Our Process From Quote To Kit Out - What To Expect
Behind every sign is a story - a brand's ambition and a human being on a mission. We see you and we're here to help - from first contact to the final installation and beyond. Here's everything you might need to know about how to get a sign by Glyphics and what happens once you're on your way, with further information in the FAQs below.
Initial Consultation: Reach out to us through our contact form to discuss your unique design needs. We're here to listen and provide a transparent quote that aligns with your vision.
Expert Recommendations: Our seasoned team will guide you through the best materials and construction methods tailored for your project, ensuring durability and visual impact.
Design Approval: Your feedback is invaluable. Once you're satisfied with the design and quote, give us the green light to proceed.
Craftsmanship at Work: Sit back and relax as our skilled artisans combine traditional skills and cutting-edge technologies to craft your custom sign.
Stellar Installation: We handle the installation meticulously, and won’t consider the job complete until you're wholly satisfied with the end result.
Your collaboration with Glyphics doesn’t have to end with the final kit out; it's often just the beginning of a journey we hope to nurture for years to come. We're really proud of what our clients say about us, and our track record of repeat custom is testament to our commitment to building relationships that are as strong and long-lasting as our signage.
Process FAQS
The more information you can offer, the better we can assist you. If you already have an idea of the sign you want, our website categorises signs by build material or by business application to make your search easier. You can either refer to a similar sign from our website or share a photo from another source to give us a starting point. Additional helpful details include:
A description of the sign you envision
Any available artwork
Desired dimensions
A photo of the intended location for the sign
The installation address
Your desired completion date
Providing this information upfront will enable us to serve you more efficiently.
After receiving your details, we'll review your information carefully and consult our production team to ensure we understand your vision fully. While we're committed to getting back to you as soon as possible, we take the time to make sure every project receives the attention it deserves.
If there are any additional questions or specifications needed, we'll reach out for clarification - factors like artwork, dimensions and installation specifics can influence the final iterations of your sign/s and how closely they resemble your design inspiration.
We work collaboratively with you with the goal of bringing your brief to life in the best way possible. Based on your input, we'll then discuss timelines, giving priority to your deadlines as we schedule your project.
Absolutely, various factors can affect the feasibility and quality of a finished sign. This can range from size and weight, to construction materials. For instance:
Adhesive Quality: Self-adhesive vinyl graphics may not stick to all surfaces.
Cutting Limitations: Complex or small letters may not be compatible with our vinyl plotter or laser cutter.
Minimum Sizes: Logos and letters must meet minimum size requirements for production, fixing, or illumination.
Illumination Specs: To fit an LED module in a logo or letter, the narrowest section must be at least 19mm wide.
Cabling: Illuminated signs will require low-voltage power cables connecting each part. If these can't be concealed, they will be visible.
Electrical Installation: If your sign needs to be connected to the main power supply, you'll need an electrical contractor to install an isolated power supply near the sign.
Being aware of these considerations ensures that we can achieve the best possible outcomes for your project, aligning your vision with practical possibilities.
Based on the details you've provided, our next step is to send you a quote for your envisioned sign or graphic. Rest assured, we strive for accuracy in our quotes, which will remain valid for 20 working days—giving you ample time to review and make a decision. If there are any variables like artwork or installation specifics yet to be confirmed, please know that the quote is an estimate and can be fine-tuned.
Once you're ready to move forward, we'll touch base with you to either arrange a site visit or get your project officially on our books. At this point, we'll also discuss payment logistics, including setting up purchase orders or securing a deposit if you're a new customer. To streamline the process, please indicate who will be responsible for payment.
Finally, once all the practicalities are sorted, we'll send you detailed visuals and a breakdown of how we plan to bring your sign to life. This is your opportunity to review and make sure everything aligns perfectly with your vision.
Absolutely, we revel in bringing your creative visions to life and excel at delivering on-brand designs. If you'd like additional artistic guidance, we offer a specialised design service - this can be integrated into your project, provided it wasn't already covered in your initial quote. See Our Services for more.
When you choose this option, we follow a well-defined process for your convenience. First, we'll set up an initial briefing through a meeting, call, or email. Next, we'll dive into concept development, offering you an array of design possibilities and welcoming a single round of revisions - we are of course open to minor adjustments along the way, just keep in mind that substantial changes down the line or a new brief will incur additional charges as they’ll require starting over. Once we secure your approval on the final concept, we'll proceed to generate production-ready artwork.
