Your Business Small Business Profile: It's a Wrap... Vehicle wrap advertising is catching on with small business people as a way to affordably get the word out about their products and services.
Dr. Michael Block, a Delray Beach geriatric medical care specialist, uses his car to display his contact information – and that he makes house calls.
"It's an incredible form of advertising, a slam dunk," said Dr. Block. Driving and parking at nursing homes, diners and malls, Block said his visibility has increased while he was able to cut down on the expense of traditional advertising. "The results are measurable," Block said. "When people call to inquire about my services, they mention they saw my car."
To get billboard-style advertising on his car, Block turned to Signsource USA / Wrapyourcar.com in Pompano Beach.
David and Marjorie Collins decided to add vehicle wrapping to their SignSourceUSA business about three years ago to boost sagging sales. "It helped save the business," said David Collins.
Vehicle wrapping is the process of affixing pre-printed decals directly over the original finish of a car, truck, van or even bus. The "life span" is about 5 years, the vinyl decals can be removed any time. From printing to affixing, the job typically takes a day or two.
Wrapping jobs account for about 70 percent of the Signsource's revenues, Collins said. Initially, he had to outsource the printing part of the process until he could afford a $60,000 investment in printing equipment. Doing so added control and flexibility in deadlines, design and pricing. Though prices vary depending on design work by Collins, vehicle style and other requests, it costs on average, about $3,500 to cover a van, said Collins.
The Collins also wrapped their own cars – it was a way they could measure potential firsthand. "People would see our car and run up and tap our window for a business card," said Collins. "We got major accounts that way."
Collins has designed the graphics and covered everything from boats, shopping carts, laundry carts and go carts, to trucks, fleets for businesses and municipalities, cranes, a hearse, and even a child's room. And the wrapping services have parlayed into signage and printing jobs, boosting the Collins' original business, SignsourceUSA. New jobs come in for business cards, brochures, fliers, pamphlets, marketing material, banners, catalogs and more, said Collins.
Marjorie Collins said that their business helps other small business on tight budgets. "Despite the economy, people are realizing this is the time to advertise," she said. "And for start-up businesses, you get your name out there right away. It's a great tool."
Source... sun-sentinel.com
September 8, 2008
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/sfl-flaprofile0908sbsep08,0,1023517.story
Signsource USA / Wrapyourcar.com
Owners: David and Marjorie Collins
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