Stripe Art’s 185.8-m2 (2000-sf) showroom and production facility in Simcoe, Ont., comprises a reception area, a design office, and a production area. It is supported by a satellite location to accommodate larger vehicles.
What types of vehicles do you wrap?
BF: In addition to cars, vans, trucks, and trailers, we’ve wrapped solar-powered vehicles, airplanes, snowmobiles, golf carts, motorcycles, buses, and sprinter vans. We turn down transport trailer jobs, as that work is for the very large shops with dedicated transport trailer installers.
DC: We also do some fleet work. Clients come back each season for new wraps or add to their vehicle fleet. Many keep the wraps on for years. Our clients include mostly local businesses, contractors, construction companies, plumbers, landscapers, carpenters, garden centres, and a lot of small business vehicles.
Customers typically bring us artwork, but we also do about 10 per cent fully custom designs.
How do your customers find you?
RS: We’ve done a lot of signs in our area, so word of mouth is big for us. Although we’ve had to stop taking orders while standing in line at the grocery store and the coffee shop, it’s great to know our work is known and appreciated.
Most of our clients are fairly local, but we do service all areas of Norfolk County. We also print and ship to customers who live further away.
In today’s busy marketplace, why do you think clients choose your shop for their vehicle graphics?
DC: We have a reputation for doing quality work, and we always use proper products, so the wraps last. Some of our wraps have been around for eight years. We’re also known for taking care of any customer concerns before they become real issues.
Having six printers in-house is a great advantage. We can do smaller run jobs and get them off the printer, laminated, and back on the machine for contour cutting, while the other machines can continually print the larger jobs such as multi-panel billboards and longer wrap graphics. We also do a good amount of outsource printing for other commercial businesses. Our shop is always ready to go, and we offer customers prompt, reliable, high-quality production.
Going forward, what role do you see vehicle graphics playing in your business?
BF: Vehicle graphics are very strong for us and will remain strong. The mobile advertising value is just so high; it’s taken over other forms of advertising. People are right to see vehicle graphics as rolling billboards.
DC: People who are starting or expanding their businesses buy their vehicles and then come see us. Many times, the vehicle is dropped off to us by the dealer before the customer even takes delivery.
Stripe Art offers lettering as well as full and partial vehicle wraps to suit their customers’ needs.
What would you say to any shops who are considering offering vehicle graphics?
DC: I would strongly recommend adding a vehicle graphics capability. It’s what customers are asking for personally and for their businesses. To get started, be sure you have a good designer who knows you have to be able to read a message easily in a moment. If you don’t know what the message is trying to convey, then it’s not a good, working sign. A good sign is a sign you can read.
We believe you should strive to deliver what you promise and be honest in everything, including when the job can be completed. Your reputation in the business is critical. Under promise and over deliver.
Don’t throw out an armchair price, because whatever you say first is the number your client will remember. If your quote is too low, they expect that price, and if you misjudge and quote too high, they will never return.
If you want to stay in business, put a proper and fair price on your work. We incorporate a bit extra for any unexpected additional costs and mess-ups. While it may be tempting to try and beat the competition by quoting a lower price, it will cause your business to lose money in the long run. You have to be able to take care of your customers and the problems, fixes, and redo’s with a good attitude and a smile.
What do you see for the future of your shop?
DC: You never know what’s coming tomorrow, but we’re looking at expanding our production and outsourcing some of our larger installations.
One of the best parts of this job is every day is different and brings a new challenge. We have great customers who bring us a fun variety of jobs and signage projects and working with a top-notch team really helps keep the creative juices flowing.
Notes
1 For more information, visit https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-automotive-wrap-films-market-outlook-growing-sign-and-graphics-industry-drives-demand-with-22-cagr-forecast-between-2021-2028-301423914.html.
Ginny Mumm is a freelance consultant for digital inkjet printer/cutter provider Roland DGA. For more information, visit www.rolanddga.com.
