Category: News

Warmer weather and bright blooms often leave people feeling inspired and ready to tackle spring cleaning. But sweeping away the cobwebs and clearing the winter clutter isn’t just for closets or homes.

Spring is also a great time to refresh your branding and fleet graphics. Updated fleet graphics can breathe new life into your business and attract new clients. If you’ve been thinking about starting the season with a revamped look for your fleet, keep reading to learn about a brand refresh and why it can benefit your business.

What is a Fleet Graphic Brand Refresh?

A brand refresh refers to the process of tweaking your company’s visuals. In a brand refresh you can adjust your logo, colors, or other design elements to keep your brand current and showcase the personality of your company.

Adjustments made in a refresh tend to be just that: adjustments. They’re small changes that make a big impact. This is what distinguishes a refresh from a rebrand. Refreshes are smaller in scope while rebrands are a complete overhaul of the brand. In a refresh, you keep the changes small so you remain recognizable to your loyal customers.

Reasons to Do a Brand Refresh

The reasons behind undertaking a brand refresh can vary from company to company, but there are some overarching benefits the apply to nearly everyone. Here are the top 5 reasons for why you should consider a brand refresh for your fleet graphics:

1. Increased visibility: With the arrival of spring, more people are likely to be out and about enjoying the warmer weather. Updating your fleet graphics can increase your visibility and attract attention, making it easier for potential customers to notice your business.
2. Improved brand awareness: A fresh, updated design can help to reinforce your brand and create a stronger impression with potential customers. This can be especially important if you’re looking to differentiate yourself from competitors or reposition your brand in the marketplace.
3. Enhanced professionalism: Fleet graphics that are faded, peeling, or otherwise worn can give the impression that your business is unprofessional or neglectful. Updating your graphics can help to create a more polished, put-together image that can inspire confidence in your brand.
4. Cost-effective advertising: Fleet graphics are a cost-effective way to advertise your business, especially when compared to other forms of marketing such as print ads or radio spots. Refreshing your graphics allows you to get more mileage out of this advertising investment.
5. Temporary graphics: Seasonal changes are a great time to refresh your fleet branding with temporary graphics and capitalize on any spring/summer campaigns or promotions.

Contact Signature Graphics

Feeling overwhelmed by a fleet graphics refresh or don’t know where to start? When you have the right partner on your side, they can guide you through the design and installation process from start to finish.

Signature Graphics offers turn-key fleet graphic services from professional designers to installation experts, so your business will never miss a beat. Contact us today for your spring fleet graphic brand refresh.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

Fleet graphics are a fantastic investment in your business. They can reach up to 30,000 impressions per day and have a 97% message recall for viewers. Because fleet graphics are such a powerful marketing tool, you’ll want to make sure you get the most out of them. If cared for properly, vehicle wrap can last up to seven years, depending on your environment.

Eventually though, even the best quality fleet graphics will need an update. The vibrancy of your fleet graphics will eventually fade or crack. Because eye-popping colors and graphics are important to their effectiveness, you’ll want to do everything you can to minimize fade and postpone fleet graphic removal.

Why Do Fleet Graphics Fade?

Imagine that you get your newly vinyl wrapped vehicle back with fresh, vibrant graphics only to watch them rapidly fade over the next couple of years. That’s a frustrating experience! There are a few factors that can accelerate fading in fleet graphics but luckily, they’re easy to avoid.

Sunlight & Environment

The first factor that can accelerate fading is exposure to sunlight and harsh environmental elements. Sunlight can quickly bleach the vibrant colors that are critical for your brand. Not only can sunlight fade your graphics, they can make them more difficult to remove too.  That’s why we highly recommend parking your vehicle in the shade, or ideally in a garage to reduce environmental exposure while your vehicle is off road.

It’s important to note that if you live in the sunbelt, your fleet graphics will be exposed to more sun than vehicles that operate in cloudier parts of the country. 3M estimates that in the sunniest places even well-maintained fleet graphics last up to 3 years, while the same material can last up to 7 years in less harsh conditions.

Poor Quality Materials

Sometimes fleet graphics fade due to material failure and/or a lack of lamination. Over lamination applied to vinyl graphics protects your investment from UV rays, acid rain, and road debris. The higher quality the vinyl graphics and lamination, the longer your fleet graphics will last.

