AutoTize

Home Services: Here’s the Secret to Advertising in Your Community

Luke Phillips — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:49:42 +0000

Among small businesses, offering home services is a growing trend. I’m talking about things like laundry services, maids, cooks and chefs, and landscaping, as well as some off-beat service like antique hunting or organizers. Home services are characterized by accessibility to the consumer market and tend to get customer bases that consist of busy home owners and professionals. These are savvy people who want to trade some money for your expertise so they can get the results they want.

With a marketplace full of savvy and choosey buyers and with almost no barriers to entry, it’s no wonder that many home services businesses use vinyl wraps to brand their vehicles, make a great impression, and spread the word about their offering. If you’re in this field, here’s what you have to keep in mind!

A Market without Barriers

When you arrive at the home of a new or prospective client, you’re going to have yourself put together to make a good impression. That’s a given, regardless of whether your expertise is ordinary or eclectic. You’re going to be judged by many factors, including the scope of your services, what results you can produce, what others are saying about you, and the appearance that you make.

This first pass is going to determine how you stand out from your peers in the marketplace. A well-executed wrap will help you distinguish yourself from others in your field by boosting your standing in all of those key areas.

And don’t forget, these types of services scale dramatically as demand for your service rises because demand, in this space, is often a factor of how well you can promote yourself.

So, for example, if you’re a sole operator with a single vehicle and you market yourself well, you’ll be able to hire people and become a larger company. If you add another operator who drives another service vehicle, your company gets more recognition and spreads brand awareness while they’re in the field. With careful execution, this sort of feedback loop can contribute to a growing, successful company.

Make a Sparkling Impression

Remember that when you arrive on scene, your vehicle is going to get noticed by the clients or prospects. A dirty vehicle can reflect poorly on you. If you do any sort of cleaning services, for example, you need to make sure your vehicle reflects that image by keeping it polished. The same goes for any hygienic services like in-home grooming, pet care, nursing, or food services. If you’re looking for tips to keep your wrapped vehicle clean, click here.

If and when your business begins to grow and you need to invest in a fleet, each vehicle needs to be clean and present a good image—so keep in mind that you’ll need to manage that.

Wrapping Makes It Easy To Look Good

You might be tempted to use a temporary marking, like a top-of-the-car or magnetic sign. The problem with this is you’ll have to—somehow—ensure that your employees don’t forget to put them in place before they roll out. And keep in mind that all of the signs need to look the same—both in design and in context. If someone sees your sign on a red sedan and the same design on a white minivan, what will they think that you do? Will they know that the two vehicles are affiliated with the same company?

Getting vinyl lettering or a vinyl wrap for your service vehicle or fleet makes it easy for you to make a good impression. One big tip is to use a logo or graphics that communicate what you do so people know without having to guess based on the company name. This is also a good spot to use a QR code—a special bar code that can lead smartphone users to your website or to special offers. And if you’re going to be wrapping a fleet (two or more vehicles), you’ll be able to match the colors digitally on all the wraps. The uniform look will make your service vehicles instantly identifiable in the community.

Are you in the home services industry, or thinking about entering? Does this post answer any of your questions or give you any ideas? Let us know in the comments section below!

Learn How to Care For Your Vehicle Wrap

Luke Phillips — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:04:57 +0000

It’s no surprise, your vehicles all need some kind of maintenance. You’ve got to schedule in oil changes, tire rotations—and when you start collecting grime that needs to get washed away, you’re technically maintaining that lovely paint job.

When you’ve got a vinyl wrap, you get the same sort of thing going on: an easy maintenance task that you can schedule into your routine, if you know what to do. Follow these tips and you’ll keep that wrap looking great for the duration!

Washing

It’s no surprise, your wrap’s going to get dirty. After all, you’re exposing it to the elements when you’re showing it off! And remember that dirt, grime, and even road salts can be corrosive or abrasive to your wrap, and you’ve got to have a washing schedule to avoid doing damage to it.

Hand-washing is the best option. Make sure you’re using a nice, soft, non-abrasive cloth. Rinse the car down and let it air-dry. You can use a car wash if you want to, but it can get a little tricky. The big thing to remember about car washes is that the touch-free washes that use pressurized water or heat dryers aren’t good for your wrap—they might lead to peeling or warping. Be especially careful not to spray on the seams of the wrap (because it may lift up) and remember that intense pressure might lead to fraying.

