The International Sign Association Expo had so many interesting exhibits and industry innovations this year! There were 540 exhibitors and over 75 educational courses. The ISA officials said attendee registration was up 10 percent over last year. We saw lots of new and exciting things, which gave us fodder for blog posts for the coming weeks.

Of particular interest were the new car wraps. According to the exhibiting companies, car wrapping is one of the most popular trends in the car accessory market. Wraps that have been used as traditional advertising signage in Harford County are now in demand by consumers who want to customize their vehicles. As auto enthusiasts break out their cars this Spring, they’ll find themselves contacting local custom sign manufacturers to find out about the options that will distinguish and protect their vehicles.

The newest wraps available to sign makers are solid colors that are placed right over the current paint. They can protect the paint from chips and bug splatter. When the owner is ready to sell the car, he or she can simply remove the wrap and show the original paint in good condition. The wraps can look like carbon fiber or other unique finishes as well as a large selection of colors. These materials are now produced with the UV protection in place so there is no lamination process to be performed at the installer. For advertisers, the new pre-colored wraps allow more flexibility in background colors. Lettering can be applied directly to the colored wrap for custom signage messages.

Some exhibitors at the ISA Expo were showing new materials that were designed specifically for wall applications both indoors and outdoors. These wraps were used on dry wall, concrete and brick. They’re designed to last longer and be more flexible than traditional banner materials. More on other highlights next week.

We’ve been talking about vehicle wraps and their cost-efficiency in terms of advertising space and message. But what makes a vehicle wrap work? What gives it the four-year life expectancy?

A vehicle wrap lasts for two reasons: the preparation and application are done properly and the materials are durable. First, be sure your vehicle is ready for the application. For best results, the surface of the vehicle must be clean. It’s a good idea to use a commercial detergent and water as well as a solvent to make sure there is no oily residue on the vehicle. Many vehicle wrap manufacturers have cleaning instructions specific to their materials, so make sure your sign professional reviews them. The surface must also be dry for better adherence. Ask your professional custom sign company what other preparation you or they will do prior to application. They will most likely use a template first, to be sure all the angles are correct and that the wrap lays properly around the corners of the vehicle.

As for materials, wraps are generally made from cast vinyl films to make application around curved surfaces easier. Calendered films are also used, but they should be reserved for flat areas and for short-term graphics, because they do not stand up to stress in the material. The films generally have built-in adhesives and can be repositioned easily. Long-lasting wraps use films that have air release channels to help eliminate bubbles. The vinyl wrap should be completed with an overlaminate that conforms easily to the vehicle’s shape and is flexible. The overlaminate gives the vehicle wrap protection from UV rays, weathering and abrasion from traveling in and around Harford County and Baltimore County.

With the proper preparation, application and materials, your vehicle wrap will be a valuable advertising investment.

If you have a truck, car or other vehicle that is dedicated to your business, you already own valuable advertising space. You have a moving billboard for Maryland signage. By adding a vehicle wrap to any of your vehicles, you can reach thousands of people every day, and the audience will be more diverse than any other advertising venue. The Outdoor Advertising Association cites that more than 95 percent of Americans are reached by media that targets vehicle drivers and passengers. This includes static billboards and signs, but also encompasses transit signage, which makes up 16 percent of the total outdoor advertising category. According to the Outdoor Advertising Association, a vehicle wrap can generate 30-70,000 impressions per day, and can boost name recognition by 15 times that of any other form of advertising. Your vehicle can serve as a sports banner, school banner, or outdoor sign that advertises your business.

Vehicle wraps are economical and long-lasting. They are among the best cost per impression available to advertisers. A full vehicle wrap has a lifespan of about four years, and can cost as little as $2,000. Because you already own the ad space, this investment is well worth the effort. Using your logo and bright graphics, you can get the attention of thousands of people on the roads every day.

Contact Blue Water Signs today to take advantage of the excellent cost per impression rate of vehicle wraps.