Signature Graphics uses 3M materials that are known for their excellent print quality and durability. 3M is so confident that their products will stand up to wear-and-tear, they offer the best warranty in the business. When you wrap your fleet with 3M products, you’re getting excellent print quality, vivid graphics, and stellar warranty benefits.

How to Make Your Fleet Graphics Last

Fading is unavoidable, but there are things you can do to protect your fleet graphics from premature aging. Always park your vehicles in the shade or in a garage to prevent sun bleaching and exposure. Next, wash your fleet graphics regularly with a diluted, gentle detergent. We recommend washing your vehicle wrap every one-to-two weeks to remove bird droppings, road debris, or other contaminants.

With the right graphics partner and a little TLC, your fleet graphics will grow your business and wow passersby for years to come.

Contact Signature Graphics

Signature Graphics utilizes industry-leading processes and highest quality products to be a complete brand solutions provider for our clients. Whether you need fleet graphics for the first time, or a refresh for your existing fleet, we make the process seamless. Contact us to learn how we can help you with your fleet graphic needs.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

If you’re trying to decide whether full or partial vehicle wrap is a good idea for your business, the answer is yes! Vehicle wraps are the most effective signage on the market, often generating up to 30,000 impressions per day.

But you may be wondering, what are partial vehicle wraps, and will they work for me? We’ve written a handy guide to partial vehicle wraps and fleet graphic lettering, so you have all the information you need to choose with confidence.

Full Wrap vs. Partial Wraps & Graphic Lettering

When it comes to full vehicle wraps vs. partial vehicle wraps, one isn’t “better” than the other. They both fulfill different functions and needs.

Full Vehicle Wrap

Like the name suggests, a full wrap covers the entire vehicle from top to bottom and often incorporates the make and model of the vehicle into the design.

Partial Vehicle Wrap

A partial vehicle wrap covers between 25%-75% of your vehicle depending on your needs and the design you choose. Partial wraps can include logos, images, and other element like QR codes, all designed to catch the eye of potential customers.

Fleet Graphic Lettering

Fleet graphic lettering is high-quality vinyl lettering that’s placed on a small portion of the vehicle. This option is great if you need contact information on your vehicle or need to convey important information in a highly readable format.

Full vehicle wraps are a great choice when you want to change your vehicle color (to match your brand colors, for example) and incorporate an all-over design. Full wraps are especially good for smaller vehicles like smart cars and sedans as they make a big impact in a small amount of space. Because they cover the entire surface of the vehicle, they take the most time and money to install.

Partial vehicle wraps are an excellent choice for larger vehicles with flat surfaces like box trucks, semis, and vans. Partial wraps essentially turn your fleet into moving billboards for your business without incurring the time and expense of wrapping the entire real estate of the vehicle. Partial vehicle wraps make a fantastic option for large fleets that need a quick brand refresh while staying mindful of budget constraints.

Lastly, fleet graphic lettering covers only a small portion of your vehicle. If they’re made with high quality materials, they will last a long time. Fleet graphic lettering is for you if you’re meeting regulatory requirements or need to display necessary information. 

Partial Wrap & Fleet Graphic Lettering Benefits

Partial vehicle wraps give you all the attention-grabbing benefits of fleet graphics, while offering additional time and money saving advantages. With partial vehicle wraps, you can include your company name, logo, and contact information while saving time and money.

Partial vehicle wraps cost less because they use less material and often are faster to install than full vehicle wraps. This is invaluable when you’re working with a large, mixed fleet because installation can be easily streamlined and the design can accommodate variables like vehicle size, make and model. This is why YRC Freight rebranded to Yellow, they chose partial graphics for their 33,000+ fleet.

Fleet graphic lettering is a perfect solution for trucking companies required to meet regulations like the USDOT number requirements for trucks. These regulations require strict placement requirements that if left unmet can incur hefty fines. Choosing vinyl fleet graphic lettering made from high quality materials is critical in these cases. Magnetic signs and poor-quality materials open you up to serious liability if the products fall off or fade. That’s why Signature Graphics is proud to be a 3M partner. Our materials are the gold standard of quality and are backed by the most comprehensive graphics warranty in the industry.

