ABOUT

About Me

Hi, I’m Sophie, the founder of Neon Lanes.

At Neon Lanes, we create custom LED neon signs for homes, weddings, events, and businesses across Australia, 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, 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 they completely transformed a space. Seeing them 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 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

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 in Perth 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.

The Messy Beginnings

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 sold a few on Facebook Marketplace, and before long, I couldn’t keep up with the orders.

In those early days, I even delivered the signs by hand if the customer was local. I loved seeing their reactions in person, sometimes even filming little reaction videos of them opening their new sign right in front of me. It made every late night and glue-covered disaster worth it.

Building a Workshop and a Community

As things started to take off, I decided to get a small workshop. I reached out to a few local crafty people, and one of them, Jason from All About Animals, was kind enough to help me with my first proper acrylic cuts. He had a CNC milling machine he used for pet furniture and offered to help me out when I was just starting. Absolute legend.

I even joined the local Men’s Shed (the one that actually allowed women, thankfully!) to get some extra hands-on practice.

I really utilised my community; 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 to a workshop full of older blokes 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, we were charging way less than other neon companies, sometimes barely breaking even. We just wanted to build a portfolio, get photos, and have something real to show. It was a total catch-22; we needed content to get customers, but we needed customers to make content. I even gave away a few signs to friends and small businesses just to get images for the website.

Growth and the Next Stage

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 on designing, turning people’s ideas into custom neon concepts, while my amazing team (all with electrical backgrounds) help bring them to life.

Every sign we create is carefully designed, tested, and quality-checked from right here in Australia. That’s how we keep our standards high, our customer service personal, and our turnaround times fast.

What started as me making signs in my living room has now grown into a national brand with customers and design teams across Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns.

Even though Neon Lanes has expanded, it’s still proudly female-owned and small at heart. I still handle most of the admin and emails myself because I genuinely love connecting with customers. It keeps things personal, and I’ve made so many genuine friendships through it.

Keeping Prices Fair

We’ve actually barely increased our prices since the early days. We just sell a lot of signs, so we make it work through volume rather than big mark-ups. I think I’m still one of the most affordable options in Australia; 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 the profit. My website might not be as fancy (I built it all myself), and my socials might not 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.

The People Who Helped Me Get Here

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.

The Reality

I won’t lie, sometimes it’s tough. There’s pressure to keep orders coming in and staff paid, and running a small business isn’t always glamorous.

I have a degree in marketing, which definitely helps, but there are 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 my purpose. And I’m doing everything I can to grow Neon Lanes into a global brand, one glowing sign at a time.

The Name

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 growing team across Australia, 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 your business, or decorating your home, I’d love to help you bring your vision to life.