It’s great when you are able to report that a project is going well!  Although we had hoped to have more of these large trucks complete, we’re able to report that 3 of the 8 trucks in the Los Angeles market have been completed.  Because these delivery trucks are constantly in use, the schedule has been somewhat fluid; however, it is our goal to have the remaining box trucks finished by year end.

The project has involved the coordination and delivery of vinyl materials from two separate suppliers to our remote installation crew in the Los Angeles area.  The cut vinyl lettering with the corporate brand identity is shipped to the install crew pre-masked and ready to be overlaid onto the trucks.  So far the feedback on the quality of the work has been great and we are getting positive feedback from our client at the most senior levels of their operation.

Although the Restoration Hardware Bay Area truck wraps are a few months away, we are already excited about the additional nine trucks we will be wrapping locally.  We will keep you posted on our progress.

If you are considering a vehicle or fleet graphics project we hope you will give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000 or send an email to info@signworks.us.com.

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I asked our new intern to write about his experience in helping out with our in-house vehicle wrap project.  I thought it would be a good experience for him to learn about the wrap process as well as to enhance his writing skills.  He wrote the following:

“I’m Steven, the new intern at Sign Works, and recently I assisted with a vehicle wrap on the SignWorks shop truck. I learned many new things just from this experience. I learned that the material for wrapping vehicles is different than the type used for other vinyl graphics projects.  I also learned that you can’t rush to complete the job. It takes more time to complete the wrap because you need to insure that there are no bubbles or creases in the vinyl. It was also more complicated than I original thought it was going to be. From start to finish the job was a lot of fun and a very beneficial experience for me.

We also put graphics on to the rear windows using another type of vinyl called window perforation.  It was similar in some ways but unlike the other vinyl that could be heated to release bubbles or crinkles.  No heat was applied on the material for the windows.  Also, the material for the windows has small holes so that the driver can see through them from inside.  It was interesting seeing how the vinyl was cut to fit around various plastic molded pieces.  These special techniques and cuts made for a very finished look when the project was complete.  I enjoyed working with both types of vinyl and learning how to apply and seal wrap vinyl on a vehicle.

If you or your company is thinking about a full or partial vehicle wrap you should call SignWorks at (510) 357-2000.  I look forward to assisting on your vehicle project as well!”

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We are sometimes asked by remote advertising agencies to either install vehicle graphics and wraps locally.  Likewise we will sometimes need to manage the logistics for a fleet of vehicles or trucks that are located outside of our immediate geography.  What this requires is detailed logistics skills as well as great communication between our local design/fabrication team and the remote installers.

When we are sent prints from an agency to install on a vehicle, most recently a St. Louis based advertiser (Switch: Liberate You Brand), we want to make sure that we skillfully install the provided graphics without damage to the material. Obviously if there is damage to the material the burden of reprinting a damaged section of graphics would need to be absorbed by us.

On the other hand a current fleet graphics project involving several large box trucks that are in the process of being wrapped, has us shipping vinyl to Los Angeles for installation of Restoration Hardware graphics onto their delivery operation (HomeDeliveryLink) trucks.  The communication between the customer, fleet management organization and the remote installers must be managed with care so that the scheduling logistics and material delivery are timely and appropriate.  Not to mention, the need to make sure that the selected remote crew is skillful and certified to perform the installation work.

Sometimes these projects include design which means that the process will start with a design consultation.  This will involve fact finding about the business and getting a clear understanding of what the goals are for the wrap project.  Truly understanding the client’s needs allows us to do a better job designing the wrap and translating it into a finished project.

We understand that face-to-face contact is not always possible but between the phone, teleconferencing as needed, and email proofs, we have been able to work with many remote clients seamlessly.  Once approved by the client we print and over-laminate the graphics to provide additional protection for the print.  Trimming and shipping the graphics to the installers is the final step in the process if the customer has selected their own installers.  We can source or contract with certified installers in remote geographies as needed.

If you like our designs don’t let the fact that you’re not located in the San Francisco Bay Area keep us apart.  SignWorks is just a phone call away at (510) 357-2000 or you can email us at info@signworks.us.com.

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We are often asked to give phone quotes or estimates for vehicle wraps over the phone.  While this may seem easy to do we are often asked to give them without complete information about the vehicle that is being wrapped.  Sometimes we’re asked to quote on partial wraps even though the customer is unclear about which sections of the vehicle will be wrapped.  Case in point: Hood, passenger versus rear doors, rear windows versus back quarter glass, etc.?

If you are interested in getting an over the phone or e-mail quote  sign shops who offer vehicle wraps need to  know 5 things.

1.)    The make, model color and year of your vehicle

2.)    Are there dents or imperfections in the body?

3.)    If you are interested in a full wrap  (Complete coverage) or a partial wrap (Specific coverage)

4.)    Do you have the graphics or will we need to design them?

5.)     What is your time-frame or deadline?

Armed with the above information the sign shop can give you an accurate quote.   If you are thinking about a full or partial vehicle wrap, or even simple cut lettering for your car doors, give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000.

