Vehicle Wrapping

[Andy Gorman]

I have used freelance in the past and I would again if the need ever arose. I must mention though, that I would consider experience and reputation before hiring someone for this type of work. I don’t want to offend; I’m not implying anything by this, but I’ve hired people to do wraps and had poor results. I don’t want to be discouraging; the point I’m clumsily trying to make is that you would need to get a good name to sell your services to the trade. Anyway, I do think there is a market for this. I can do vehicle wrapping but as a one man band, don’t have enough pairs of hands and have hired freelancers before.

As for pricing, hard to say. I’ve seen 2 blokes completely wrap a transit, (including roof!) in under 8 hours for 300 quid. Others have taken 2 days and charged more.

[Blue Cow]

Cheers Big G!

I understand that and i have a long history in signs and wouldn’t offer the service if i couldn’t deliver and until i am completely happy with what i fit then I shall not do it just trying to get a feed back as am unsure on weather it would be worth offering it as a service!I have been let down before by companies supplying to me in trade and i know that service and quality is everything and price is negotiable!
Was hoping that doing it part time would give me the chance to build up a good rap-our within trade and then have a reputation to pull us into full time!

Understand!? sorry that turned into a bit of long speech!

Cheers

Blue Cow!

[Robert Lambie]

reputation is everything… i agree..
best thing you can do mate is try doing some freebies… ok that sounds crazy but i mean it. you need some kind of proof that you can wrap and wrap well.. a portfolio of your past jobs… getting vinyl on is one thing, keeping it there 3 months later is another.
make up some kind of folder. show past work, rates you charge, samples of the vinyl you use and info on why you use it/prefer it.
to charge a healthy rate, you must first convince the customer hes using the right guys for the job..
dont take this wrong… but having a certificate saying you passed a course isnt really what counts. i have part wrapped hundreds and i mean hundreds of vans.. but only a few full wraps. i have been doing vinyl work for 14 years and i am at this moment thinking of getting my certificates,.
grafiwrap, mactac, 3M, avery any i can basicaly.. getting these coupled with what i already know will make me and my customers feel better about having me do their work.
when i wrap something i wont really be cheap… i wont do a full wrap unless it is well worth my while.
like G says says,, many out there will do it for a low cost.. and there is many many cowboys out there too…

i spoke to a very reputable wrapper that uses mactac vinyls… he told me a rough guide and it will make your jaw drop… but on the other hand this is a pro..

fitting only… based on 2 guys

smart car approx = £600+
taxi = £1000-£1200
sprinter = same
lwb sprinter = £1500+

this was a few years ago and may have been london area prices..
these days prices have come down due to the cowboys and the have a go guys that couldnt wrap a sweetie… 😕
these type hammper your/our profits at approaching this area of the trade proffessionaly…

[Blue Cow]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for your comments, yeah i see where you are coming from with the freebies and i think your right! i need to prove we can do it! I am looking at doing our own vehicle, i had an idea of using a different wrap on each side of the vehicle, e.g. Avery on side 1, Graphtywrap on back, etc.. would that help show versatility! would it help show you we could do it! obviously we need a port folio and we are working on that initially we will do each picture with a letter of recommendation from the customer (hopefully!) :lol1: , any other advice?

Do you know when the next Avery training in Amsterdam is? as thats the one we really wanna do!

Cheers

Rob

[Robert Lambie]

dont use what the customer asks or what the trade printer uses, only use what you beleive is the best & also the one you feel most comfortable using.
dont think avery is the best because they seem to be doing the biggest song and dance about wrapping. they maybe just have the most money to through at it to promote their new vinyl. not saying be any means its not or its inferior to others.. just try the rest…
i honestly would advise buying a couple of metres of mactac, grafiwrap, oracal, kpmf.. etc all in white and stick it to the worst parts on your own van.. drive around and have a look at each after a couple of months of abuse. this should give you an idea what you will feel best about using your customer.
one of the biggest problems with wrap vinyls that goes around today, is actually the person fitting? never be to keen to finish the job.. it will come back to haunt you! 😮
i havent a clue when the avery course is mate.. sorry… if i hear ill let you know.

[Blue Cow]

Cheers again for that rob!

So you think i should find what i feel is the best to use for us then tell our customer what they should print on for us fit! do you think if, for argument’s sake, Metamark were the best and a promoted and specialize if you will in fitting there material a deal may be struck up with them!?

worth a shot maybe!?

Whats your thoughts?

