A frontage has about three seconds to tell a passer-by what you are and whether you are open. We produce and install shopfront graphics for retail, hospitality, salons, gyms and professional practices — from a single cut-vinyl fascia line to a full glazing scheme across a corner unit.
Typical turnaround
5–10 working days from approved artwork
Areas we cover
Glasgow, Rutherglen, Cambuslang, East Kilbride, Paisley and most of Scotland
Every shopfront decision trades daylight for message. Full-colour printed panels give you the strongest visual impact but close the unit off from the street. One-way vision perforated film lets staff see out and daylight in while presenting a solid printed face outside. Cut vinyl leaves the glass largely open and reads as the most premium option, which is why hospitality and professional practices tend toward it.
We walk the frontage with you, look at where the sun sits, what the interior looks like from the pavement and how the neighbouring units are treated, then specify a mix rather than defaulting to one product across every pane.
Retail, hospitality and seasonal changeovers
Retail frontages work hardest when they change. We keep your artwork on file and produce promotional panels, seasonal windows and sale graphics as repeat runs, fitting them out of hours so the shop opens on time with a new look.
For hospitality we cover menu boards, opening-hours vinyls, licensing and statutory notices, entrance door graphics and the etched-glass effect that suits bars and restaurants in conservation-area frontages.
Removals, reinstatement and listed frontages
Taking old graphics off properly matters as much as putting new ones on. We heat-lift previous branding, remove the adhesive residue that scours glass if it is scraped dry, and hand back clear panes ready for the new scheme or for a landlord inspection.
On traditional sandstone and timber frontages — common across Glasgow's high streets — we keep fixings and adhesives off the stone and work within conservation constraints, using glass-applied graphics rather than drilled panels wherever the consent allows.
What we specify
Cast cut vinyl for long-life exterior lettering
One-way vision (contra-vision) perforated film
Printed opaque and translucent window media
Etch-effect frost for privacy panels and lower glazing
Blockout backing for internally lit or dark units
How we deliver the work
1. Frontage survey
We measure the glass, note the frame type, transoms and any listed-building or landlord constraints, and check the pavement for access, loading and pedestrian management.
2. Scaled visual
Artwork is set out over a photograph of your actual frontage so you can see letter sizes, coverage and how much daylight the scheme leaves inside the unit.
3. Production
Cut lettering is produced in cast vinyl for longevity, printed panels get a UV laminate, and one-way vision is printed on 60/40 perforated media with an optically clear over-laminate.
4. Fit and finish
Glass is degreased and clay-cleaned, graphics are applied with a hinge method to keep alignment, and old vinyl or adhesive residue is stripped and disposed of before the new scheme goes on.
What affects the price
Every job is priced to the site, so we don't publish a fixed list. These are the main things that move the price. Send photos or measurements and we'll give you a clear, itemised quote.
Size of the frontage and number of windows
Cut vinyl lettering vs full-colour printed graphics
One-way vision, frosted or removable promotional films
Access equipment and any consent requirements
Typical turnaround
Most single-unit shopfronts are surveyed, produced and fitted within four to seven working days. Seasonal changeovers and offer panels for existing customers are usually next-day if the artwork is already on file.
What makes a good result
Cast vinyl, not calendared, on anything expected to last more than a season
Letter heights checked from across the street, not on screen
Perforated film laminated so rain does not sit in the holes
Alignment set from the glass, not the frame, because frames are rarely square
Standards, materials and compliance
The detail we work to on every job of this type — checked at survey, recorded on the specification and evidenced on request.
Planning and advertisement consent
We flag where signage is likely to need advertisement consent or listed-building consent before artwork is produced, particularly in Glasgow's conservation areas.
Films used
Cast cut vinyl for lettering, printed and laminated media for full-colour panels, 50/50 one-way vision for glazed frontages.
Glass compatibility
Film choice checked against toughened, laminated and sealed double-glazed units to avoid thermal stress on solar-absorbing applications.
Reinstatement
Old graphics removed, adhesive residue cleared and glass reinstated as part of the changeover rather than as an extra.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need planning permission for window graphics?
Graphics applied to the inside or outside of the glass usually fall outside advertisement consent, but conservation areas and listed buildings have tighter rules. We flag anything that looks like it needs consent before we produce artwork.
How long do shopfront graphics last?
Cast vinyl on a well-prepared frontage typically gives five to seven years outdoors in Scottish conditions. Printed panels with a UV laminate sit in a similar range; unlaminated economy print will not.
Can you fit outside trading hours?
Yes, and for most retail units we prefer it. Evening and early morning fits mean the shutter goes up on a finished frontage with no disruption to trade.
Can you work from my existing logo files?
Send vector artwork (AI, EPS, PDF) and we work directly from it. If you only have a raster logo we will redraw it to vector so cut lettering holds a clean edge.
Will window graphics make the shop dark inside?
It depends on coverage. One-way vision at 60/40 keeps a usable view out and lets most daylight through, while full blockout panels do not. We model coverage at visual stage so you can decide before printing.
Can you remove graphics left by the previous tenant?
Yes. Stripping old vinyl, cleaning off adhesive and reinstating clear glass is a routine job for us, and we quote it as a separate line so landlords can recharge it if needed.
Related services
Work that usually runs alongside this one, delivered by the same team on the same visit where the programme allows.
Get a quote for shop signs & window graphics in Glasgow
Send sizes, drawings or site photos and we'll return a specification and a costed quote for shop signs & window graphics — usually within one working day.
