Post Mounted Signs for J.F Clarke & Sons

THE CLIENT

Founded in Axminster in 1880, J.F. Clarke & Son are a trusted, long-established funeral directors, providing a dignified and caring service for the bereaved in the wider Axminster area.

Proprietor, Roy Searle, joined the company as an apprentice in 1972, while his son, Simon, followed in his father’s footsteps as an apprentice a decade later.

Simon Searle is still a mainstay in the family business, with over 35 years of experience in the industry, and remains a pillar in the local community. As a funeral director, Simon continues the family tradition of providing support and care to local families in the region.

In April 2019, Simon handed over his business to another family funeral directors, A.J.Wakely & Sons, where Simon, with the continued support of his wife Carol, remains the funeral director.

THE BRIEF

We were delighted to be contacted by J.F Clarke & Sons with a request to design and create a custom-made, post-mounted aluminium sign to promote their business in the local area. Not your average signage brief, however, as the client requested the addition of an LED light, which would be secreted tastefully within the sign to create a subtle illumination, and ball finial caps for the two flanking posts.

Post-mounted signs are the go-to choice for all your external signage needs. 3mm thick aluminium panels can be cut to any size and shape and mounted to a durable, fixed post. On top of being a fully waterproof and UV resistant product, Creative Solutions can print any design or graphics you wish onto your new sign. For a Devon-based company like J.F Clarke & Sons, looking for professional and tasteful signage which best reflects the nature of their business, a post-mounted sign is the perfect option.

THE SOLUTION

The first step was to get planning permission from the local authorities, as the sign would be installed in a public setting. Based on the client brief, we were able to submit a successful application on their behalf.

We then went about producing a proof of the sign, based on J.F. Clarke & Son’s logo and artwork. After liaising with the client—and their greelighting of the proof—we set to work fabricating the post-mounted sign.

The sign consisted of a large top panel of 3mm aluminium, measuring 750 in height and 1500mm in width. The sign was fitted to the posts with custom-build ‘ear’ tabs and printed with a stunning ultramarine blue face. Gold cut vinyl text was then applied to create an elegant and professional aesthetic.

We used a screws kit and nutserts to fix the sign to the round aluminum posts, the diameter of which measured 76mm. The sign was powder coated on the face and rear while the corners squared off for a neat finish. Pearl gold ball finial caps were screw-fixed to each post for that added touch of quality.

Finally, a 1500mm-wide Highlight Eco trough lighting system was installed atop the sign. This feature also came in ultramarine blue, to colour match the rest of the installation. Cased in aluminium, with a 24v power supply, a qualified electrician was required to connect the light up to a power supply.

The overall effect is stunning. The addition of the subtle illumination really adds an extra dimension to an already first-rate product. The client was delighted with the work carried out.