P.S. having trouble logging in and stying in!?

[Keith Nilsen]

quote :

“i have been doing vinyl work for 14 years and i am at this moment thinking of getting my certificates,”

Rob, you mentioned getting certificates for vinyl. Is this some kind of formal training provided by the vinyl manufacturers that says you are proficient in their materials?

Please expand on this as I am generally keen to get as much industry recognised qualifications etc as possible. My reasoning for this is the same as yours, namely that the approved paperwork and bling gives you an edge in making your clients feel comfortable in entrusting work to you. Strange to need such things when I have been in the industry so long, but there is no accounting for some clients. Still I won’t argue, they pay my mortgage ultimately!

Thanks for the info in advance, and sorry for derailing this post on vehicle wrapping. Good luck with your venture Blue Cow, I am sure it will do well.

[Robert Lambie]

BLUE COW:
yes mate.. thats what “i” personaly believe.
there is no point you offering your expertise to fit a van, you do your best and the van looks great. but 6 weeks down the line it starts pulling back?
you think.. damn i fitted that great, whats happening? you blame the supplier, he in turns blames your fitting because they have ex-amount around the country not complaing. “or so they tell you” all wraps on the market are good. but! each to their own type of application. its left to you/us to find out what one truely is the best or best for the given job.
i just think you should find the best alrounder and stick with it.
like you said.. if your buying lots of the vinyl, the supplier will start giving you some sort of discount.

im going to say this and only because i believe in it personaly. (i know many will disagree) but.. lets take avery ez-apply wrap vinyl. i have no doubt in my mind this vinyl is top notch, but its early in the day for real results/feedback from those using it. many ask about it purely because its easy to fit without bubbles.
but, in my veiw, if you are good enough to be a wrapper. you shouldnt be getting lots of bubbles anyway! so its an expense that isnt needed at £18 a metre?
look at the product test i doing at the moment, grafiwrap.. costs are about £7.40 a metre and the “includes” the clear laminate. my tests (so far) proove to me, its worth it!
other wraps like mactacs macfleet,,, this is an amazing wrap vinyl that i feel so confident in once applied. i walk away and can sleep…
the down side is its a damn hard wrap to get used too… but still… if it works.. then thats what its all about.
i will be doing more product tests on various wraps over xmas.. im hoping these tests and others at least help people like yourself make decisions easier when choosing the a product.

knilsen:
most wrap suppliers, if not all, offer some kind of wrap certificate. it comes at the end of their course. basicaly acknowledging you have passed or you are competant in their eyes at applying their vinyls.
the down side is.. for folk like you and eye… we wont (well maybe) learn as much as the newbie taking the course so it can be an exspensive way of getting a bit of paper. but, like has been said. its good to flash at someone wanting to sub work out to you.
i on the other hand am looking at it for more reasons to do with this site and the group. at the end of the day… “who the hell am i to give advice?” 😕
i will be chasing up on these courses soon, anything i dig up ill pm you. 😉

[Chris Wool]

this is interesting cos a long standing customer of mine put a picture of a wraped transit under my nose and said how much best quick guess i said 1000 to £1200 the next time i saw hime i said any more thoughts on the wrap he said he was quoted £400 by a national comp but also had prices ranging up to £2300 – a day later a advertizing co come on to me simular question they got the same answer from me but after discussions i wedeled out of them that they had beed quoted £400 by the same national co also not a lot you can say really other than get the job for say £800 and get them to do it they really want to do raps dont they but for how long.
oh yes apparantly that £400 inc artwork printing fitting & 12 month guarantee ??

chris

[Blue Cow]

£400! It must have been a scooter not a van!!!

What company was that!?

[Kevin.Ryan]

quote :

“Blue Cow”-£400! It must have been a scooter not a van!!!

exactly!
to give you an idea we charge a minimum £ 450.00 per day for 2 guys
FIT ONLY!, plus travel exess and accommodation if required. we wrap black cabs fully in 6-8 hours, lwb sprinters and the like in 1.5 – 2 days dependent on conditions and complexity of the design.
wouldn’t entertain anything less, don’t believe in racing through it either because thats when you get the agro and it comes back to bite you!

if we print the job we cost the print out at £55.00 per metre laminated cast graphiwrap if we print direct from their artwork, if not we charge £40.00 per hour design time.
i can’t see how anyone has done a supplyand fit for £ 400.00, if they did they are sacrificing something without a doubt.

Kevin