A history spanning over 40 years
With over 40 years of experience in the signage industry in the UK, Blaze Signs have learned a thing or two. We pride ourselves on a history filled with incredible customers and projects, as well as enviable strides in expansion and business improvement.
The company started from a modest beginning of seven staff and 5,000 sq/ft of production, and as all staff were ex-Pearce Signs employees with many years of experience they recognised the opportunity to embrace the changing market and modern day demands.
The fourth Disney resort was set to open in the early 1990s, and the location was Paris! Being so close to Blaze Neon, the team was awarded the contract to produce the majority of the theme parks signage for Disneyland Paris Gate 1. Since then, we have continued to provide our services to Disneyland Paris.
In 2001, Blaze Neon unveiled a new brand image that shifted the companies design language and corporate status as a result of their continued growth in the industry. Also in 2001 was the Yamaha project, which not only was a huge project for the company to take on, but also pivotal in the way it changed our methods of producing in quantity, which would set the stage for our growth in the coming years.
Over two decades ago, Blaze Neon became a signage supplier for Tesco, and thus began a long-standing relationship that would help the business continue to grow. We’ve been apart of their business-as-usual signage programmes as well as special projects, proving that our dedicated team here at Blaze was up to any task.
We worked alongside National Westminster Bank to complete a rebrand of 750 branches, with a slim timeline of just 16 weeks from beginning to end. This project showcased the businesses strong growth and ability to complete huge rebrand roll-outs for some of the largest and most recognisable brands in the UK.
Since acquiring premises in Kings Norton, Birmingham, in 1985, the Midlands base has enjoyed continual development. In 2004, the Board of Directors decided to invest £300,000 and proceed with plans for a purpose built factory at Arden Park in Frankley adjacent to the motorway network. The new premises, comprising 20,000 sq/ft of space, is only fifteen minutes away from Kings Norton and is where our facility in Birmingham resides to this day.
In 2005, Sainsbury’s and Blaze Neon began their long relationship together to provide innovative business signage solutions that would aid in Sainsbury’s mission. Throughout the subsequent years that followed, the account grew to the point that it required its own project team and office.
Following the acquisition of a sign maintenance business, they were rebranded to Cygnia Sign Maintenance Ltd. By this point, they were already the largest specialist signage maintenance provider, and boasted an impressive portfolio of clients, servicing up to 50,000 retail and commercial premises across the UK.
Metro Bank is a relatively young player in the game of finance and banking, with a fresh take on what a bank should do and what it should look like. We were chosen in 2011 to come on board as their signage supplier, a partnership which continues to this day.
Blaze had the one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work on one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, the Olympics. The £3m project saw us manufacture and install thirteen signs across the London 2012 Olympic Games campus, representing primary wayfinding signage. The specialist skills, team ethic and attention to detail that exhumed from the dedicated team of individuals ensured that every component complied with the rigorous specification necessary.
After the announcement that Lloyds Bank would be relaunched as a standalone brand for the first time in 18 years following its split from TSB, it was evident that new signage would need to be rolled out across the UK. After Blaze won the signage rights and became the lead supplier of the scheme, we had the challenge of reshaping each Lloyds branch on their radar, as the banking group redesigned it’s image with a sharp, new colour scheme.
The decision was made to drop the “neon” from the Blaze name, as the world of signage changes, new illumination techniques which are more efficient and cheap paved the way for a signage revolution with LED technology. The switch from “Neon” to “Signs” coincided with a brand new logo and brand, lasting for 7 years.
With a renewed focus on business improvement and growth, Blaze Signs rebranded with a new logo and design language in early 2022. The revolution of Blaze signalled a change in mission and values, as well progress into our fifth decade of operation.
As a sign of our strides in sustainability, business improvement and overall expansion, we were awarded the prestigous Sign Company of the Year award in early 2024. Our huge presence in our core markets as well as our new entry into new markets over the last few years have helped broaden our approach to business and the wider world, all of which culminated in our award-winning performance.