Choose Quality for Partial Wraps & Fleet Graphic Lettering

Vinyl fleet graphics are an investment that yields years of returns. It may be tempting to choose a quick magnetic decal, but those options harm the existing paint on your vehicle, are difficult to read, and fade quickly. That’s why your partial vehicle wrap or fleet graphic lettering should be designed with results in mind, created with the highest quality materials, and installed by the pros.

When you work with a trusted graphics partner, you’ll have the peace of mind that your fleet graphics will be some of the most effective on the market. At Signature Graphics, we know the same rules for effective vehicle wrap apply whether you choose full, partial, or fleet graphic lettering. And we exclusively use 3M products so you know your graphics will last.

Contact Signature Graphics

Partial vehicle wraps and fleet graphic lettering can be a boon for your business. When choosing your partial vehicle wrap, be sure to choose a fleet graphics partner whose professionalism and quality you can count on. Contact Signature Graphics today.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

When it comes to choosing the right fleet graphics for emergency vehicles, visibility is everything. As a first responder or a fleet manager, you want to ensure that ambulances and other emergency vehicles are as visible as possible, especially at night.

Many emergency departments nationwide have shifted to reflective graphics for their vehicles. Reflective graphics allows for ease of detecting vehicles at dawn, dusk, and night.

The Importance of Reflective Graphics for Emergency Vehicles

Say a driver on the road doesn’t notice the ambulance that is rapidly approaching them, and not having enough time to slow down safely, the situation could result in a dramatic brake or a collision.

So how can we prevent that? It’s important to have at least some reflective vinyl on the emergency vehicle so that other motorists on the road can see the first responders. With reflective fleet graphics installed, accidents can be mitigated.

Types of Reflective Vinyl Wraps

When you are deciding on a reflective vinyl wrap for your vehicle, there are two main variations of 3M’s materials. You can choose a reflective vinyl wrap for your vehicle that is either made from glass bead films or prismatic films. With 3M you can be sure that you’re getting the best quality of reflective vinyl with extensive weather testing, non-prorated coverage, and a full system warranty.

Glass bead reflective vinyl includes a layer of densely scattered, spherical glass beads with a layer of metalized aluminum underneath. Glass beads are typically used for advertising wraps, decals, and general signage due to their ability to reflect a light that is less intense.

Prismatic reflective vinyl, on the other hand, is made from metalized microstructures that are set up to reflect the most optimal amount of light. Due to its higher light intensity, prismatic vinyl is often used for roadway signage and safety markings on emergency vehicles. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing your Reflective Vinyl

If your brand is looking for vinyl that is more durable, reflective vinyl may be the right choice for you. When considering durability, reflective vinyl is typically three times thicker than traditional vinyl wraps. Because reflective graphics are multi-layered, they tend to be more expensive to reflect that durability.  

Since glass bead vinyl reflects light at a wider angle, they are not as bright and are often used for close-up applications. After a certain distance, the reflection from the glass bead vinyl disappears. Prismatic vinyl has a more focused reflective light and therefore can travel at a much longer distance compared to glass bead vinyl.

While you will want to take the time to map out the areas that you need to display the highest degree of reflection, this process shouldn’t be more difficult than applying vinyl to any other type of vehicle. It might take slightly longer due to the size of the vehicle and fleet, but the ratio will stay the same.

Emergency vehicles must be visible to every possible degree when sharing the road with other motorists. That’s why it is crucial to make sure they have reflective graphics that are seen during the darkest parts of the day to keep you and everyone else as safe as possible.

When it comes to your brand and your fleet, quality is the most important consideration to us here at Signature. That’s why we focus on hand-selecting partners who operate under the same standard of excellence that we do. We proudly use 3M graphic films for our fleet graphics to ensure you’re getting the best quality and durability.

Signature Graphics’ team of experts and designers constantly provides unparalleled fleet graphics service for you and your brand. Contact us for your reflective graphics needs and request a quote to get started on your fleet today.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

As a fleet manager, you’re likely responsible for tracking when your fleet needs a vehicle wrap update. If you’re updating existing fleet graphics, you’ll need to budget not only for new graphics but also for removal. Because there are many factors that go into pricing fleet graphics removal, budgeting can be difficult to forecast. To help, we’ve put together a helpful guide to navigating the factors involved in estimating the cost of fleet graphics removal.

Considerations in Vehicle Wrap Removal

When installed properly with high quality materials, vehicle wraps can last for years. At some point, they will likely need to be updated or removed.

