Discussion Where does one draw the line between graphics and a wrap?

We've got a regular customer, which is a small local cable company, that wants us to do some new print and cut graphics on a couple of new vans. Well, they wanted partial wraps at first and I just threw together a rough wrap concept design (the design with the full-color family image) and gave them a referral to another local wrap company that we're familiar with to finalize the design and do the work because we don't do wraps. I have no problem leading them to someone who does, especially if they feel that a wrap would be more effective for their company from an advertising standpoint. Although I suggested they do what they feel is best for their business, they decided they prefer to do business with us (not a good reason in my opinion), and they are okay with limiting themselves to print and cut vinyl graphics, rather than taking my suggestion to do a partial wrap. They said they were cool with doing something similar to what we'd done for them in the past, so okay.

Fast forward a couple of weeks later and we've gone back and forth a few times with a few simple revisions all more or less similar to what we've done for them previously with some exceptions. This time around, they have had me change the design to the point that it's basically covering just about as much real estate as the original wrap concept. At this point, by the time you figure in the cost of transfer tape, contour cutting all these decals and installing around multiple contours, door handles, door hinges, etc., I'm thinking it would be more cost effective to just do a partial wrap as I had suggested in the first place. Not to mention, although I'm sure it may be possible, I don't like trying to work taped print and cut vinyl graphics on areas with lots of contours, door handles and door hinges all in the same area. It certainly doesn't leave much room for error and I'm thinking a wrap shop can bang a job like this out much faster and get the graphics on each panel to align just as well, if not better, but maybe I'm over thinking it.

I have attached the wrap concept that I originally suggested as well as the print and cut version that they are pushing me toward. Am I crazy to think that a partial wrap is going to put them in the same price range or less than all that print and cut vinyl? By the time I figure in how much time installation will take as well as the upcharge to contour cut everything, a partial wrap just seems more logical, at this point. Besides, the reason they hit us up about wraps in the first place was that they want to get noticed like some of their competitors that have full/partial wraps on their work vans, namely companies like Mediacom and DirectTV.

So please, what are your opinions on this subject? Where would you draw the line? At what point does a wrap become more cost-effective than print and cut graphics? Thanks for your time and input.

EDIT: By the way, the wrap design would have also had the same print and cut graphics applied to the back doors as the print and cut design has, it's just not shown.

 

Yeah, if we do these, we'll end up subbing it out to Signs365 just because of the overall size of the decals, and the need for precision contour cutting that our Mimaki CJV series printer isn't capable of doing and our Roland cutter is only 24". I'd never try to overlay something like this, anyway. We very rarely overlay anything these days if it doesn't involve faux gold leaf, chrome, or something along those lines.

 

I know how I need to price it and I've done similar installs on their previous vans, just not quite as extensive and those vans didn't have side doors, only back doors. I just don't like working too much outside my comfort zone because we're already busy as all h**l and can barely keep up with the workload we have. Besides, I just thought it was weird that they asked us for wraps to stand out like their competitors and then when my response was that we don't do wraps, they were like "Well, that's okay then. We just want to stick with you guys." I say hey, if you want a wrap, get a wrap. Don't decide to not do it just because we don't offer it.

 

I'm just curious, for the time and cost involved in the extra cutting, weeding, taping, and applying everything in sections, whether or not a wrap would possibly be more a more economical and better solution for them at this point. They keep adding elements to the layout that will make it that much more time-consuming to produce and apply in the long run. Since I'm not at all familiar with wraps, these responses have been very helpful and have given me some much needed insight.

I guess that makes sense. I was just factoring in that the total square footage required would be similar to that of a wrap, plus the additional cost of production and installation.

Thanks, Johnny. I'm sure the job will turn out fine, I'm just thinking about all the taping and measuring and re-taping, and re-measuring to get everything laid down right, but in reality, it's not going to be that difficult as long as nothing moves around on me too much by the time I get from one end of the van to the other. I'll be putting my magnets and lots of masking tape to good use.

That's a valid point and something I can definitely agree with about the mismatched color/sheen.

 

So contrary to what I initially thought, I'm assuming a wrap job of this size could be every bit as time-consuming to install as a piece by piece print and cut decal install.

 

I'll post heat and use IJ180 but I'll also work into each recess as I go. That's why I say it's a little out of my comfort zone. It will require printing and cutting the stripe/star into manageable sections and a bit of laying everything out and measuring before laying the first piece down but I'm up for the challenge. The stripe/star is the only thing that might be a little tricky but I'm sure if I take my time it'll all work out okay.