Quick Tip: If you find that the vinyl does begin to lift in some areas, you can fix that yourself using a tape primer or another adhesive-promoting solution, and then pressing the vinyl back in place. Make sure that the solution is safe for your car’s paint before you slather it on!

When you’re choosing a detergent, chemicals are a big no-no. Harsher chemicals might affect the colors and adhesive effects of the wrap. So use soft, alcohol-free detergents and rinse as immediately as you can to preserve the pristine condition.

Aging

Brake pads are an example of a part in your car that you need to replace with use. And just like a well-used brake pad, vinyl graphics also have a limited lifespan. Most vinyl graphics aren’t going to crack, peel, discolor, or fade for five years after installation. Of course, that lifespan depends on factors like the type of vinyl and other materials that you’re using, and how well you care for it. But in general, you can plan to have five years’ worth of bright colors and intense detail.

Windows

If you’ve got any graphics on your windows, they’re most likely made from perforated window vinyl. And because you’re perforated, they’ll need special attention. It’s best not to open or roll down those windows with the wrapping on them, or you risk lifting the vinyl off the window. If the glass has any heating or defrosting elements inside, don’t activate those or you might warp the vinyl. And finally, windshield wipers on those windows might cause warping, lifting, or fraying—don’t use them. In that case, it’s really best to only wrap windows that you don’t use to drive with, such as corner windows and backseat windows.

With these tips in mind, do you feel like you’re ready to care for your vinyl wrap? Do you have any other questions? If you do, leave those in the comments below!

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The Hidden Benefits Auto Wraps Bring To Your Home-Based Business

Luke Phillips — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:22:26 +0000

Small business owners, be honest with me: when you think of advertising, you’re thinking in terms of radio, TV spots, and print ads. Am I right?

I don’t blame you. TV, radio, and print ads are the media that brought our society to the place it’s at today. And besides, these are the classic “interruptive” advertising methods, which means that they stop everything around them so that you’re forced to pay attention.

But what if I told you that there were other advertising options that can actually be more affordable, more effective, and scale well with your business? There are quite a few internet advertising options that are well developed, but a key utility player in your advertising arsenal is going to be a vehicle wrap. It’s a tool that is proven to drive sales in your business and grow awareness of your brand.

Don’t believe me? Check out a couple of these tips to see what a vehicle wrap can do for your small business.

The Digital Advantage

I mentioned before about how many internet-based advertising opportunities are well-developed and great for small businesses. The main advantages of the digital media (and the reason why traditional media is under threat) is because online alternatives are accessible to audiences and can anticipate what they may be looking for. So if you have an idea of the types of clients or customers that you want to serve (and you really ought to), you can target them specifically online.

The same is true for a vehicle wrap! Through the magic of driving, you have precise control over where your wrap is at and who gets exposure to your brand. If your customers might also be looking for building materials, get some time in at Home Depot or Lowe’s. If they like organic foods, go to Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.

Essentially, anywhere that you can find people who would buy from you, you’ve got the option to drive over and meet them face-to-face.

Just remember this: all you need for an ad campaign to work is something to grab attention and keep an audience engaged. If you skip print, radio, and TV in lieu of a vehicle wrap, you’ll do just that. I mean, people can’t “change the station” to avoid seeing a truck or van that’s parked in their neighborhood or driving in front of them. Wraps get constant exposure with the people around them.

Advertising Costs

Small businesses or home-based businesses don’t often have tons of cash just lying around that they can throw at every marketing opportunity that comes along. That’s why an auto wrap is a great way to go, because they’re one of the most affordable marketing and advertising investments that you could make.

Even if you’re interested but can’t afford to wrap your entire car or truck, you could still consider a partial wrap for only a fraction of the cost of a whole wrap and still get a huge boost in attention and brand awareness.

And consider this: As representative at TV and radio stations or periodicals can’t guarantee what they say their subscriber and demographic figures are. And even if they could, those reps can’t control whether your ad will be watched, heard, or noticed or that it will even reach the people that you need to reach. With a vehicle wrap, you’re in complete control of how, when, and where you get exposure. What better way is there to reach the prospects you want?

The Wrap Rundown

Look, you know that between normalized interruptive advertising and vehicle wraps, there’s no competition. But what are the specific benefits of wrapping your car or truck?

Up to 70,000 impressions per day
Durable material that lasts for up to five years
Completely removable, doesn’t damage the vehicle or paint job
Your normal, in-the-field operations double as advertising activities
3M’s new Envision line of wrap films offer an environmentally friendly option!

