Custom Signs & Signage
in Hickory, NC
Your trusted Hickory sign partner since 1976.
Professional Signage for Hickory Businesses
Sign Systems has been designing, fabricating, and installing custom signs for Hickory businesses for nearly 50 years. From our shop at 315 9th Street Lane SE, our team builds building signs, monument signs, channel letter signs, pylon signs, wayfinding systems, and interior signage for businesses across Catawba County and the surrounding region. Family-owned, three generations strong, and built to deliver.
Address: 315 9th Street Lane SE, Hickory, NC 28602
Phone: (828) 322-5622
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Why Hickory Businesses Choose Sign Systems
Hickory is a city built on craftsmanship. From the furniture makers who put it on the map to today’s manufacturers, healthcare systems, and growing retailers, the businesses here have always taken pride in doing things right. Sign Systems was founded in Hickory in 1976 on that same principle. Nearly 50 years later, we’re still here — three generations of the Hines family, building signs that hold up to North Carolina weather and represent your brand the way you want to be seen.
We’re a full-service sign company, which means everything happens under one roof. Our designers, project managers, fabricators, installers, and service team all work from our Hickory shop. There are no handoffs to subcontractors, no delays waiting on outside vendors, and no excuses when a deadline is on the line. When you need a sign done right and on time for a grand opening, a rebrand, or a multi-site rollout — that’s what we’re built for.
Sign Services for Hickory Businesses
Every sign we build is custom-designed for the business, the building, and the location. Below is the full range of signage we produce and install for Hickory clients. Click any service for more detail, or call us at 828-322-5622 to talk through your project.
Custom-fabricated exterior building signs including channel letters, illuminated cabinet signs, and dimensional letters. Built for storefronts, office buildings, healthcare facilities, and industrial sites across Hickory.
Ground-level monument signs in masonry, stone, aluminum, and acrylic. A high-impact entrance statement for retail centers, medical offices, churches, and corporate campuses.
Lobby signs, dimensional letters, ADA-compliant signage, conference room signs, donor walls, and environmental graphics. Carries your brand from the curb into every interior space.
Interior and exterior wayfinding systems for healthcare facilities, corporate campuses, schools, and multi-building developments. Helps people move through your space confidently.
High-visibility pylon and pole signs designed to be seen from the road. Standard for retail centers along Highway 70, Highway 127, and I-40 corridors throughout the Hickory area.
Programmable LED message centers and digital signs that let you update content instantly. Weather-rated, energy-efficient, and built to last in outdoor North Carolina conditions.
One-of-a-kind signage solutions including blade signs, post and panel signs, custom-shaped dimensional signs, and unique branded installations that don’t fit a standard category.
Industries We Serve in Hickory, NC
Hickory’s economy spans manufacturing, healthcare, retail, hospitality, and a fast-growing residential development sector. Our team has built signage for every one of these verticals — often for clients who have multiple locations across the Southeast and need consistency from site to site.
Healthcare
Wayfinding signage, exterior identification, ADA-compliant interior signs, and donor walls for hospitals, clinics, and medical office buildings. We’ve worked with healthcare systems across the Southeast, including Novant Health.
Restaurants & Hospitality
Channel letter signs, monument signs, menu boards, and interior branding for restaurants, breweries, hotels, and resorts. Past work includes Tupelo Honey Cafe, Mellow Mushroom, and Highland Brewing.
Developers & Commercial Real Estate
Pylon signage for retail centers, leasing signs for office and industrial properties, and full signage packages for ground-up developments. We work alongside your GC to keep signage on the construction timeline.
Retail & Multi-Location Brands
Coordinated signage rollouts for growing brands opening multiple locations. We maintain brand standards from site to site and handle local permitting in every municipality. Past work includes Reed’s Jewelers, Cambria, and Swensons.
Manufacturing & Industrial
Building identification, ADA-compliant interior signage, safety signage, and wayfinding for manufacturers, warehouses, and industrial facilities — Hickory’s economic backbone.
Where We Work — Hickory & the Surrounding Region
Our Hickory office serves businesses across Catawba, Burke, Caldwell, Alexander, and Iredell counties. For larger or multi-site projects, our reach extends across western North Carolina, the Charlotte metro, the Piedmont Triad, and the broader Southeast.
