“As costs, speed to market and pricing pressures continue to climb, high end products are making it easier to deliver more, faster. But even this creates challenges. The printing industry is evolving so rapidly and technological advances occurring so quickly that it’s difficult to stay on the cutting edge. It may seem as though the day you purchase a new piece of equipment, something better hits the market.”

That’s an excerpt from an article written by Allen Snelling over at Wide-Fromat Imaging about leasing versus buying wide-format printers. This is a good piece on the benefits of each side of the financing equation. If you need a wide-format printer to push out vinyl graphics and mega banners, this is a must read.

Click here to check out the article.

Kim Crowley over at Digital Output has a nice profile on Ads on Wheels. She notes, “Vehicle wraps vary in price based on installation location, design requirements, and vehicle type. Each project includes four to five hours of free design time, materials, printing, and nationwide installation. Jobs can take about two to three weeks to complete from design to a typical one-day installation.”

Those are certainly fair estimates, though I know pros who can get the job done faster — if they know the tricks of the trade. Of course, each vehicle wrapping job is different and sometimes you run into surprises. There are plenty of mistakes to be made, but, as Ads on Wheels demonstrates, there are also plenty of profits to be made if you are a vinyl installation pro.

Click here to read the full article in Digital Output.

When the folks behind the television show “MotorWeek” wanted to promote their Drivers’ Choice Awards, they hit the road, according to an article in the Baltimore Examiner. Maryland Public Television, which produces the show, and Baltimore-based public relations firm Verb Communications decided to wrap a Kia Sedona van in advertising to call attention to the awards, which highlight different vehicles for their consumer focus.

This is a great example of vehicle wrapping’s entry into the mainstream. Public relations folks are getting the hint: putting vinyl graphics on vehicles is a great way to generate attention.

I talked with Lisa Shenkle, the presidnet of VERB! Communications about this because it was here idea. Here’s what she said: “It was an idea of mine to do something different this year and take advantage of the on-the-road audience vs. the cost of a single, stationery billboard.” She’s one smart cookie. She did get media coverage for her client.

Click here to read the story about this MotorWeek vehicle wrap.

Let’s face it. We all know that vehicle wrapping benefits companies in many ways. But sometimes it’s hard to quantify that with potential customers who are holding on to their wallets with a vice grip. I found this site that offers up plenty of good info to help talk your customers into going with a vehicle wrap.

Click here to see some stats you can use in your customer-winnig arsenal.

I came across an advertising blog that reads: “As lifestyles became faster than ever, the only way for marketers to stay abreast with their clients is to catch up with their speeds — thus, the birth of mobile ads and the vehicle wrapping industry.

“The trend is believed to have started with long-haul trucks in the mid-90s. Since these vehicles travel great distances, advertisers saw an opportunity to reach a wider audience by placing colorful vinyl ads on their bodies. And, because it proved effective in generating recall, delivery trucks and vans followed suit. Before long, vinyl graphics were on all types of vehicles, like cars, motorcycles, buses, and even planes and hot air balloons.”

This is an intersting take on the industry. What’s your take? Click here to read the rest of this article, then let me know what new and different uses you are seeing for vinyl wraps.

Bluemedia, a graphic design and large format printing firm in Tempe, received the 2007 Small Business of the Year for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s 20th annual Impact Award for Innovation. Judges called the company a pioneer in turning the Arizona market on to vehicle wrapping.

I’ve worked with the guys at Bluemedia to gain knowledge for my readers and they are awesome representatives of the industry. Congratulations to Bluemedia!