But aside from all of that, ask yourself this if you’ve ever used any of the legacy advertising methods. Were they really worth the money that you put into them? Were they worth the time you put into updating and changing them? I’m going to guess, maybe it’s better to go with a vehicle wrap.

Did this post help you discover something new about vehicle wraps, or is this all old news? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!

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Tips For Getting an Amazing Response From Your Vehicle Wrap Today

Luke Phillips — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 04:24:59 +0000

Let me fill you in on a little secret: the wrap that you’ve got on your vehicle is one of the most powerful and diverse tools in your advertising arsenal. Don’t believe me? Well, there are some specific strategies that you can use to turn that utility player into an MVP. Used well, your vehicle wrap has enough power to make a big impact with prospective customers– as well as frustrate and undermine your competition, if you’re into that sort of thing.

See It To Believe It

Remember that sight is the primary sense that people use in their everyday lives. Which means that your choice to invest in a visual medium is pretty clever. Since you’ve already got something to see, the challenge now is to be seen. Here are some ideas:

Go Play In Traffic: When you have time in your schedule, take the busiest routes instead of the fastest ones. But don’t make yourself late for appointments– the trust your customers have for you is more important than exposure.
Take It Shopping: If you don’t have any appointments that day, take the vehicle out for errands. Large shopping centers are great, but many have towing policies, so make sure you actually have business with that store. Seek out the worst spots, the ones that are closest to the road and furthest from the entrance.
Partner with a Storefront: If you build a relationship with a specific supplier, servicer, or other storefront, ask them if you can park your vehicle at their shop at off-peak hours, like when people are too busy trying to get to or from work to want to stop into the shop. Arrive early and leave before things get moving for your partners, make sure never to outstay your welcome.

Make It Eventful

Whenever you get an opportunity, take your vehicle to events happening in the community. Arrive early, stay late, and park near the street. Make sure everyone sees your vehicle as they’re entering and exiting. Keep an eye and an ear out for any of these events to post at:

Sports Games
Special Events
Trade Shows

Boldly Go Where You Haven’t Been Before

Once you have a wrap, you’ve got an attention grabber no matter where you are. That means that you’re afforded some pretty interesting opportunities that weren’t open to you before. Any of these ideas will make an impression with your new graphics and make sure people see your contact information.

Enemy Territory: Make yourself and your brand known by making your way into your competitors’ areas of operation. Some people might welcome a change from the ordinary!
Pioneer: If there are areas of your city that you haven’t seen before, go out and get to know some people there.
Take a Break: While you’re doing administrative work or making a phone call, park your vehicle where everyone can see.

Are any of these ideas on your to-do list now? Have you heard any other tips to get the most out of your wrap, or discovered some yourself? Leave those ideas and some reactions in the comments below! You May Also Like…

When is it a Mistake to Paint Your Car? You Can Avoid These Pitfalls!

Luke Phillips — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 19:52:08 +0000

Sometimes, it’s easy to tell if someone is motivated by cost or value. Here’s an example: it’s not uncommon for us, or any other wrap shop to get a request to for a quote on a prospect’s vehicle. And some of the time, that quote is met with an indignant response. In these cases, the prospect might say something along the lines of, “Why would I pay that for a wrap when I can get my (car/truck/van) painted for a few hundred dollars?!”

A Quality Problem

It begs the question, why do some people compare an auto wrap to a (low-end) paint job? Why do other people accept the quote or buy a wrap based on the quote? I have to think that some of the reason stems from the fact that neither wrapping nor painting is a standard service. You can have a great wrap job or a really stunning paint job, but there are also providers who will be slipshod about either painting or wrapping your vehicle. When you’re getting good work done by either a wrapper or a painter, it’s easy to appreciate the quality and know that your investment was money well spent. And at their peaks, an expert wrapper differentiates himself from an expert painter with the small details of the work. If you’re having really good work done, the two services don’t even compare to one another. But if you don’t really care about quality, if the price is more important than the end result, then it doesn’t really matter at all whether you choose a wrap or a paint job– neither will really be worth the money you’ve spent. Still, it’s worth the time to really consider some of the differences in the processes. That way, when you’re shopping for a quality provider, you’ll be able to make an informed decision.

