Small food producers sell at markets, farm shops, festivals and increasingly from a barn at the
end of a lane. A small food producer sign has to work in all of those, be carried
in the back of a car, and still look like something a person made rather than something a printer
produced.
The project: a beehive shaped sign for a honey producer
A honey producer came to us and we built the whole sign as a beehive. Dark walnut, cut to the
silhouette of a classic skep hive, with the name in gold outline lettering and a green leaf
detail.
This is the case for contour cutting at its clearest. A beehive logo on a rectangular panel is a
picture of a beehive. A sign cut into the shape of a beehive is a beehive, and at a market stall
twenty feet away that difference is what makes someone walk over.
Food brands are unusually well suited to this. The products have shapes. Hives, jars, loaves,
apples, eggs and wheels of cheese are all instantly readable silhouettes, which means a
contour cut logo sign communicates what you sell before anyone reads a word.
When a contour shape beats a rectangle
| Your logo | Better as | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Has a recognisable product shape | Contour cut | Communicates the product before the words are read |
| Is mostly a wordmark | Rectangle or contour of the word | No silhouette to exploit |
| Is a circular badge or roundel | Circle cut | Keeps the badge intact |
| Has fine illustrative detail | Rectangle with layered logo | Delicate detail is safer supported by a panel |
| Needs to hang at a market stall | Contour cut, lighter build | Less weight to carry and rig |
| Will sit against a busy background | Contour cut | Reads as an object rather than another panel |
Sizing for markets, farm shops and production space
- Market stall: 24 to 36 inches. It has to travel and be rigged by one person.
- Farm shop or honesty box: 24 to 36 inches, exterior finish if outdoors.
- Production or packing room: 24 to 36 inches, mostly for photography.
- Stockist display: under 18 inches, so a retailer can actually find shelf space
for it.
A farmers market stall sign above 36 inches becomes a two person job to set up,
which is the point most producers stop bringing it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cut a sign into the shape of our product?
Yes, that is exactly what contour cutting is. Send the shape or the logo and we will draw it up.
Can it live outdoors at a farm shop?
With an exterior clear coat, yes. Under cover it will last considerably longer.
Will outline lettering be readable from a distance?
Outline works well at a stall distance and on a strong silhouette. If it needs to be read from
across a car park, solid lettering is safer, and we will say so on the proof.
Can I get small versions for stockists?
Yes, and a batch is much cheaper per sign than ordering them one at a time.
How long does a contour cut sign take?
About a week for interior, plus proof time. Exterior finishes add several days for cure time.
See your sign before you commit
Send your logo or a product shape and we will return a free digital proof with a
view on whether a contour cut or a rectangle will serve you better. Family run, handmade in
California.
Related:
natural skincare and soap signs ·
beverage company signs ·
farm signs
