics of channel letter signage. The next step we recommend is consulting with a custom sign professional like Dave’s Signs. We have experts on staff who can create commercial signage for your business that will help you stand out from the rest of the clutter. With 20+ years of being the top choice for the design, fabrication, and installation of distinctive signs and graphics, you can trust our suggestions!

Why Choose Dave’s Signs for Your Channel Letter Signs? 

Dave Signs services clients here in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties; and Nationwide. We know the local zoning ordinances that regulate the size, illumination and projection of Channel Letter Signs. Also, we have extensive experience meeting landlord’s and property management requirements for signage. 

If you would like to know more about our Channel Letter Signs or other high-quality products and services we offer, please get in touch with us at (805) 641-1387. Alternatively, you can fill out our online form for a quick quote.

Mexican restaurants, with their spicey and deliciously flavored foods, put us in a festive mood. Meanwhile, California has the highest number of Mexican Restaurants in the United States. In fact,  industry reports put the numbers at nearly 75,000 for 2021. With that much competition comes the need for commercial signage that sets you apart from the rest. However, what’s the best way to do this? To answer that, we’ve put together a guide of Mexican restaurant sign styles that help get your business noticed.

Channel Letter Signs – El Dorado

The legend of El Dorado and its treasures enticed the Spanish Conquistadors to come to Mexico and South America to find it. Likewise, diners today are lured to the popular El Dorado Mexican Restaurant by their densely packed menu of all the usual tasty suspects and the bold & gold channel letter sign on the building’s facade.

 Neon Restoration Sign – Pepe’s 

California has a rich history when it comes to Mexican restaurants and culture. Amazingly, several of these eating spots are still owned by descendants of the original owners. Unfortunately, as time passes by, these nostalgic and beautiful signs fall into disrepair. When they do, sign companies restore them to their original glory. The beautiful neon sign Dave Signs restored for Pepe’s is an excellent example of this.

Illuminated Sign – Beach House Tacos

The theme is sunny beaches and to-die-for tacos at Beach House Tacos in Ventura, CA. Additionally, beachgoers who wonder what good seafood and other fare await them inside are guided there by the bold, Illuminated Sign.  Barn lighting illuminates eye-catching dimensional letters and gives them a drop shadow effect.

Made to Last – Spencer Mackenzie’s

Spencer Makenzie’s, like Beach House Tacos, offers Mexican food oceanside. Of course, the sea spray can be tough on any beachside sign. Therefore, a rugged design is a must-have. Dave’s Signs creates beachfront signs that can withstand the surrounding ocean elements, while still grabbing passerby’s attention.

Grand Opening – Fast Food Mexican Restaurant Sign for Lalo’s Jr

Grand openings can be exciting, and Mexican food devotees often can’t wait to try out the new offerings. The Mexican restaurant sign we created for Lalo’s Jr.’s Fast Food Restaurant’s opening is as varied and colorful as their menu.

Contact Dave’s Signs for Your Mexican Restaurant Sign

For over 20 years, Dave Signs creates attention-grabbing, custom signage.  locally here in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties; and Nationwide. To find out more about beautiful Mexican restaurant signage we can provide your business, please get in touch with us at (805) 641-1387. Alternatively, you can fill out our online form for a quick quote.

Wayfinding Signs are pretty much mission-critical to your business. Professionally designed, they direct visitors and residents, allowing them to easily find their way around your property. On the other hand, if you own a building like a warehouse or construction site, this special type of business sign can keep things organized and safe for building inhabitants. What follows are a few exterior and interior Wayfinding Signs Dave’s Signs have created for our clients.

Exterior Signage: Monument Signs

Effective Wayfinding Signs keep a consistent degree of on-point branding. Another characteristic they must have is being informative and recognizable, without being too busy. This is especially true for exterior Monument Signs. For example, visiting motorists reading the sign we created Cabrillo Business Park should easily be able to discern which way to go in this business park.

Interior Signage: Distribution Center Signs

Distribution centers are fast-moving. Employees at these DCs depend on clear and concise Wayfinding Signs to quickly find and pick their products. It’s hard to tell by looking at this picture, but inventory in warehouses can become disorganized in no time. Therefore, good wayfinding strategies are needed, and we work with companies to decide how many signs are appropriate and where they can most effectively be located.

Parking Lot and Garage Signs

Visitors typically don’t have time to navigate confusing levels, corridors, and puzzling hallways. Parking lot and garage signs give clear visuals and instructions that help control the flow of traffic and help people find their way. Here are a few we can provide to your business:

• • Directional Signs: Directional signs provide directions towards a parking lot, garage, or a few distinct areas of the space. We have products with arrows that point in different directions.
  • Parking Spot Signs: Parking spot signs assign a precise identifying number to every spot, which is handy when you want to manage traffic.
  • Driving Directional Signs – Signs like ‘Keep Right’ or ‘This Way to…’ etc., provide directions to drivers, ensuring they can move around the lot without issues.
  • Handicap – Most public establishments have separate spaces for disabled people. Handicap signs mark these spaces and provide clear instructions.
  • No Parking & Reserved Signs – These are placed in areas where no parking is allowed. You can choose options like ‘No Parking at Any Time’ or ‘No Overnight Parking.’  On the other hand, reserved signs keep unauthorized people from parking where they shouldn’t.