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When San Leandro based HeavyLux, a company that specializes in frameless shower doors, decided to add graphics to their vehicles they approached SignWorks to do the fleet graphics for them.  While the logo already existed, the vehicles needing branding were all a little different and consisted of a variety of trucks and a van.  This meant that the logo and text needed to be sized and scaled to match the make and model of the vehicle on which the graphics would be applied.  Our skilled designer worked with the client to measure each vehicle and determine accurate placement.  He then manipulated the graphics to have a uniform appearance, while simultaneously making adjustments for the sizing variations.  The project was completed over the course of a few days and we think it looks great!

If you are considering a full or partial vehicle wrap or simply applying cut vinyl lettering to your car doors give the folks at SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000.  We will help you get just the look you want and work within your budget.

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A bad vehicle design will simply distract from the impact of the wrap and muddle the message you are trying to convey. Most of these design mistakes are avoidable:

1. Alignment Errors. When the seams don’t line up or when more complicated graphic images land right on top of a door seam or gas cap, there may be some room for design improvements. The designer should be able to make subtle changes that will prevent installation nightmares and ensure that your wrap looks as good on the vehicle as it did on the computer screen. Using a good template and getting the vehicle to the shop to check for alignment issues before the graphic is printed, is a must.

2. Too Bold or Busy. As a sign company we are biased toward “Bold” images. However, bold can look busy on a smaller vehicle so make sure that you don’t overcrowd the design with too much detail or design flair! There is something to be said for simple elegance that includes the business name, contact information, and product/service offering.

3. Illegible Font. There are some amazing fonts out there but you should avoid the temptation to select one that is not readable from a distance or by a passing driver who is whizzing by you at 65 miles per hour on the freeway! A large san serif font may be a good choice and certainly better than a font where the lower case E and C can’t be deciphered from a distance.

4. Seam Placement. While seams are necessary, a skilled designer can probably avoid having them placed over faces and/or important verbiage. A good vehicle wrap that is well installed should like a lot like a paint job with a minimal amount of seams.

5. Poor Messaging. If your vehicle wrap does not allow customers and prospects to understand what you do, then it is not effective, and there is room for improvement. Make sure that your advertising message is clear and that the images you have included tie into the products and services you offer. Include your business name and logo if you have one.

If you are considering a vehicle wrap or fleet graphics project give the folks at SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000. We’re here to help.

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These are exciting times here at SignWorks!  Our client, Restoration Hardware and their delivery arm  are in the process of branding their delivery trucks.  The sizes of the box trucks vary and the branding which was established years beforehand consists of two contrasting shades of grey.  The text identifies the year that the company was established.  Our role has been to coordinate the program management aspects of this fleet graphics project so that the remote installation crew in Los Angeles can complete the project in a timely manner.  The cut vinyl graphics are laid out and prepped here in San Leandro then shipped along with the roll stock to the installation crew.

We just completed the first of eight trucks in the Los Angeles market and we are working with our client to schedule the remaining seven trucks.  The current plan is that the Bay area fleet will be wrapped here in San Leandro starting in October 2011.

While this particular project involves wrapping the entire trailer compartment, many other options exist when it comes to fleet graphics.  These include simple lettering, large or small decals, as well as partial wraps.   We hope you agree that the full wrap pictured above turned out great!  If you would like to understand your options or discuss your specific fleet and budget, just give SignWorks a call at (510) 357-2000.

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I’m sure you’ve heard the term, “You get what you pay for.”  Its implications are very clear when it comes to vehicle wraps and graphics.  Over the years we have seen many bad wraps where cheap materials and poor workmanship were very visible in every bubble, misaligned seam, crease, etc.  You name it, we’ve seen it!

I once wrote about a wrap that went wrong and I’m still haunted by the pictures of the BMW whose matte black wrap did not extend to the white door handles underneath!  When you are evaluating where to have your vehicle and fleet graphics done, even if they are not full or partial wraps, understand that the lowest possible price may not be your best option.  Here are three simple tips that will help ensure you get a quality car wrap:

1. Ask about the materials that will be used and make sure that the vinyl being used is a cast vinyl and suitable for vehicle graphics.  Beware of knock-off imported vinyl.  If you haven’t heard of the manufacturer before you should be wary.
2. Make sure that if graphics are being applied that the vinyl is being over laminated with the manufacturers recommended laminate.  It is best to match 3M vinyl with 3M laminate.  The same is true for Avery and Oracal.  The vinyl and its laminate mate have been fabricated and tested in a way that will optimize their performance when they are used together so follow that simple rule.
3. Ask whether the shop uses a master certified installer and if they don’t, or look puzzled, run don’t walk away from the facility.  Improper workmanship such as overheating and stretching the vinyl, not trimming or sealing edges properly, will show in the finished result.

We could add several others but we think the ones highlighted above will help you avoid the major pitfalls.  If you need more advice just call SignWorks at (510) 357-2000.  We are happy to help.

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