KEY TO SUCCESS

Company: SIGNARAMA  Project: Win-River Casino 

Key to success: Always use the right materials and tools for the job.

Part of the wrap work that the SIGNARAMA in Redding, Calif., did for Win-River Casino. SIGNARAMA wrapped 900 square feet of flooring, walls, and other structures.

Creativity and efficiency are two words readily associated with wrapping because design and installation comprise two of the larger wrap tasks. John Robbins, owner of a SIGNARAMA franchise in Redding, Calif., will tell you that his favorite part of wrapping is “the creative side and the ‘wow factor.’” Ingenuity is another element pertinent to wraps; though it is often overlooked by shop owners. Robbins, however, is an exception. He channeled his own inner-genius when thinking about a way to stay creative while also becoming more efficient.

When it comes to the wrapper, his mind and hands are normally his sharpest tools. But he will also need a little assistance from outside resources: a heat source, a squeegee, a straight blade, and more. Robbins’ light bulb went on when he gathered up his knowledge of wrap tools, installation methods and engineering, and produced a tool he calls the PERFect Edge.

GAINING AN EDGE

“We went to one of the 3M wrap training seminars,” explains Robbins about how he came up with the concept of the PERFect Edge wrap tool, “and they showed us the window perf edge seal tape. They said make sure you seal [the window perf edges] every time, but they didn’t have a tool to go with it.” 

Robbins says the “wobbly” look of the vinyl cut on the edge of the window didn’t appeal to him, and he felt there could be an improvement upon applying the finishing touches. His solution revolved around a design for an attachment to be placed on an X-Acto knife. 

“It goes on the knife and has a rod that’s adjustable,” Robbins says, describing the appearance and functionality of the PERFect Edge. “Each window is at a different angle, and it guides around the window. It puts the perfect 3/8-inch cut around a window. When you peel off the excess vinyl, it’s perfectly straight. With a window that has rubber edging, you can reverse the tool and it can cut under it as well.”  

At first glance, Robbins described the finish as “nice and clean.” It clearly passed the initial test, but there was more work to be done. The next step: Stirring some buzz.

“I met up with [Fellers owner] Frank Fellers at ISA in Vegas and showed it to him,” says Robbins. “He said it was awesome and told me I should make it fit on the OLFA knife.” Ultimately, Fellers published the PERFect Edge in his product catalog, and sold it in the Midwest and Southern California areas.

“We also wrapped their promotion stage and players’ club booth,” explains SIGNARAMA’s John Robbins. The project was a jackpot for both provider and client.

RESOURCE CENTRAL

Robbins employs a policy to always use the right material for the job, whether that includes vinyl, equipment, tools or a combination of all. The reality of wrapping is that there seems to be a product, gizmo or device for every little wrap element. While Robbins’ PERFect Edge is providing a clean cut to a window perf, other tools are also providing handy solutions to accomplish difficult jobs. 

“We use 3M’s VCAT (Vehicle Channel Applicator Tool) roller a lot,” says Robbins. “We got them last year, and when I used them I said ‘we should’ve had them years ago.’” 

The VCAT assists in installing graphics into deep vehicle channels. The Vehicle Channel Applicator Tool Roller L (Large) and Vehicle Channel Applicator Tool Roller S (Small) are also available to help with the application of vinyl in difficult grooves that are common on Sprinter vans. 

Other products may also be of assistance. If you’ve only been using a squeegee and a heat source, you might consider some unique products on the market that will ease your troubles when installing a tough wrap job. 

GForce Products offers a practical product called the RollePro, which features a heat-resistant wheel that wrappers can roll over vinyl during the application process. It is especially helpful when installing vinyl over rows of rivets or contoured surfaces. 

The Soft Edge Super Squeegee from Geek Wraps, another item on the market, touts non-stick and easy gliding qualities for use up to 400,000 rubs. The Super Squeegee is included in Geek Wraps’ tool kit that also contains magnets, markers, a razor, a factory emblem removal tool and a belt tether.

One more example comes from Emerge Industries, a leader in innovative measuring solutions. Its product, The Sticky Yard Digital Measuring System, includes one Adhesive Sticky Yard, one Magnetic Sticky Yard, and the Sticky Yard Digital Measuring System Software. For the wraps industry, the Sticky Yard System becomes a hands-free measuring tool during pre-design stages of a vehicle wraps project. Instead of manually recording measurements of the vehicle, Sticky Yard allows for wrappers to take photographs with the product in place. 

So, the pieces are out there to help you build your wraps puzzle. As we move further into the depths of technological capabilities and advances, there will be more and more tools that surface. Use them to your advantage. Or, if you have some ideas of your own, try following Robbins’ path. He certainly represents a good example of using ingenuity to push the industry forward. 

ROBBINS' WRAP NEST

Economic downturn? Those words do not apply at the Redding, Calif., SIGNARAMA location. Owner John Robbins anticipates increasing his staff from six to seven employees in the coming months, proving that growth actually is possible even during shadowy times. 

For Robbins, the sun has been shining brightly since becoming owner of his business in August 2005. Good fortune has arrived in pairs for Robbins. He now has two dedicated designers, two bays for vehicle wraps installation, and two Roland printers. In fact, wraps work has become the largest percentage of his overall business, making up 26.5 percent in 2009. When Robbins started the business, things weren’t as coordinated or finely tuned.

“There was no wrap equipment, but now we have the Roland units, a flatbed printer, and laminating equipment,” says Robbins.

Today, all design, print and installation efforts are performed within the shop’s walls. By managing and dealing with each aspect of the wraps cycle during a job, Robbins has picked up a tip or two. And in his book, it comes down to the vinyl.

“We run into decisions about using the right material,” he says. “Some companies will use the same vinyl across the board, but we try and use the right material for the right job. All the time.” 

Robbins says the high-grade material is the best option. By not “cutting corners and going cheap,” his business has extended better quality to his customers. 

And the customer makes all the difference. Robbins says, “When they come and pick up their wrapped vehicles, they are blown away by them. And the response they get from them; we hear it.”

Recently, the company completed an original, out-of-the-box project for Win-River Casino in Redding, wrapping 900 square feet of flooring, walls, and other structures. 

“We also wrapped their promotion stage and players’ club booth,” explains Robbins. The project was a jackpot for both provider and client.