Magnetic signs come in all shapes and sizes. They are yet another portable signage example, and they are great for temporary use. Most commonly used on vehicles, magnetic signs are an ideal way to promote a timely message or event. In addition, many team and sport logos seen on cars in Harford County are magnetic signs. But don’t forget about miniature magnetic signs – calendars and schedules, contact information and quick-reference phone numbers can all be printed on a magnet small enough to hang on refrigerators or file cabinets.  

Magnetic signs can be cost effective, as simple as one color graphics letting people know your name and phone number, or full color digital prints utilized to catch potential customers' attention. Made from a vinyl sheet containing magnetic compounds, the flexible material usually comes on a roll and can be cut to any size. A vinyl layer holds the printing and then is laminated on top. The magnetic thickness varies based on the use – a thicker magnet is used for vehicles because they require more staying power. A thinner magnet is used for promotional items.

When ordering magnetic signs, be sure to ask for samples and inquire about the safety of the magnet on painted metal surfaces. You don’t want your signage to take the paint off a vehicle or refrigerator when removed! But you do want to use magnetic signs to attract attention with a message that will stick! And always remember not to use magnets too close to magnetic computer hard drives, as this can damage the data stored on them.

Often, the choice of a sign can have more of an impact than just showing your name or selling a product. When designed right, it can work to help solve a problem or issue with your office or retail space. 

How comfortable do you feel when you are in the office at night by yourself and people can look in through the window? What about the office window that is on a busy street? In these cases, the use of a window treatment can not only be used to sell your product, but also can be used to make the space more safe and comfortable. "Window Perf" can be used to make a terrific splash on your customers and can reduce the visibility into the office space. Window Perf is a vinyl product that has a series of uniform holes punched into the material. This material allows people in the office to look out, while those outside only see the printed message. Window Perf can also be used on vehicle windows to make use of more surface on your vehicle, but still allow you to see through the window safely. 

Whether an office or a car, put your message where people can see it -- and solve a sometimes troublesome issue at the same time.

A business owner in Waco, Georgia, recently experienced the impact of vehicle signage. His signs on company trucks got people’s attention – as they were designed to do – with the message: “New Company Policy: We are not hiring until Obama is gone.” The reaction was a firestorm of calls and responses on the company’s website, according to local news reports. The owner reportedly said he can’t afford to hire anyone because of the economy. But he didn’t forget a key rule of smart marketing – don’t cut your marketing activities in a down economy. He used cost-effective vehicle signage to deliver his message.

Vehicle signage works because it’s a traveling billboard. You’re not paying for a single location, but many locations. You can move the vehicle to high traffic areas so that there is rarely down time for your message. It can be targeted to Harford County, yet broad-based to those potential customers outside your target, in and around Baltimore. Vehicle signage should be bright and bold, with a brief message that gives readers a call to action. Similar to billboard advertising, your space is limited and your reading time is brief for passersby. Vehicle graphics, car wraps and fleet lettering are among the tools available for vehicle signage. Visit our vehicle graphics page to learn more about making the most of this signage strategy in a difficult economy.

Vehicle Wraps are at the top of the vehicle graphics offerings. These are digitally printed designs that are adhered to the vehicle that can be used to advertise your company's products or to express your individual artistic resolve.

From a business standpoint, car wraps can provide some of the best advertising that you can purchase for your company. Take a look at the statistics below and think about how that can impact your bottom line.

Data from The Traffic Audit Bureau (TAB) says that:

• 92% of people notice AND READ graphics on wrapped vehicles
• 75% of consumers develop impressions about a company based on a vehicle wrap
• 30% of consumers will make a buying decision based upon impressions gained from a wrapped vehicle.

Take a close look at your budget and let Blue Water Signs help with your advertising program.

