When Benchmark Physical Therapy decided to open a therapy clinic in Atlanta’s popular Town Brookhaven, they turned to a company they knew they could trust, Big Mouth Signs. Big Mouth Signs has been serving Benchmark locations throughout Metro Atlanta since 2010, providing quality signage execution and services including site visits and surveys, design, production, and installation for one of the fastest-growing physical therapy providers in the Southeast.
One of the requirements for new leases at Town Brookhaven is that storefront signs must be reverse channel letters – – either direct-mount to the façade or to a background panel. Town Brookhaven is another in a growing number of trendy lifestyle and shopping centers that are requiring reverse channel letters, due to the upscale appearance they provide. Reverse channel letters are not new, as companies including Tommy Hilfiger, Luis Vuitton, and Maggiano’s Little Italy are just a few of a long list of higher-end fashion retailers and restaurants that feature these signs.
Reverse channel letters, as the name suggests, are manufactured just the opposite of a front-lit channel letter. Instead of an acrylic or polycarbonate face and a metal back, a reverse channel letter incorporates a metal face and a polycarbonate back. The reverse channel letters are then installed directly to the storefront façade – – or sometimes to a sign cabinet that is then mounted to the façade – – using non-corrosive studs with spacers. For Benchmark Physical Therapy, we produced 3” aluminum reverse channel letters with custom color dark red faces and returns. The letters were mounted directly to the façade with 1.5” spacers and non-corrosive threaded studs.
Once the sign has been installed and powered on, the internal light source illuminates the white painted interior of the letter. This intense light bounces through the acrylic/polycarbonate back, and creates a visually appealing “halo” effect around the perimeter of each character.
Adding a little personality to your reverse channel letter sign is easy – – starting with your chosen font. The outer face and sides (aka “returns”) of a reverse channel letter can be painted your choice of custom colors, and can be further enhanced using specialty finishes such as satin aluminum, scratched metal, oxidized metal, etc. Since most reverse channel letters made today are illuminated using LED, you can also customize the look of the halo effect by choosing from a number of LED color options, including white, yellow, green, blue, and red.
If you happen to own a retail or storefront business, or are thinking about opening one, then you owe it to yourself to take the time to really investigate the possibilities for your storefront sign. A lease requirement is an excellent reason to choose to utilize reverse channel letters – – but it’s not the only reason. Reverse channel letters will add to the look of your storefront, and can help separate you from the competition. If you’d like to learn more about reverse channel letters, or any other type of storefront signage, give us a call at (770) 381-9300 or go to our website at www.bigmouthsigns.com.
