By. Christopher J. Derry from September 2010 Wide-Format Imaging on page 28.

Vehicle graphics are a terrific way to maximize your advertising dollars while adding to your marketing mix. When compared with traditional media channels, vehicle wrapping offers an unparalleled value. According to the Transportation Advertising Council, a division of the OAAA, vehicle advertising generates between 30,000 and 70,000 vehicular impressions per day. Whether you maintain an entire fleet of vehicles or just a single auto, vehicle graphics offer a tremendous value and great return on your initial investment.

Brand Exposure

This is an exceptional and cost effective way to add to your marketing mix. During an economic downturn, maintaining a consistent presence in front of consumers is as important as ever. It is this brand awareness and recall that plays such a critical role for consumers when they are ready to spend their hard earned dollars.

Cost Per Impression

There have been extensive case studies highlighting the value and effectiveness of vehicle-based advertising. When comparing average CPM (cost per 1000 impressions), vehicle graphics offer a significant cost advantage and reach over traditional media outlets. According to a recent study by the Outdoor Advertising Assoociation of American:

- Vehicle graphics cost approximately .80 cents = $1.30 CPM.

- In the top 100 television markets, a 30 second prime time spot = $17.78 CPM.

- In the top 100 newspaper marketings a one third page b/w ad = $22.95 CPM.

- In 23 magazine publications, a four-color, one-page ad = $9.35 CPM.

- In the top 1010 radio markets, a 60-second drive-time ad = $8.61 CPM.

- The average for all forms of billboard ads = $2.18 CPM.

Remember, it's not the product you sell, it's the features and benefits. In this case, you're not selling a vehicle wrap; you're selling 30,000 - 70,000 daily consumer impressions (assuming your customer isn't driving around in the woods). You don't sell advertising; you sell consistent brand exposure, allowing your customer to best represent their identity.

Recap

- Low entry cost for full wrap. Typical cargo van = $3,000 to $4,000.

- Vehicle wrap owners typically get three years or more out of their wrap.

- This breaks down to approximately $83 to $111 per month.

- 30,000 impressions/day = 7.2 mil imp/yr = 21.6 mil imp/3yr = $.0019 per impression (based on 5 day work week, 48 working weeks annually).

- $.0019 is about $.02 per 10 impressions over the course of three years.

Count down in T-minus 10 seconds

10...9...8..7...6...5...4...3...2...1..Bust off! How many kids can say that they rode a space shuttle to class? Well, that's how Sage Jackson's speech therapy students will feel once they get into their newly wrapped bus shuttle for speech classes.







With our graphic designer's help, Sage Jackson came to us with an idea and a drawing. He want a bus shuttle to be wrapped like a space shuttle. After doing the Ark of Salvation, turning a bus shuttle to a space shuttle seems like one of our popular niches.

With two days of installation, we were able to create what every kid's dream... becoming an astronaut and riding in a space shuttle. With a little imagination, transferring your ordinary vehicle into an extraordinary vehicle is what we at Speedpro Imaging do.

How to take care of your vehicle wrap

Here are some helpful tips to take care your vehicle graphics so they last longer:

1. Vehicle cannot be washed for a minimum of 72 hours after application. This time allows the material adhesive to "cure" ensuring long term performance.

2. Vehicle must NEVER be pressure washed or go through a car wash for cleaning. As you could imaginge, the brushes and higher pressure sprayers can dull the finish graphic, or peel the vinyl, causing more damage to the graphic.

3. Vehicle must be hand washed with a non-abrasive cleaing solution such as liquid dish washing detergent. Avoid unnecessary scrubbing. Allow to dry naturally.

4. Because the rear window wiper can damage the window graphics/lettering, it is suggested to only ust it when needed, or not at all.

5. NEVER use an ice scraper on window graphics.

6. For magnets, please remember to take them off whenever you can. If magnets are left on continuously over months in hot weather, it has the ability to stick to the car.

7. To remove tar, oil, diesel smut, or bituminous material, wipe with 3M Citrus Based Industrial Cleaner or a rag dampened with kerosene, mineral spirits, heptane, or VM&P naphtha. Do not use other solvents!

