M2 Graphix: Building a wrap empire

by marika_gabriel | 5 March 2025 11:20 am

How M2 Graphix accelerated its success by mastering every wrap

By Ginny Mumm

From folding boxes in a college job to wrapping vehicles that turn heads across B.C., Mike Merryweather’s journey has been anything but conventional. The founder of M2 Graphix, Merryweather has built a thriving wraps business with a reputation for innovation and quality. Here is a look at how this Westshore, B.C.-based company became a leader in vehicle graphics and branding.

An idea is born

Merryweather’s fascination with graphics started when he worked at an educational services company during college. Watching the company’s graphic designer in action ignited a passion for visual storytelling. His bosses recognized his interest and talent and sponsored him to study graphic design. After cutting his teeth at Disney Interactive, he co-founded a 3D animation, web design, and branding company in 1997. Over the years, the business morphed into what is now M2 Graphix.

From pixels to print

M2 eventually expanded its offerings to include vehicle graphics. “The transition to wraps was surprisingly natural,” says Merryweather. “We were tired of designing solely on screens. In 2005, we bought our first digital printer—a 30-in. Roland DG VersaCAMM printer/cutter—and began experimenting.”

Merryweather and his partner started small, designing vehicle graphics and wrapping their own cars to refine their skills. The journey wasn’t without its hiccups, but their persistence paid off. By 2017, Merryweather had become a certified vehicle wrapper, and demand for their work skyrocketed.

Humble beginnings

M2 Graphix started in Merryweather’s basement suite. As the business grew, so did their ambitions. They initially sublet 185.8 m² (2,000 sf) in a larger facility, eventually taking over the entire space. Today, their 557.42-m² (6,000-sf) facility in Westshore, B.C., is a testament to their success. With large bays, they can accommodate 12 to 14 vehicles at once. “That’s a huge advantage over smaller shops. It’s especially helpful when wrapping fleets or larger vehicles like Class A motorhomes, boats, dump trucks, and even 12.1-m (40-ft) trailers,” says Merryweather.

To power their production, they use two Roland DG TrueVIS large-format inkjets—a 1625.6-mm (64-in.) printer/cutter and a 1625.6-mm print-only model—as well as a CAMM-1 GR2-640 64-in. large-format cutter. “I didn’t know much about printers when I bought a Roland DG printer/cutter the first time around, but the quality from their printers is amazing,” said Merryweather. “Plus, all their devices come with [raster image processing] RIP software included, which is a
big advantage.”

“We’ve been extremely impressed with the vibrancy of the colours—especially orange, which contributes greatly to our printer’s expanded gamut. Also, our printers provide highly consistent colour, which is especially important for larger jobs such as fleet graphics.” In addition to vehicle bays, the facility features a welcoming front entrance with seating, monitors showcasing the company’s work, and a mezzanine level dedicated to production.

A variety of vehicles

From supercars to snowmobiles, the team at M2 Graphix wraps it all. “Pick a vehicle! We have wrapped yachts, RVs, dragon boats, jet skis, golf carts, funny cars, and even semi-trucks and trailers for a local driving school,” Merryweather shares.

Beyond vehicles, the team’s expertise extends to walls, windows, and floor graphics. “We always say, if you can wrap a car, you can wrap a wall,” says Merryweather. Along with wrap graphics, the shop provides other types of branding, such as banners, business cards, murals, and many hand-out decals and stickers. “Our printer/cutter’s integrated contour-cutting feature is also handy for these projects.”

Recent wrap projects include a 24.3-m (80-ft) Sistine Chapel-inspired ceiling wrap for a residential client, and custom-printed veneer wraps for high-end audio systems. Architectural vinyl wraps are also gaining popularity. These materials mimic natural surfaces such as wood, marble, or steel, providing a cost-effective way to refresh interiors. “We’re currently working on cabinet wraps for a yacht renovation,” Merryweather says.

Building on success

Merryweather notes that his company is seeing increasing requests for vehicle graphics versus other types of vehicle signage. “For instance, we don’t do vehicle magnets now, and we used to do a fair amount. In the last five to 10 years, vehicle graphics have grown to the point where almost every company is putting at least some type of decals on their vehicle,” said Merryweather.

“It’s been rough for companies in the past few years. People want their branding to be seen, and they want to make the most out of their investment. We are doing lots of partial wraps where we put clear wraps on white vehicles, which can often make them look as if they are fully wrapped,” he said. “Most people we work with are trying to create as much interest and awareness for their brand as possible without breaking the bank. Bigger companies, however, are turning to full wraps.”

“One of my favourite things to do when we drive around is to see how many of the vehicles on the road we’ve wrapped. We’ve wrapped fleets of two vehicles on up to hundreds, so we can usually spot a few we’ve done just about anywhere we go,” he added.

Community connections

M2 Graphix is deeply embedded in the local community. Their Trunk-or-Treat Halloween car show draws more than 1,000 visitors annually, with all proceeds going to charity, including donations to the local children’s hospital. “We bring all of our best wraps from the year there for visitors to see, along with providing full custom signage, branding, and stickers for the event,” said Merryweather. They also sponsor Layed Out Field of Dreams, Vancouver Island’s largest car show.

Charity work is another passion for Merryweather. M2 Graphix collaborates with organizations such as the Superheroes of Victoria, a volunteer group supporting more than 50 charities. “I’m a huge comics fan, so wrapping their vehicle was a blast,” Merryweather says. The partnership later expanded to include their website, business cards, and branding.

Local clients include many companies working in the construction industry. “This area is booming, and we have a lot of construction industry clients, including [heating, ventilation, and air conditioning] HVAC providers, plumbers, electricians, and paving companies. The construction industry probably accounts for 50 per cent of our commercial work,” he said.

M2 Graphix also serves the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the local Medi-vans, restaurants, sports teams, Cops for Cancer, and other community-based organizations. They provide local middle schools and high schools with gym graphics, among other graphic needs. Although the local speedway has closed, M2 Graphix continues sponsoring the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA’s) funny car and drift teams. “Supporting these teams helps us stay connected to the motorsports community while showcasing our work,” Merryweather adds.

The road ahead

Looking to the future, M2 Graphix is doubling down on vehicle graphics. “We want to be the go-to wrap destination for Vancouver Island,” Merryweather says. The company’s plans include refining internal processes, investing in team training, and partnering with more local businesses to expand their one-stop-shop approach.

With a skilled team, cutting-edge equipment, and a passion for innovation, M2 Graphix is driving the future of vehicle branding—one wrap at a time.

Ginny Mumm is a freelance consultant for digital inkjet printer/cutter provider Roland DGA. For more information, visit www.rolanddga.com.

Source URL: https://www.signmedia.ca/m2-graphix-building-a-wrap-empire/

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