DIY Van Signage

boxofrogs

ella_ella_ella wrote: »

Hi, Im looking into having a van sign written and remember a link posted on here some time ago about DIY Van signage but I cant find the link.

Pretty sure it was £49 for both sides and back, has anybody used these sort of kits? are they really naff? I have posted on the local boards for a recommendation of a proper company but wanted to get opinions before deciding as I dont have the first clue (I may even leave it blank)

It's a berlingo which I think is classed as small?

Hi Ella, I'm a signwriter so let me clarify a few things.

You're getting a budget service for that price. No logo's or multi colours or even many design hours.

Go to a sign guy and pay them for their time and you'll get a better service.

You basically get what you pay for. If you want bells and whistles you need to pay, if you're happy with the basic name/address/tel then the budget package would suffice.

Fitting is quite difficult, and you only get once chance (vinyl can stick to itself, crease on application, or be applied wonky), so having it fitted for you is best if you're unsure or don't have a good eye.

All vinyl damages paintwork. Either by taking off paint when removed or uneven sun bleaching.

For the small cost of advertising on your vehicle compared to advertising elsewhere it wins hands down. It's constantly advertising you (in car parks, on jobs, school runs or even when you're asleep).

The cost can be deducted as a business expense-so you've nothing to lose.

I'd help you out further as I'm not far from you but I don't know if that's allowed on this forum.

moneymabel

I bought a window decal from vistaprint-no problems with the quality but when I put it on I made a right hash up of it so that was ruined. I went to a local sign place who did me a custom sign for my back window for £30 fitted. It is worth getting a quote from a professional place -and I'm not connected with any so I'm not trying to plug BTW

marleyd

Hi
I just to agree with "boxofrogs" - I'm a signwriter too, and from the feedback I get from my customers there is a lot more business potential advertising on a van / car than most other forms of advertising.
If you want some serious attraction made to your company, it is well worth getting it professionally done.
When you order something online, whether it be magnetics or prepared vinyl (and btw fitting REALLY isn't as easy at it may look), you are limited to what you have, and what area of the vehicle you use.
If you go to a good signmaker in your area, they can spend time with you, and use the whole space on your vehicle to advertise in a very effective and attractive way.
Reputable signmakers only use longlife vinyl, which should last at least 5years.
Bearing this in mind, and the fact that half a page in the Yellow Book for just one year (!) can cost more than double that of getting your van well signwritten..... it's worth thinking about to say the least.

Also a word of warning if you do order some magnetics for your vehicle:
Make sure that you clean underneath (on the vehicle), as well as the underside of the magnetic on a regular basis - I'd say once a week. If you do not do this, dirt does get trapped underneath and this will harm the paintwork. Also, if left on for a long period of time, there is a chance that the magnetic actually "welds" itself to the vehicle, which obviously causes a complete nightmare!

Bear in mind too that you can only put the magnetic signs on flat, or uniformly curved panels (i.e. not over any ridges or trims). May sound obvious, but the amount of people who think you can just slap it on anywhere is very high!

Hope this helps......;)

lisa76

After seeing this thread I looked at vistaprint and was going to go with them for magnetics, but contacted a local sign company who can do a magnetic for £25 each and I can obviously nip down and check out the design before it goes to print - so have a scout around your area and see what prices people quote you.

Steve_the_fitter

I found someone who supplied the signwriting for my van through ebay. Think it was 46 pounds for SWB transit front back and both side. I got quoted 190 from someone local so thought its got to be worth a go at 46 quid. Anyways I was lucky that the local fella done the design for me ( felt a bit bad not using him but I know you dont get every job you tend for) I couldnt beleive how easy it went on and 6 months later it still looks really good. To put it on all u need to do is get a water with washing up liquid and and spray in on the van and on the signage. Let it try and wipe clean. Took me and my missus about 2 hours to do it. really happy with the result

Ste_C

Paintbrush £1.50
Tin of pain £5

Time required: 15 minutes

Jobs a good 'un. And you get a unique and unusual looking sign so you'll stand out from the crowd.

boxofrogs

Sorry to preach - but this gets my goat. We're all trying to run a successful business and there really is no need for it as it's a business expense:-

Using a signwriter to do your design and taking it elsewhere is poor form - imagine someone using your talents then going elsewhere for the job - your time spent is wasted,meaning you could have been earning elsewhere. Multiply this many times over and you're out of business. Someone's taken the time to understand your design needs only to be gazumped. Word of warning too - on a signmakers forum I go on this happens a lot (fortunately not to me yet), and many are billing the customer for artwork charges. Not too hard to prove (many designs come with a copyright logo on it) and if you are both local very hard to avoid contact (you are trying to get noticed after all!).

If you went down the paintbrush and paint route - if your design looks amatuerish, what impression does that give of your business? A poor image would cost you sales, not to mention the resell price of your vehicle when you come to sell. And as I say, tax deductable....

Ste_C

boxofrogs wrote: »

If you went down the paintbrush and paint route - if your design looks amatuerish, what impression does that give of your business? A poor image would cost you sales, not to mention the resell price of your vehicle when you come to sell. And as I say, tax deductable....

Yea, because it was a totally serious suggestion.

GSXRCarlos

Have you thought about magnetic signs?

A friend of mine had some made up for approx £30, and when he's not using his van, he can take them off so that people with 'prying eyes' don't know what his van might (often doesn't) containt

scbk

Ste_C wrote: »

Yea, because it was a totally serious suggestion.

IMO, a proper hand painted piece of sign writing can look very good, has a real "authentic" feel to it

This is NOT how to do it though! (apologies if the person is a forum member)