Having the following information available can help you get an accurate quote on preparing your fleet for graphic removal.

• Where are you located? Environmental conditions can play a part in what it takes to remove the fleet graphics. For example, sun bleaching and ghosting of old graphics on the paint can be an obstacle that will take extra time and expertise to overcome.
• Where is your fleet stored? If you’re working with a transient fleet, coordination of graphic removers and installers is key and could factor into the cost. The cost is based on pop-up tents, labor, and materials to remove the graphics.
• How long have the graphics been on the vehicle? The longer the graphics are on the vehicle, the more impact it has on your vehicle paint. This can result in a more complicated removal process.
• Do you know who installed your previous fleet graphics? Most removals need inspections and testing of the materials to see what it’s going to take to remove the graphics.
• Lastly, will the job require heat or chemicals for removal? Sometimes it’s a better option to overlay graphics and save time and cost. An example of where this makes sense is the ghosting of old graphics. It may make sense to make the vinyl wrap background the same color as the vehicle to hide the ghosting effects on the paint. It’s much cheaper than repainting the vehicle or sacrificing brand appearance when ghosting is an issue.

How to Make Fleet Graphics Removal Easier

Fleet graphic condition isn’t just a game of chance. There are steps you can take to help make the vehicle wrap removal process easier:

• Choose a reliable fleet graphics partner. Proper removal of your vehicle wrap will affect the application of the new graphics. If it is removed properly, the new application will adhere flawlessly.
• Learn how to care for your fleet graphics. Fleet graphics removal can be much more cost-effective and less labor-intensive if proper vehicle and fleet graphics care is implemented and maintained over the lifecycle of your fleet graphics.

Contact Signature Graphics for Your Fleet Graphics

Signature Graphics has been collaborating with clients to design, install, and maintain fleet graphics for decades. Our professionals are ready to help guide you through every step of the process. Contact us today for your fleet graphics removal.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

Achieving your goals and remaining on course in the present-day project management environment is not an easy task. If you lack proper procedures, strategies, and personnel, it is simple to deviate from your objectives. This can lead to poor resource management, missed deadlines, and unclear success indicators. However, the good news is that you can minimize these hazards by integrating transparency into your project management methods. In this article, we will discuss the importance of transparency in project management and why it is critical for your organization.

1. Knowing Where Your Business Stands Is Crucial

A truly transparent fleet branding project is one where all stakeholders have access to business metrics. These metrics might include vehicle branding status, accuracy of installations, task management, or any other information that could affect the outcome of your branding goals.

It’s important to understand the current standing of your project because it will help you create a strategic plan for the future. In order to do that, you need to know where you currently stand financially, as well as operationally. This data will inform your strategy and give you insight into what changes are needed to reach your goals.

2. Encouraging Collaboration

When vendor project managers and client stakeholders collaborate, they can build a strong relationship based on trust and respect. Both parties can work together to identify and discuss potential risks, provide feedback, and brainstorm solutions to any potential issues that may arise. This open communication helps to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page and that the project is progressing as planned.

Moreover, the collaboration between vendor project managers and client stakeholders also helps to maintain the project’s scope and budget. Through regular communication and discussions, they can adjust the scope of the project and make sure that it is being completed within the agreed-upon budget. This helps to maximize the efficiency of the project and ensure that the client is getting the best possible value for their money.

3. Creating an Environment of Accountability

By promoting transparency in project management, an environment of accountability is established among all project stakeholders, including both vendors and clients. When all details are openly shared, team members are more likely to take responsibility for their actions. A project manager who holds their team members accountable for their performance is also accountable for their own actions, leading to a greater sense of responsibility among the project team. This creates a positive cycle where no one tries to avoid responsibility. In a transparent business, hidden agendas are eliminated, and the focus is solely on achieving goals and producing results through hard work. This fosters a culture of transparency, accountability, and mutual trust, leading to better outcomes for all involved.

4. Building Trust with Stakeholders

Stakeholders are anyone who has an interest in your business – investors, customers, suppliers, partners, etc. When you’re transparent with these people, you’re building trust among them. If you’re being open and honest with stakeholders, they are likely to reciprocate that openness. Trust is crucial when it comes to business partnerships and relationships. It is the foundation of any successful relationship. When stakeholders can see what’s going on behind the scenes at your company, it shows them what you’re made of. It shows that you’re trustworthy and honest. And it will help you build relationships that are beneficial for everyone involved.

