Hi, I’m Sophie, the founder of Neon Lanes.
At Neon Lanes, we create custom LED neon signs for homes, weddings, events and businesses around the world, all designed with care, personality and a whole lot of glow.
People always ask how I even got into this, and honestly, it’s kind of random. I’ve always been drawn to neon lights, the glow, the mood and the energy they bring. I remember the first neon sign I ever bought online, and when it arrived, I was so impressed. They actually look way better in real life than you expect.
I loved how it completely transformed a space. Seeing neon signs at venues and parties, I noticed how they always became the photo backdrop everyone gathered around. They make people stop, smile and take pictures. They create a moment.
That’s when my business brain started ticking. I realised how much value these signs bring to homes, events and businesses. They don’t just light up a wall. They create atmosphere, personality and connection. I started thinking about how I could make that experience more affordable and personal for others.
One night I looked at the sign I’d bought and thought, “Wow, that’s actually really expensive.” Then I thought, “Surely it can’t be that hard to make one myself?”
Turns out, it is.
The first sign I ever made took me around 30 hours. I’d come home from work at 4pm and keep going until it was time for bed every night for a week. I even glued my fingers together at one point, and there was silicone and glue absolutely everywhere.
It was messy, frustrating and I had no idea what I was doing, but I was completely hooked.
At the time, I was working as an electrical estimator for an electrical company and had just finished a lighting design course. I asked my boss a few questions about making the signs myself, and he assured me I’d be more than capable of doing it.
Everyone around me thought it was just another one of my “side quests”, one of those ADHD business ideas where I suddenly decide I’m the next Steve Jobs or destined for a TED Talk, then forget about it three days later.
My poor boss probably didn’t realise that by encouraging me, he was about to lose a good staff member and that I’d soon be completely consumed by my new business adventure.
I started out in my living room, cutting, soldering and gluing my first few LED neon signs completely by hand.
My housemates will tell you there were wires, silicone and tubing everywhere.
I started selling a few signs online, and before long, I couldn’t keep up with the orders.
In those early days, I loved being involved in every part of the process and seeing people’s reactions when they received their signs. Sometimes I’d even film little reaction videos of customers seeing their new sign for the first time.
It made every late night and glue-covered disaster worth it.
As things started to take off, I became completely obsessed with learning everything I could.
I reached out to crafty people who knew far more about machinery, acrylic and fabrication than I did, and thankfully, some absolute legends were willing to share their knowledge and help me figure things out.
I also spent as much time as I could getting hands-on experience and learning different techniques.
I really utilised the people around me. It was such an exciting idea, and creative people can’t help but be intrigued and want to help.
Plus, as a 24-year-old girl rocking up with a hot glue gun and big dreams, I think a few of those crafty nerds just felt a bit sorry for me.
And honestly, I’ll take it.
Back then, I was charging way less than other neon companies, sometimes barely breaking even. I just wanted to build a portfolio, get photos and have something real to show people.
It was a total catch-22. I needed content to get customers, but I needed customers to make content.
I even gave away a few signs to friends and small businesses just to get images for the website.
The hard work eventually started paying off. My waitlist was getting long, my hands were sore and I realised it was time to grow.
These days, I focus heavily on designing, turning people’s ideas, logos and concepts into custom neon designs, while an experienced team helps bring those ideas to life.
Each sign is created with a huge focus on quality, detail and making sure the finished product looks as good in real life as it does in the design.
What started as me making signs in my living room has now grown into a global brand, with Neon Lanes signs lighting up homes, businesses, weddings and events around the world.
Even though Neon Lanes has expanded, it’s still proudly female-owned and small at heart.
I still handle a lot of the admin and emails myself because I genuinely love connecting with customers. It keeps things personal, and I’ve made so many genuine connections through the business.
We’ve actually barely increased our prices since the early days.
The idea has always been to keep custom neon accessible rather than adding huge mark-ups just because something is personalised.
I still think Neon Lanes is one of the most affordable options out there, and every now and then I check out the competition just to make sure.
I won’t name names, but let’s just say I like keeping things fair.
My prices are for the people, not ridiculous profit margins.
My website might not be the fanciest because I built it all myself, and my socials might not always be the flashiest, but one day we’ll get there.
So honestly, take advantage of my low prices now before I actually do become the next Steve Jobs.
Hats off to my friends. They were absolute legends in those early days.
They featured in my homemade videos, did TikTok voiceovers, helped me test signs and never once asked for payment.
I paid them in food, coffee and gratitude, and they were always cheering me on from day one.
Neon Lanes might have started as my slightly chaotic idea, but there have been so many people along the way who helped turn it into something real.
I won’t lie, sometimes it’s tough.
There’s pressure to keep orders coming in, keep customers happy and make sure everything keeps moving. Running a small business isn’t always glamorous.
I have a degree in marketing, which definitely helps, but there are still days I think, “Maybe I’d make more money in a normal job.”
But truthfully, I’m an entrepreneur at heart.
I don’t like working for other people. I love creating things, taking risks and building something that’s truly mine.
This is what I want to be doing.
And I’m doing everything I can to keep growing Neon Lanes into a global brand, one glowing sign at a time.
I actually wanted to call it “Neon Lane”, but the domain was too expensive at the time.
Now I kind of love that. It’s become this quirky little chapter in the story.
Neon Lanes just fits.
Is it a bit of a strange name? Probably.
But who cares? It’s mine, it’s memorable and it makes people smile when they say it.
💡 From my living room floor to a global custom neon brand, Neon Lanes is built on creativity, connection and a love for bringing people’s ideas to light.
Whether you’re planning a wedding, setting up a business, organising an event or decorating your home, I’d love to help bring your vision to life.