Find Your Way with Dave’s Signs

Dave’s Signs makes clear and consistent signage that makes our client’s property navigatable to their occupants and visitors. You can contact us online or call us at (805) 641-1387 for more information about our Wayfinding Signs and other high-quality products.

The theatre industry is very competitive, and you need more than popcorn and blockbuster movies to draw in the movie crowds.  Eye-catching theatre signs are one way to stand apart, as they help add to the movie-going experience. From gorgeously designed marquees to cabinet signs, here is what goes into a great movie theatre sign.

A Great Move Theatre Sign Makes an Entrance 

Movie theatre entrance signs, or marquees as they are sometimes known, are mounted above the entrance to the theatre. The best ones immediately draw attention and can even be awe-inspiring. The bold, illuminated sign that adorns the entrance marquee to Regency Theatres is a good example of this.

Theatre entrance signs can also feature a design or logo. The vintage Mayfair Theatre marquee sign pictured below shows this.

They Showcase History 

Theatre designs often commemorate movie and TV history and the creative minds that bring them to us.  The famous Garry Marshall Theatre signage we created showcases a big piece of California film-making history, while also paying homage to Happy Days creator and American director Garry Marshall.

As you can see, the entrance signs of Garry Marshall Theatre feature the movie or play being shown and the celebrities appearing at that venue. The marquee’s distinctive neon design and its LED-illuminated poster cabinet panels in front beckon people to come and see what it’s all about.

They Stand Out

The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara is part of the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s also been a part of Santa Barbara’s Historic Theatre District for almost a century. Everything about the theatre is extraordinary, so not just any sign will do. Above all, it must stand out.

The illuminated movie marquee sign we restored for them has a classic design that blends in nicely with the facade. The sign works to increase their visibility. Moviegoers can see the movie name and listings 24/7.

We Know What Goes into Making a Great Movie Theatre Sign

As you can see, the excitement of going to the movies isn’t only about seeing the stars on the silver screen. In 2020, there were nearly 2,000 movie signs in California.

In light of that, why not let Dave Signs make the next custom sign that helps set you apart from the crowd? To find out more about how we can create your next movie sign, contact us at (805) 641-1387. Also, you can fill out our online form to get a quote.

A Lightbox Sign is a type of sign that is commonly used for shopping malls, auto dealerships, gas stations, retail locations, and more. All of which use the advantage that extra visibility brings.

These cabinet-style signs, with their LED or neon illumination, provide visibility for your message. What’s more? Because they are highly visible night and day, they help rev up your advertising game 24/7.

Lightbox Signs Promote Your Brand Long-term

Professional lightbox signs are made of highly durable materials. These premium materials allow their use in just about any location. Additionally, these materials will work to promote your brand for the long term.

We’ve listed a few examples of different lighted box signs that help amplify your exposure.

Lightbox Design for Multi-Tenant Signs

Driving around, you’ve probably noticed Muti-Tenant signs. For example, take the pylon sign Dave’s Signs retrofitted for Mountain Gate Plaza. Mounted to a two-legged pylon, this sign contains a lightbox design with removable panels. Also, the design ensures every business listed gets maximum visibility.

Lighted Restaurant Sign

Lighted cabinets display the name and logo details of dining establishments. These nuances make for some memorable decor, as well. An outside LED lightbox sign like the one we created for Midici’s is a good example of this. Meanwhile, the beautiful sign guides customers in. It also gives them an incentive to stick around and have some delicious wood-fired pizza.

Special Construct Lightbox Sign 

Illuminated sign boxes are often used for displaying the name, logo, and contact information. That aspect is helpful for various veterinary and healthcare businesses. The one we did for the Port Hueneme Animal Hospital promotes the brand from the moment you walk up to it and go in.

Lightbox Cabinet for Grocery Stores & Shopping Malls

LED lightboxes establish a prominent visual identity at grocery stores, plazas and malls. They help your store stand out among other distractions. The overall effect of Red Barn Market’s red theme creates an ideal identification point. The familiar brand displayed welcomes you into its doors.

Lighted Box Signs for the Office

We’ve looked at exterior lightbox signs up until this point. However, they are also an ideal solution for the interior branding of an office. In fact, interior lighted box signs can provide a brilliant, lasting glow to any office.  Display your company logo at the entrance of the office or in the reception area. That way, the sign reinforces your brand identity where the customer experience starts.

Let Dave’s Signs Position Your Business

Dave’s Signs makes eye-catching, custom signs. Offering beautiful, on-message, lighted business signs locally here in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles Counties; and Nationwide, we can help provide your company with excellent business positioning.

We also offer top-tier lightbox signs with a large variety of styles and illumination options. Not to mention that we can create and install the sign of your choice for all occasions. Simply call us today for an estimate at  ‭(805) 641-1387 or request a quote online.