Todd’s article appears in Sign and Digital Graphics

October 21, 2009.

Todd LaBrie writes article for Sign and Digital Graphics.

Joining the Wraps Game

By: Todd LaBrie

Sign & Digital Graphics

As many of us already know, vehicle wrapping is a fun, expressive and creative business endeavor that is available to practically anyone. The potential to earn a great living from a relatively small investment, minimal (if any) print and design knowledge and an extra 1,000 square feet of spare floor space is all that is required to get a vehicle wrapping company off the ground.

There are however, many factors to take into account if you are considering adding wraps to your offerings. As with any business, if you want to succeed and do well, you should first ask yourself if you are genuinely interested and then be sure that you are willing and able to invest the time that is required to learn this exciting, complex and often daunting advertising medium.

There is a definite learning curve associated with wrapping cars and arming yourself with the right information may be even more important than owning the fastest printer with the latest technology. At this particular time in the evolution of outdoor advertising and printing, there are many different business models that make up the industry of “vehicle wrapping”.

Vehicle wraps have played a major role for advertising products, services, events and calls to action at the agency and promotional level since vinyl could hold ink. With a little determination and a sincere willingness to learn, you can get on the fast track in this amazing industry. Entrepreneurial opportunities with high earning potentials and small price tags are rare (at best), but car wrapping as a profession is a real thing and the success is being enjoyed by hundreds of self-starters every day across the country and in every demographic.

Quite possibly, you can use that graphic arts, Web design, printing or agency background to help you get up to speed with the large-format process. On the other hand, you may not have any design or print experience at all and just hearing the word RIP can send you running for the hills. As someone who routinely prints and installs these rolling billboards, I can say—with much certainty—that we have all been at the beginning of this rather complex journey in search of a starting point. I can also say with as much certainty that the door you need to pass through is a lot wider than you think.