Car and truck wraps are one of the best ways to spend your advertising dollars. When compared to other forms of advertising, the cost per impression for vehicle wraps is far lower than other forms of advertising. The list below shows you how wrapping or lettering or vehicle stacks up against the other advertising. Comparing the CPM (Cost per Thousand) of different forms of advertising reveals the value of a vehicle wrap. The following statistics are from the Outdoor Advertising Association of America:

1. In the top 100 Television Markets, a 30 second Prime time spot cost $17.78 per CPM
2. In the top 100 Newspaper Markets, a one third page b/w ad cost $22.95 per CPM
3. In 23 Magazine Publications, a 4 color one page ad cost $9.35 per CPM.
4. In the top 100 Radio Markets, a 60 second drive time ad cost $8.61 per CPM.
5. The average for all forms of Billboard ads cost $2.18 per CPM.
6. Vehicle Wraps - $.77 per CPM!

Partial Wraps

Partial wraps are the next step up from vehicle lettering we discussed in an earlier blog. This is the combination of vehicle lettering and the use of digital print material (high performance wrap material with protective overlaminate) that is used to highlight logos or to set apart and pull the eye to a specific region on the vehicle. The big advantage of these types of applications is that they can have a large impact on the visibility of your advertising, but because you are combining that with vinyl lettering it can often be done at a lower cost. Depending on the the use of specialty vinyls and the amount of wrap material used, it can be 30 to 60% of what a full wrap would be on a vehicle. So if you are a new company on a limited budget, Partial Wraps may be one of the top methods to get your name in front of the public.

Let us help you determine how to letter that vehicle and help you be seen on the streets.

The verdict is in: vehicle graphics provide some of the best advertising for the dollars a company spends.

• According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), 91% of people surveyed notice vehicle graphics.
• The Traffic Audit Bureau for Media Measurement demonstrated that a vehicle can generate between 30K – 70K impressions daily.
• Studies effectively show vehicle graphics make name recognition more than 15 times greater.

These are just some of the statistics that have been generated that show the power of vehicle graphics and the impact they can have on your business. Vehicle lettering is the basics when it comes to what can be done with your car, truck, van or fleet vehicle. But, the basics can have a number of added twists that can really make an impression on the general public when they see your vehicle. Here are a few of the options that can make a lasting impression:

1. Use multiple colors when working with your logo design and lettering. Just for one manufacturer and one quality level of vinyl there are over 60 standard colors, and when you look at their top of the line vinyl, there are over 100 colors.
2. To make good use of those colors, you can add shadows and highlights to the lettering.
3. You can add metallic colors to the design. On one black truck we lettered the vehicle with Chrome Vinyl.
4. You can use reflective material for the letters or the highlights. Reflective material in the logo can be very effective.
5. You can use one of the following specialty vinyls for greater impact:
   • Fluorescent colors
   • Wood Patterns
   • Camo in many patterns like: Advantage Max 4, Mossy Oak Break Up, Realtree All Purpose, Realtree Hardwoods, Mossy Oak Duck Blind
   • Carbon Fiber
   • Gold and Silver Leaf
   • Diamond Plate

Even though you may not have the budget to do a full wrap early on in the life of your company, you cannot afford to let the advertising advantage of vehicle go to waste. At a minimum, get your name in front of the public by lettering your company vehicle and then adding some pop by using some of the specialty vinyls and techniques to make it memorable to the public.

Let us help you determine how to letter that vehicle and help you be seen on the streets.

How many times have you seen a company truck pulling a blank white trailer down the street? You are looking at large blank billboard that could be used both as a moving sign for your company or a stationary that works 24-7, 365 days a year. Cargo trailers are great canvases to advertise your company for very little cost. Trailers can be wrapped just like a car or truck, or lettered, or a combination of both. We call these partial wraps because some portion of the design will be designed to use high performance wrap material. This material is printed using a digital printer and then laminated to protect the material and the inks from Ultraviolet light. The lettering can be done with a large array of colors and specialty vinyls such as metallics, reflective or even fluorescent colors. These specialty vinyls can be used to highlight phone numbers, web addresses or other items you want to highlight about your business.

One of the true benefits of using your trailer to advertise is that when you are on a job, the trailer can be parked in a location that provides maximum visibility. When you are back at the office, the trailer is parked outside, working for you even when you are not on the job. You may need to check with local restrictions for your development and neighborhoods as there may be restrictions on the parking of commercial vehicles.

Let us help turn that rolling canvas into a 24-7 advertising machine.