8. To remove crayon, lipstick, or similar materials, select an appropriate solent and test it in an inconspicuous area to ensure it removes the contaminant without damaging the graphic. This must be done on a customer test and approve basis. Wash immediately with mild liquid detergent and water, and the rinse with clean water.

Latest Project

The image above is a great example of a vehicle wrap decal. Because the car is already white, we were able just to print and cut out just what was needed for the image. This method was able to reduce the cost of the vehicle wrap substanically.

However, we did have a problem with the files. Because the files were sized for a different car year, the images didn't look right when they were resized. We had adjust to graphic to the car.

Helpful tip: It is important to give the year of the model because of measurements and graphics. Also if supplying graphics, make sure that the graphic designer is able to adjust the sizes. So when it is adjusted it won't look distorted.

Simple tips like these can make getting a vehicle wrap easy as 1-2-3.

Latest Project

Check out our latest project for Man On Fire!

Having traveled from Albany, GA, Rex and his brother came to our chic studio in search for someone to help him get his 2004 Escalade wrap. He wanted to begin promoting his album and his music.

With a logo in place, Laura and Rex were able to collaborate an eye catching design that represented his album's name, Man On Fire.

Flames were thought of for the background, while an enlarged image of Rex was placed on each side of the wrap near the album's name. On the hood, you can find his album's cover picture. "I would have to say that this wrap really came out well. With certain situations, we were able to satisfy the customer, while not breaking any of the graphics... and I think it's EPIC," yelled Laura when asked her thoughts on the wrap.

Here are more images of the wrap:


For more information, please visit www.speedprometroatlanta.com.

Celebrate the Century Express Train Wrap

In 2000, the US Postal Service launched a commemorative stamp and education campaign honoring the most significant people, places, events, and trends of the 20th Century. To support this "Celebrate-the-Century" program, the US Postal Service took a four-car Amtrak train to cities throughout the nation. Equipped with interactive exhibits, the train helped students and families travel back in time.

This train wrap was installed with 3M Scotchprint graphics and produced by New Image Technologies. The train wrap design presented colorful enlargements of the 150 stamps from the Postal Services' "Celebrate-the-Century" series.

Through Speedpro Imaging of Greater Atlanta did not do this train wrap, we were capable to have produced and installed it. For more information on train wraps or using large format, please visit, www.speedprometroatlanta.com

Latest Project

Check out our latest mission we completed. With some obstacles in our way (like holiday breaks and weather conditions), the Speedpro of Greater Atlanta team was able to finish the vehicle wrap without fail.
It all started in late November, when we received a call from Joseph Lord, CEO of PRG (Precision Roofing Group) about getting a vehicle wrap done. As time progressed, a H3 Hummer was chosen.

With this in mind, Laura Nuse, production manager of Speedpro of Greater Atlanta, began to design and layout panels for this vehicle wrap. "This was my first [full] vehicle wrap [so] I'm nervous!" She exclaimed as she guided and watched her baby come to life. With the help of our experienced installers, we were able to execute the vehicle wrap.

Now whenever you see this vehicle driving around Georgia, please think of Speedpro Imaging of Greater Atlanta and PRG!

For more information on PRG, please check them out here.

For more information on vehicle wraps, please visit our website at www.speedprometroatlanta.com.

The Different Types of Vehicle Graphics

When looking for a vehicle graphic, know your options. Going to a print/sign shop that might not have too much experience in vehicle graphics, might not know what suits you the best..



There are many options, styles, and types of vehicle graphics:

• Full Wrap-a full wrap is covering all of the vehicle including roof/hood/and bumpers.
• Partial Wrap-the more economical wrap, doesn’t cover all or most of the vehicle, it may cover half the vehicle.
• Decals-more individual pieces, they can range from bumper stickers to covering a tailgate. Much smaller than a partial and full wrap.
• Perforated Windows-covering your back or side windows with a mesh adhesive film, you will still be able to see through it and great way to promote your business to the person behind you.
• Magnets-magnets with your business information on them, can easily be taken off and stuck back on.

Remember to also see what their warranty is. Sometimes installers forget to put sealer on the graphic vinyl edge causing it to lift up and not stick on right.

However, once said and done, you'll have an amazing graphic to will impact drivers everywhere.