posted
So, like tomorrow I will be getting my Toyota PU back from the body shop. Of course it's gonna get some re-lettering done on it. So how much is too much vehicle advertising on a sign shop truck.Is less more, or is it wise to really make your vehicle a rolling billboard? Something people can really touch and feel.But, I don't want to look cheap and desparate. I want my truck to look "Bling Bling" but not like "Tammy Faye Baker".How much "Stuff" do some of you people have on your vehicles? Also, I have a mobile service, no big store front signshop. So my truck is really the only thing people will see. And I mostly work on "Things that have wheels".
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3900 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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TAMMY FAE!!! TAMMY FAE!!!!!!!!! My vehicle has large letters on it for a small car - 10" letters on a hyundai accent - it gets jobs though. Luckily my phone has the word "signs" in it so I didn't need to put too much on it. I wish I could show u a pic but I'm clueless how to get it in here!!! Seriously if it's your only vehicle and you're mobile then I'd think you'd want it to be noticed.
-------------------- signs Posts: 535 | From: pa | Registered: Dec 1998
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Alicia, I think your truck lettering should reflect the type of work you most like to do. Would big and bold attract your preferred customers or would they be more drawn to smaller subtle graphics? I don't know.
I'd get your name on there at a size that will be easily read from a distance and dress the truck up with some nice graphics/striping.
I've seen your work, I don't think you can go wrong with anything you'll come up with.
posted
Long time no see! It seems like a long time since I posted anything....anyways....
All of the answers are valid, but if you are trying to get business, I believe that the more eyecatching the graphics are the better... I'm not one for the "Soft Sell" approach, I really don't believe that it works, I really don't. When was the last time you seen a Trailer with a 2ftx2ft print of a Hamburger on it, The McDonalds Trailers that we see around here have them the full size of the trailer.. The Graphics on My truck are Big and Bold, it gets attention, but the colors are complimentary and it does'nt look Gawdy Either.
It's much easier to sell A Job to the customer when you have Nice Graphics on the side of your own truck.
Good Luck!
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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If you're into striping and effects, or more inclined to lettering, make the new truck a rolling portfolio that shows what you can do for customers.
My truck is loaded with flames, checkers, lettering, stripes and a cartoon, showing the kind of work I do and has generated quite a bit of interest (and jobs) from customers.
Have fun... Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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Alicia..... At the risk of sounding sexist, I would play up the fact that you are a beautiful woman. Keep it tasteful, yet alluring. Ya might as well work it, sista! (I do) Remember tho...keep it simple. Do you want it to shout or just say..."Hey baby, look me over! I can do your business a favor!" Boy I can hear myself being raked over the coals after I hit the "Post Reply" button..... But I liked your signature "Have lipstick, will travel". I think that appeals to anyone, be it the local Avon Lady or the Grease Monkey at Joe's Tows. They all need signs! Love-JILL
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Jill - your suggestion would almost match the selling tactic used by Misty's Seamless Gutters here in Halifax, NS. If she is the one in the photo in their YellowPage ad then I can totally understand why (most) guys would welcome her over for the free estimates.
To put it nicely - A tight white shirt with a very full chest underneath... I can see how it would increase business and it [ they ] certainly stands out from the competition.
Its kinda like the woman who used to run her own furnace oil business. can't remember the name as it no longer exists but her pink oil tanker and pink coveralls certainly made people notice.
So I say go for it, make a statement and as long as its not offensive then its gonna make your business stand out in a good way!
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Sam Walton, founder of WAl-Mart, said half the $$ we spend on advertising is a waste...only problem is we don't know what half! With a pickup you have the whole "bed" to briefly list the markets your trying to "capture"-so I would suggest to use it-we do...especially with our web..www.markzsigns.com. The who & what is great for the door. Different customers will percieve different impressions of your company, I believe, so it's a matter of "how" much you need new work,i suppose. Auvaahhh & You go girl ! MZ
-------------------- mark zilliox mark z signs 8425 pushaw station rd. owings md. 20736 301-855-5407 thezs@earthlink.net http://www.markzsigns.com Posts: 348 | From: maryland | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Sam Walton, founder of WAl-Mart, said half the $$ we spend on advertising is a waste...only problem is we don't know what half! With a pickup you have the whole "bed" to briefly list the markets your trying to "capture"-so I would suggest to use it-we do...especially with our web..www.markzsigns.com. The who & what is great for the door. Different customers will percieve different impressions of your company, I believe, so it's a matter of "how" much you need new work,i suppose. Auvaahhh & You go girl ! MZ
-------------------- mark zilliox mark z signs 8425 pushaw station rd. owings md. 20736 301-855-5407 thezs@earthlink.net http://www.markzsigns.com Posts: 348 | From: maryland | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Alicia, as our portfolios should reflect the type of work that we want to attract, perhaps our vehicles should also. If what we want is the signs that have too much copy and every trick known (panels, split blended shades, tripple outlines)then perhaps that is what we're attracting with that presentation on our vehicles. If more formal work is what we want maybe that should go on the truck. I lean toward the understated, and know some that I think all their work is 20% too big.
I remember when you showed up in San Jose with the embossing on your doors. Do you have pictures of that truck? I'd sure like to see that again.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6782 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hi Terry Whynot, nice to hear from you, I'm not sure how these little popups work...
Rick Sacks point is very valid, if that's the only type of work we want to attract, or we can afford to attract, it all depends on the customer base, what works for Rick will most certainly not work for me, especially since I like Big Bold Graphics.... not all the time but most of the time.
-------------------- "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
My truck lettering seems to change to fit the market I'm targeting. I've had the same truck for fifteen years. When I first got it my business was well established and the ad on the truck was the size of a business card that fell on a triple pinstripe that ran down the lower part of the truck. My market changed to big rigs and the lettering and graphics did so accordingly. I went real "in your face" for awhile and it helped sell larger graphics.. That market dried up and I'm now doing car dealers and body shops so I've toned everything down a great deal. It will stay that way til the market changes or, shudder the thought, I get another truck.
-------------------- George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@bigriver.net
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
I live in a pretty conservative area and tend to agree with Rick Sacks about keeping my own stuff understated. I find a vehicle with something very classy done small will usually strike me as more compelling and professional looking than something big, loud or busy. That stuff often gets my attention for the wrong reasons.
Maybe it's like that old saw "You can have it big, cheap or fast - pick two" In this case you can have it big if it's subtle, loud if it's small, or busy if it's...well actually, busy is never good - you know what I mean. Maybe the term I'm looking for is focused, unified or coherent etc. I have done some pretty large stuff for other people that I wouldn't want for myself, but it seems to work because the elements are tied together as a theme. If you can pull that off Alicia, then I think big can be just dandy.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Just a little off topic to the thread, but if you are lettering your work vehicle, you might want to check with your insurance company. Depending on your insurance carrier, and how your policy is written, you may not be covered for "commercial use" and when you letter your vehicle you may have unknowingly voided your coverage. Be sure you have a commercial policy.
-------------------- Jerry Mathel Retired Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com Posts: 916 | From: Grants Pass, OR USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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] certainly stands out from the competition.
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