To optimise this journey and potentially save on costs, consider coming to the initial briefing with some preliminary thoughts and basic ideas. Inspiration photos, your choice of materials, and preferred colour palettes serve as invaluable touchstones for our creative process. We aim to master your brief from the offset, and rest assured, keep you fully informed every step of the way..
Our practice of sending back drafts for your review is a proactive step towards ensuring exceptional quality in the finished product. This approval process acts as a safeguard, allowing us to swiftly pinpoint and address any elements that may need refinement - be it a missing typeface, image requirements, or other specifics. Double-checking enables us to preemptively catch any details that could affect production, keeping you informed and confident every step of the way.
This is particularly crucial for signs or graphics made from mediums that require specialised production techniques, such as self-adhesive vinyl, metal, or acrylic. These materials often necessitate vector files for cutting on our plotter or laser cutter (for more details, please refer to our informative blog article on supplying artwork).
We strive to make the review process straightforward and easy to follow, but it's crucial that you take a close look at the layouts we send back to you for approval. Here's what you should keep an eye on:
Description & Manufacturing: Verify that our description matches your expectations and make sure you understand how we plan to create the sign.
Dimensions: Confirm that the size specifications meet your requirements.
Colour: Make sure the colour is exactly as you envisioned it.
Logo or Graphic Elements: Check for any missing components that should be part of the design.
Spelling: Even if you've provided the artwork, double-check all text for spelling errors.
Installation & Location: Understand our proposed installation method and ensure your location is suitable for it. For example, ensure there isn’t a glass wall where your sign needs to be screwed in or that your sign doesn’t require the use of hooks when it’s destined for a ceiling-less space.
Once layout is approved, your window for making further changes may be limited, especially if working with a tight deadline.
Provided that you've answered any queries, paid the deposit and prepared the site, we're committed to meeting your deadline. If any unforeseen issues arise, rest assured we'll communicate them to you well in advance.
Once your artwork is approved, we'll confirm a delivery or installation date within a few days. For signs which are made from materials such as metal, wood or acrylic, the lead-time is typically three weeks post-approval. Turnaround for vinyl graphics is generally faster, and we'll specify the time frame based on the project's scale and complexity.
Our production manager will contact you several days prior to the delivery or installation date to confirm details and any prerequisites - this covers things such as ensuring that the address supplied is correct and that we have the right telephone numbers, arranging parking and access, coordinating with other contractors if need be, and making sure the work environment is clean and prepared for safe use, which may include old graphics / signs being removed, walls repainted, windows cleaned and electrical work undertaken. Please notify us in advance if there are changes on-site, as this allows us to adjust our plans accordingly and maintain the quality of your installation.
Our installers are highly trained, with senior staff holding City & Guilds NVQs in Sign Making & Installation. We adhere to rigorous health and safety procedures including conducting risk assessments, following method statements and holding toolbox talks to brief the team on fixings, access and other considerations. We do occasionally use sub-contractors especially when specialist knowledge is required, and they are always checked and approved before being employed. Should any installation circumstances change on your side, please inform us so that we can update our protocols accordingly and keep staff in the know.
On the day, our team will be recognisable with IDs to hand and arrive fully equipped for the brief. We appreciate it if a knowledgeable person is present for guidance across the site, introducing other contractors, imparting any emergency procedures and to oversee sign placement prior to the work starting - there are often no drawn up guidelines available for the latter so this is key information.
We’ll first evaluate the installation site and set up any required safety measures, establishing a designated space to store the signage before beginning installation. Work areas are kept clean, safe and barriered off if necessary. Once completed, we'll clean the area and take installation photos to keep on record, stored securely for our reference only - unless we’ve discussed having our portfolio photographer on site with you beforehand. We may also contact you for an additional visit to capture images post-installation.
We strive for perfection and quality-check our signs before they leave our workshop, but should any issues arise, we'll promptly address them. Our products come with a one-year guarantee for manufacturing defects - the only exception is printed graphics for outdoor use, which we cannot usually give a guarantee of for more than 3 months due to exposure to the UV in sunlight. Please let us know of any specific concerns before installation to ensure extra care is taken where needed, allowing for a seamless process.
If you've already paid a deposit, the remaining balance will be requested immediately after the project is completed. For account holders, payment should be made according to the previously agreed-upon terms. Your timely payment is much appreciated - thank you.