How to Avoid Project Pitfalls and Mistakes with brandRESPONSE

It can be a daunting task to maintain your brand’s integrity. When trying to keep track of all of your branded assets across numerous locations, it may seem like a mission impossible. If you want to alter your brand or even buy a company, it could be a risk to manage everything internally.

At Signature, we offer a comprehensive solution to ensure that your brand remains consistent across all touchpoints. Acting as your single point of contact, we utilize our advanced technology platform and dependable processes to support you throughout your branding initiatives. Our team meticulously considers every detail of each branded item across all locations, incorporating them into your brand’s dashboard. We offer multiple options for asset type, timeline, and quality objectives, providing you with cost certainty. Once your plan is finalized, we execute your brand transformation while providing close supervision. With real-time updates accessible from anywhere, you can monitor progress and ensure compliance with ease. Your brand dashboard also enables you to conduct compliance checks at any time, giving you complete control over your brand’s consistency.

Conclusion

Transparency in project management can be a difficult concept to grasp. Some organizations aren’t used to sharing so much information. Fortunately, there are ways to ease into it. You can start with sharing information with certain stakeholders. As you gain more confidence in your abilities, you can increase the level of transparency. The more transparent you are as a business, the more likely you are to succeed. It’s important to keep in mind that transparency doesn’t just apply to project management. It applies to every aspect of your business. Whether you’re creating documents, managing projects, or communicating with stakeholders, transparency is the key to success.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

When YRC Freight Corporation announced its intention to rebrand as the Yellow Corporation, they knew they had quite the job on their hands.  While YRC Freight might not seem familiar, Yellow likely rings as bell. The company is responsible for the creation of the iconic yellow cabs seen all around the country. 

YRC grew from its humble beginnings as a taxicab service in Oklahoma City to a national transportation holding company specializing in less than load (LTL) shipping. To increase brand recognition, the company decided to rebrand in 2021. At the time, they had over 33,000 vehicles in use from coast to coast that needed a new look. The logistics of this undertaking was immense, and Yellow knew that they needed an expert partner to help them tackle the job.

Unique Challenges to Yellow Fleet Graphic Installation

Yellow tapped Signature Graphics to handle the rebrand of their transitory fleet because of their robust processes and procedures and successful track record of handling large-scale national production and installation. 

Working with a transitory fleet means the assets were always on the move. The first thing Signature Graphics needed was a solid strategy to minimize the downtime of 33,679 vehicles and get them back on the road as soon as possible. Signature Graphics opted for spot graphics, rather than full wrap that covered existing visuals. This kept production streamlined and minimized variables like vehicle size, make, and model.

Next, Signature had to coordinate with trailer manufactures to track and accommodate build schedules of new fleet assets. Finally, each vehicle had to be thoroughly washed three days before installation, which meant tracking each vehicle was a high priority. 

Effective Solutions to Transitory Fleet Graphic Installation

The project began in March 2021 with a deadline of December 31, 2021. In other words, Signature had 9 months to rebrand a huge fleet of moving targets. 

The first step was to create an eye-catching and effective design and manufacture high-quality vinyl graphics. Next, Signature undertook the logistics which included: 

• identifying installation locations across the country
• coordinating personnel
• shipping graphics
• building an installation schedule

By referencing brandRESPONSE, Yellow was able to coordinate the wash of each vehicle three days prior to installation, and ensured each vehicle arrived at the installation point at the appropriate time.

To track every task and vehicle, Signature Graphics employed their proprietary brand management tracking and reporting tool, brandRESPONSE so they never missed a truck. With brandRESPONSE, every detail of the project was in one place and progress could be monitored in real time. For example, every single vehicle (all 33,679) was photographed in a before and after state at specific ¾ angle for review and cataloging.

Using brandRESPONSE, professionals at Signature Graphics and Fleet Managers at Yellow could rapidly share information, generate reports, and manage the project all from their phone or computer. 

Results of Yellow Fleet Graphic Rebrand

The entire fleet was successfully rebranded within the timeline with efficient, high-impact fleet graphics for every vehicle regardless of make and model. Yellow even parked a rebranded trailer in Times Square, NYC on July 4, 2021.