The Process of Paint

There are certain things that you ought to expect when you’re looking for a paint job. To start, vehicles often need a lot of prep work to take the paint. Your car, truck, or van will need to get sanded and primed before a drop of paint even makes contact. Expect that vehicle to be out of commission for around two weeks while the paint settles. In the end, the quality of the paint really makes the difference in how good it looks and how long it will last. This isn’t necessarily what you can expect out of every paint job, though. Super-cheap paint jobs are characterized by cutting corners. Skipping the sanding and priming, for example, is a great way for a shop to get your car out of their hands and take your money as quickly as they can. Of course, you also end up with a shoddy paint job that will slough off in just a few years. But it will be really cheap!

What Wrapping Has Over Painting

To be fair, since AutoTize is a wrap provider, it would probably be best for you to consider this a start to your research in painting, not the end. On the other hand, we do know a thing or two about wrapping your vehicles. For example, if two weeks is too long to wait between transitions, wrapping has you covered. Your vehicle can get a new wrap in just a day or two (or even a few hours), and then you’re back on the road. And where a bad paint job will start coming off in a few years, a vinyl wrap can last 5-7 years if it’s well cared for. It’s a no-risk proposition, too, because if you don’t like the wrap or you’re ready to change it up, a vinyl wrap can be safely and easily removed from your car without lowering any of the value. If you have a different design in mind, the digital designing process means that you can include any number of intricate and precise patterns. Logos, digital images, and even QR codes are all within reach. Are you thinking about making changes to your vehicle? Did this post help you make a decision, or do you still have some questions? Let us know in the comments below so we can fill you in on any details we might have missed! You Might Also Like…

Wrapping For Distributors

Luke Phillips — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 21:21:32 +0000

If I were pressed to identify the businesses that would gain the most from vehicle wrapping, distributors and suppliers would be in the top three. A distributor or supplier business model has people out in the field all of the time, pushing product down the channel. While they’ve got trucks out on the road, that’s the perfect time to get a little bit of extra attention for the brand—sometimes just a little reminder to pick it up later, but don’t discount the impulse effect! I’ve definitely been known to follow a bakery truck right into a grocery store. If you’re thinking about getting wraps for your fleet of distribution vehicles, first of all, great idea. But there are a few things for you to think about.

What to Expect

We’ve talked about the ins-and-outs of getting a vehicle wrap in a previous post, but some special consideration goes for distribution vehicles that can sometimes be nonstandard or customized somehow. Sometimes, you’ll get a mock up produced to make sure that the truck’s frame doesn’t get any interference. Custom color profiles may be produced to make sure that your colors stand out as you would like them to. After the planning phases are taken care of, the wrap will be printed, laminated, and trimmed for size. Rivets on your vehicle can sometimes make for a special case, causing bubbles later on if the wrap isn’t properly installed. Make sure you’re working with a professional!

What Goes On the Trucks?

When you’re planning out what will go on the truck, there are a few obvious choices. You can start by using a color scheme that is already a part of the brand, like you use on the logo or website. Speaking of the logo, that’s a no brainer! Leave room for your logo. A big broad wrap is a great opportunity to showcase your products using high-def images. You can focus on one product to great detail or take a look at your whole selection! One other element to think about is a QR code. Smartphones are everywhere in our culture, and a well-placed QR code can expose your website or current promotion to pedestrians and other people who may just be in traffic.

Not a Supplier? There’s Still Hope!

If you’re not a supplier or distributor, but you still see the value in getting a wrap to advertise your products, you may be in luck! Some suppliers use a cooperative program. That is, they’ll help you get a wrap for your vehicles at a fraction of the cost, or even for free! Most of the time, these programs have a requirement that you use the supplier’s brand over a certain amount of space on your vehicle. The supplier that you work with is always looking to get some awareness for your brand, and exposure on the road is as good as anywhere else!

Suppliers’ Demand

Have you seen any great uses of supply or distribution vehicles? Have any questions or comments? If you’re thinking about getting wraps for your trucks, click here and find out what we can do for you. And if you’ve got comments, leave them in the comments below! Related Links

How to Reach Customers For B2C

Luke Phillips — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:10:01 +0000

For business-to-customer (often abbreviated as ‘B2C’) businesses, the right advertising strategies are super-important. The size of your company, which is often judged as a heavy factor, matters much less than how well you can engage your customer. Today, all of the traditional ad media are still in play as routes to getting customers’ attention, and you’ll have to plan to invest in advertising to reach the consumer. But not all advertising is equal! Here a few media that you might consider in your B2C ad campaign.

Print

Print advertising is an old standard that’s lost a lot of ground to other forms of advertising, simply because fewer people are consuming print media. You might be able to find some really great deals in specific niche publications. But if you operate and sell in a major metropolitan area, a half-page ad in the newspaper or a full-page ad in a local magazine may cost you thousands of dollars. If you’re trying to reach a national audience, the price can be very steep—think hundreds of thousands for the same space.