- Hickory
- Conover
- Newton
- Maiden
- Long View
- Granite Falls
- Morganton
- Lenoir
- Valdese
- Drexel
- Glen Alpine
- Statesville
- Mooresville
- Troutman
- Mocksville
- Taylorsville
- Lincolnton
- Salisbury
- Lexington
- Catawba County
- Burke County
- Caldwell County
- Alexander County
- Iredell County
- Hickory, NC
Why Hickory Businesses Trust Sign Systems
Founded in 1976 by Norris and Dolores Hines, Sign Systems is now in its third generation of Hines family leadership. Jeff Hines runs our Hickory office and serves as CEO. CJ Hines is our President. Tucker Hines is Vice President. Three generations of accountability behind every project.
Every sign is designed, built, finished, and installed by our team. No outsourcing, no shipping delays, no quality surprises. Our Hickory shop is a real fabrication facility with paint, vinyl, electrical, and finishing capabilities under one roof.
Sign permitting in Hickory and across North Carolina has its quirks — different municipalities, different code requirements, different review timelines. Our project managers handle the entire permit process so your project doesn’t stall.
From single storefronts to full multi-site signage programs, our team coordinates rollouts that keep brand standards consistent across every location. We work alongside developers, healthcare systems, and growing brands to deliver signage on schedule, every time.
Get a Free Quote for Your Hickory Sign Project
Whether you’re planning a new development, opening a new location, or updating your signage, our team is ready to help.
Contact Sign Systems today to schedule a consultation and get started on a custom signage solution tailored to your business.
0 + Years
Delivering signage for businesses across the Southeast
0 Generations
Of hands-on experience and long-term client relationships
Frequently Asked Questions
How long has Sign Systems been operating in Hickory?
Sign Systems was founded in Hickory in 1976 by Norris and Dolores Hines. Nearly 50 years later, we’re still headquartered at 315 9th Street Lane SE, now in our third generation of family leadership. Jeff Hines serves as CEO and runs our Hickory office.
What areas around Hickory do you serve?
From our Hickory office we regularly serve Catawba, Burke, Caldwell, Alexander, and Iredell counties — including Hickory, Conover, Newton, Maiden, Morganton, Lenoir, Statesville, Mooresville, Taylorsville, and Lincolnton. For multi-location and specialty projects, we work across the Southeast.
Do you handle sign permits in Hickory and Catawba County?
Yes. Sign permitting is part of every project we manage. Our team handles the research, application, technical drawings, and coordination with the City of Hickory, Catawba County, and surrounding municipalities. Most clients never see a permit form — we take care of the entire process.
How much does a custom sign cost in Hickory, NC?
Sign costs vary widely based on size, materials, illumination, mounting, and permitting requirements. As a general guide: a small interior dimensional sign starts in the low thousands, channel letter signs typically range from $3,500 to $10,000+, monument signs run from $7,500 to $25,000+, and large pylon signs can exceed $30,000. We provide detailed quotes after a free site assessment so there are no surprises.
How long does it take to design, build, and install a custom sign?
Typical lead times run 6 to 10 weeks from approved design to installation, depending on permit timelines, sign size, and electrical complexity. Simple interior signs can be faster; large monuments and pylon signs with structural engineering may take longer. We provide a specific timeline with every quote and keep clients updated through fabrication and install.
Do you only build new signs, or do you also repair existing signage?
We do both. Our service team handles sign repair, LED retrofits, face replacements, electrical service, and repainting on existing signage — including signs we didn’t originally build. If your sign is dimming, damaged, or just looking tired, we can usually bring it back to life for a fraction of replacement cost.
Can you handle signage for multiple locations across the Southeast?
Yes — multi-location signage rollouts are a core part of our business. We work with developers, healthcare systems, restaurant groups, and growing brands to deliver consistent signage across many sites. Our team coordinates with general contractors, handles permitting in each municipality, and keeps every site on schedule.
What's the difference between Sign Systems and the chain sign shops in Hickory?
Two main differences. First, we fabricate every sign in-house — most chains outsource production, which adds lead time and weakens quality control. Second, we’re a full-service company that handles design, permitting, fabrication, installation, and ongoing service from one team. You don’t have to manage multiple vendors or wonder who’s responsible when something needs attention years later.