Internet

Search engines and online recommendations help people track down the products, services, and offers that they want. To earn a top spot in a competitive category, you need to invest a lot of time and effort into staying high on SEO and on the chatty people’s minds. An alternative to more organic awareness is interruption advertising like the banner ads placed by Google or on Facebook. These can be relatively affordable, though it’s possible to lose money tens or hundreds of dollars at a time if you’re careless and forget to stay on top of your sales funnel. You can streamline your online marketing process—both organic and interruption—if you hire an expert in the field. But top firms and talent will cost you thousands of dollars a month to care for your brand.

Vehicle Wraps

I wouldn’t call this a new option by any means, but wrapping your vehicles definitely brings an impact to a B2C operation. The investment that you make into a vehicle wrap lasts a long time, and allows for great results. The cost of getting a quality wrap installed is only a couple of thousand dollars, but it can yield tens of thousands of visual impressions every day that they’re in the field. You can demonstrate a local presence and indicate to people that you’re operating and selling in their area. Unlike print and online advertising, there are no real limits except for best practices. Use the slogans and selling points that make the best impression and use the graphics that get the most attention. It really doesn’t matter how many vehicles you have—a single car or a whole fleet will both get you scalable results. For that matter, location isn’t important either, because a wrapped vehicle can go to your target audience, wherever they like to buy.

Reach Them Where They Are!

Have you been using any of these methods to get customers for your B2C organization? What works and what doesn’t? If you’re thinking about getting a vehicle wrap to strengthen your advertising, click here to find out how we can help. And if you’ve got a story about your experience in bringing customers into the fold, leave it in the comments below! You Might Also Like…

Branding For Contractors 101

Luke Phillips — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:12:12 +0000

If you’re a contractor, worrying about building a brand can be a big hassle—it makes one more thing to do on top of performing services, administrative, and other sales work. That doesn’t mean you can get away from branding. But it does mean that you have to have a plan when you’re laying the groundwork for your brand. Here are a few things for you to think about while you’re laying the foundation for your contractor business.

Defining a Brand

The word “brand” is a term that gets tossed around a lot. Really, it’s got a very broad definition: it’s essentially made up of everything that makes your business unique. Not just a product or service, but it also includes your level of customer service, ideals, methodology, warranties or guarantees that you provide—basically, anything that a customer or client can perceive. Another way to look at your brand is to do so relatively. Which brands are you similar to, and how? Which brands are you starkly different from?

But Brands Are For Products!

A lot of people think about brands in terms of “brand-name”, like choosing between different types of cereal. Sometimes, the term “brand” gets lost on service providers. But really, for a contractor, the brand is about whatever value your clients get from your services. How do you make them better off? Why do they work with you and not any other contractors? What characteristics make your services any different? Here’s an exercise: think about how your immediate competitors do business and serve their customers. What can you do better than they can? What doesn’t matter to your clients; what can you truly let slide? Remember that’s it’s easier to stay on top of a couple of standards than to try to be all things to all people.

Advertise Your Brand

Once you understand your brand, you need to be able to communicate it. Use all of the standard advertising tools for that, like your logo, website, or your social media interactions. As we’ve discussed in a previous post, a vehicle wrap is an especially great idea for you, especially if you make house calls or have a mobile element in your business. No matter what media you choose, remember that your brand must always be consistent. That means, don’t mix your logos or slogans. Just choose what works best for you and own it!

Contractors Mobilize!

What characteristics make up the foundation for your brand? How do you communicate that? If you’ve got all of your materials together and you’re ready to put yourself out there, click here to find out how we can help you. And leave your branding questions and experiences in the comments below! Related Links

Should Your Fleet Ditch Lettering? Part 2: Lose the Lettering, Grab a Wrap!

Luke Phillips — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:04:35 +0000

In the last post, we covered a few reasons why you may want to ditch your self-installed lettering. Does that mean that we’re saying that branding isn’t important? Of course not! In fact, making sure that your fleet carries your message into the field is a requirement for good promotion. Companies spend a lot of money to develop a brand and keep the message consistent, even across different media. No, what we’re suggesting is this: lose the lettering and wrap that fleet up! Here are a few of the top reasons why you’ll want to go with a full wrap.

Give Your Fleet a Face Lift

You probably know by now that if you’re not advertising on your fleet at all, you’re probably not standing out whether parked or in traffic. Vinyl lettering will get you some attention—but is it the attention you want? If you’ve got some older vehicles in your fleet, the wear and tear on those cars or trucks are going to affect your brand. The solution: wrap up your older vehicles to turn back the clock. And, sure, you could get a paint job for your fleet before installing the lettering—but that might not be the smart decision. A high-quality, custom paint job can cost in the range of about $3,000. And, it will fade more quickly than a full vinyl wrap will. In that case, a vinyl wrap is actually the economical, sound investment.

By The Numbers Benefits

Your wrapped fleet is more like a squad or swarm of mobile billboards than just a bunch of customized cars. If you remember that you’re paying for advertising as well as transportation, you’ll realize how much more wrapping your fleet is worth. For example, you can think about splitting your costs for gas and maintenance between both transportation and advertising expenditures. You want a meatier example? How about this: a contractor fleet (two or more vehicles) is more affordable than any other form of interruptive advertising (in the same category as TV, radio, and newspaper ads). In fact, depending on the medium that wrapping is being compared to, a single wrap can get as many impressions as the next best medium at up to 1/30 of the cost. That’s because they last and last—up to five years for a single wrap.

Install Overhaul

If you hate trying to get lettering straight and worrying about bubbles, then you can take a load off your mind when you work with wraps. Leave the work to our licensed and bonded installation experts. They can take care to make sure your wrap get on straight without any bubbles. And if you want to get your fleet wrapped before they leave the driveway, you just let us come to you—it’s as easy as that. Another great feature of the installation is how easily it’s reversed. You can wrap up a leased fleet without any worry that they’ll get harmed in the least.

Return on Investment?

We’re saying that wrapping your fleet is a better way to go than installing lettering by itself. But what really works for you? If you’re interested in looking into getting a wrap for your fleet, click here to find out more. If you’ve got any questions or comments, leave them below! You Might Also Like…

Should Your Fleet Ditch Lettering?

Luke Phillips — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:06:43 +0000

If your business is big enough to have a fleet of vehicles (two or more) for any reason—whether shuttling, service, sales, or just distribution—then you probably already know the value of custom markings. Many business owners or manager think that custom lettering is enough to advertise the business while the cars or trucks are on the road. But is it? Here are some reasons to reconsider that lettering on your vehicle.

The Hidden Cost

Many contractors and businesses want to try to keep costs low and manageable, understandably. Sometimes, it’s tempting to buy the cheapest option available. Vinyl lettering is definitely a more affordable option than a vinyl wrap or a custom paint job, but are you getting what you’ve paid for? That depends. Are you paying to see fading and peeling more quickly than if you got a whole wrap? Yes, and especially if you live in an area with inclement weather like our native Seattle. Are you paying to have to buy another set of letters and reinstall several times in the lifespan of a full wrap? Yes again. So the real question becomes, do you want what you’re paying for?

The Secret Language of “Easy Installation”

You might take a look around and find that there are plenty of options for vinyl lettering that include “easy installation.” But who’s supposed to perform this easy installation? Oh, that’s right, you are. This is one of the ways that custom lettering outfits can cut costs and responsibility—because you know that if there’s something wrong with the way it turns out, they can chalk it up to user error. What would happen if, say, an air bubble was trapped beneath the lettering? A pro would be able to sweep it out; they’re trained to take care of that. But some lettering companies say that you can just pierce it with a needle or a razor. You wouldn’t want to start slicing at your car with a razor, would you? Not to mention that piercing the vinyl like this might lead to a quicker degradation and maybe trap water next to your car—not a fun time.

Boxed In Options

The lettering on the side of your car won’t last, and it’s not fun to install. But it’s got to have some benefit, right? Sure, I guess. Like if you drive around a perfectly white cube, maybe lettering is the way to go. Vinyl lettering doesn’t really like to set on curvature, so your bumper is right out. And if you happen to use a vehicle with any ridges or liners on the paneling, that can make it difficult to use lettering. Also, lettering is often monochromatic—and mostly black. Black can be hard to see, and it’s definitely easy to miss. So unless you’re driving around a paper white cube, you might not be getting all you want out of your lettering. But then, if you drive a cube, you might not need much at all to get attention.

The Decision Is Yours

Have you been using lettering on your fleet? Have you experienced any of these issues, or do you think I’m just full of hot air? If you’re thinking about moving on to a full wrap for your fleet, click here. And if you’ve got any thoughts on lettering, leave them in the comments below! You May Also Like…