Contact Signature Graphics for Your Fleet Graphics

Signature Graphics leverages over 30 years in the industry with cutting-edge technology to provide unparalleled fleet graphics service. We’re proud to be part of the Omnicom Group—one of the most highly regarded marketing and advertising networks in the world. Whether you have a fleet of 30 or more than 30,000 we can make branding your transitory fleet a breeze. Request a quote to get started. 

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

Ask any designer; they might tell you that designing a wrap for a larger vehicle is no easy task. Luckily, Signature Graphics’ highly skilled team of in-house designers, brand advocates, and technical experts provide the exact care and dedication you need.

Signature Graphics put their expertise to use when they partnered with the Oklahoma City Transit Association to design, produce, and install fleet graphics for the new Rolling Oklahoma Classroom (ROC), a public transit bus converted into an educational space for the community. 

Client Goals

Last year, a transit driver spotted the signs of a potential human trafficking incident while completing their route. The transit system realized that its drivers could aid in the fight against human trafficking. The Oklahoma City Transit also identified that 99% of Oklahomans live within a mile of a transit route but aren’t aware. 

They implemented the Rolling Oklahoma Classroom – an educational community program and public awareness campaign – to address these two issues. They wanted to design a vehicle wrap for the bus that would:

• Educate the community by enhancing awareness of the public transit system and the options they offer.
• Promote hands-on public safety and security training for transit workers by including interactive training inside the bus.
• Bring awareness to the signs of human trafficking.

Obstacles

When Oklahoma Transit reached out to Signature Graphics, we were proud to be considered for this project. We worked closely with ROC to develop their vehicle wrap to support their critical mission. As with any project, we encountered a few obstacles on the path toward success. For this project, we addressed the following issues: 

• Creating a design that incorporated the physical characteristics of the bus, while also considering the shapes of the doors and windows.
• Creating a design for a large-scale vehicle while ensuring the design is readable as the vehicle is in motion. 

Solutions

Customer satisfaction is essential to us at Signature Graphics. With our insight and product knowledge, we constantly strive to streamline projects by offering the most efficient and effective solutions for you and your brand.

• We worked with partners to design an eye-catching, inviting, and educational vehicle wrap for the Rolling Oklahoma Classroom.
• Designed the graphics to flow with the existing structure of the bus.
• Designed the vehicle wrap to be readable while the bus is in motion.

Signature was honored to contribute to battling human trafficking and teaching people the right ways to protect themselves. To support this powerful charitable work, we donated the graphics to this project. We enjoyed playing a small part in making this goal a reality for the Oklahoma Transit Association.

At Signature, we understand the value of your brand. Regardless of scope and scale, Signature’s team of branding experts is prepared to help you make your mark. Learn more about how Signature can help brand your fleet.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

Companies have a new way of thinking about their key asset: their brand. Previously, brands were primarily associated with products and services. Today, they’re seen as an asset that can be used across different media and formats to build associations with a target audience. That’s why many companies are embarking on an extensive rebranding journey – where the main objective is to extend the value of their brand while refreshing, strengthening, or widening its meaning. We will explore how brands are viewing their assets differently and how fleets are an essential component to these efforts.

Why Rebrand?

Rebranding can be used as a strategy to remove negative associations, reposition in a more favorable way, or extend the reach of a brand. Many companies have rebranded in the past decade because it’s an opportunity to update their brand’s image or reposition to stay relevant in the changing marketplace. In today’s fast-paced world, businesses need to stay relevant and contemporary – or risk being left behind by competitors. Here are a few of the major drivers behind companies choosing transformation:

1. Your Business Has New Products and/or Services – For companies that have expanded their product or service offerings, it could be time to rebrand and showcase those changes.
2. Too Many Deviations of Your Brand in the Marketplace – Consistent messaging across all media and marketing channels, including your fleet, is key to establishing a strong brand identity. If you have various iterations of past branding across assets and lack uniformity, you risk a diluted message in the marketplace. Consistency will help you build trust with customers and engage with them.
3. Your Current Graphics Need a Refresh – While premium graphics have the durability and longevity to last you seven to ten years, substandard materials can degrade much sooner and may need a refresh. If you observe lifting or peeling of the material, faded graphics from sun exposure, or missing letters in ad copy it’s important to consider the message that those conditions will convey about your brand.
4. You’ve Undergone a Merger or Acquisition – Merging companies most likely have differing brand perceptions in the marketplace that will need to be united under an entirely new brand umbrella. By displaying the identity of the new organization on vehicles, branding can be communicated to stakeholders and the public. Vehicle graphics can be a daunting task after a merger or acquisition. Signature offers tools to get it done quickly, cost-efficiently, and with minimal disruption to the company’s operations. Vehicle graphics can reinforce the message of the new organization, helping to build recognition and create a unified corporate identity.
5. You Need to Reach a New Audience – Vehicle graphics offer the opportunity to reach a larger audience and bolster your brand. Whether fleet branding covers vehicles or communicate their message though smaller, attention-grabbing designs, Signature’s design team specializes in making your vehicle branding work for you. Vehicle branding is not only an effective advertising strategy but also a cost-efficient way to widen your reach. The right design and placement can make vehicle graphics a powerful tool in widening your target market.

“The right design and placement can make vehicle graphics a powerful tool in widening your target market.“

Planning for a Large-Scale Rebrand

Without the proper tools, a project with geographically dispersed teams can be a daunting task. To ensure successful communication, collaboration, and coordination, it is imperative that the right knowledge and tools are integrated into the project. The use of the appropriate tools can help bridge potential distance-related gaps and ensure that the project is completed in an efficient and effective manner.

• Branding Goals and Objectives – Branding goals and objectives are essential in any business, large or small. A brand is more than just a logo or a catchy slogan – it is the identity of the company and its products, which customers can recognize and associate with. A successful branding strategy should create a consistent and recognizable image of the company, and set it apart from competitors.
• Number of Vehicles – as the volume of a fleet increases, the project complexities stack up with it. The necessary tools and a team of branding professionals committed to the success of a project is essential to a successful outcome.  
• Locations – Ensuring consistency across branding elements is a major factor to consider when attempting to create a powerful brand. It can be difficult to achieve, but when done correctly, it is a testament to the success of the branding. To guarantee a uniform brand identity across multiple sites, the knowledge and expertise of branding experts, custom-made tools, and advice from seasoned professionals are essential. 
• Vehicle Makes & Models – The variety of vehicles in a fleet corresponds to the number of designs necessary to appropriately brand each one. It is necessary to have designers proficient in the art of carrying branding across every vehicle type for a branding campaign to be successful.
• Start Date and Desired Completion Date – A comprehensive, precise timeline serves as a launchpad project managers, marketers, designers, manufacturers, fleet managers, and installers to hit the ground running when beginning a rebrand project.
• Budgetary and Operational Constraints – Large scale branding and rebranding projects introduce project scope constraints with facilities that cannot handle the volume of manufacturing and project management that come with it. Signature’s operations are engineered to cater to the successful and timely execution of high-volume branding endeavors.
• Design and Vehicle Layouts – Crafting an effective vehicle design necessitates an eye for detail and a familiarity with the rules of fleet design to modify branding in the most suitable manner for the three-dimensional and moving space that vehicle graphics inhabit.
• Project Management – A centralized database is your best bet when it comes to managing a fragmented project, particularly when you need to manage assets such as vehicles across numerous locations, layouts, and status updates.
• Issue Escalation Procedures – When taking on big fleet branding jobs, it is normal to face difficulties. Keeping all lines of communication open and having a plan for solving issues quickly is the key to success in this type of project.  

“To guarantee a uniform brand identity across multiple sites, the knowledge and expertise of branding experts, custom-made tools, and advice from seasoned professionals are essential.“

5 Factors That Make Fleet Branding Successful

When you’re looking at rebranding your fleet, there are many ways to approach this process. The best approach is often by “staying true to who your company is while making improvements.” This means using vehicles that reflect the same values and mission as your company, while leveraging new digital capabilities and technologies to improve the customer experience.

• Visual Identity – A consistent visual identity is essential for branding vehicles and can have a significant impact on how consumers perceive the product. This can involve using the brand’s logo on the cars, using consistent fonts, and adding colors to the vehicles that match the brand’s identity.
• Brand Story – A brand’s story can be used to help create a connection between customers and a company through the vehicles. Many brands have a story they want to tell, and the vehicles can help bring this story to life.
• Ad-copy – In some cases, ad-copy is present on the side of a vehicle. This can help passengers and drivers understand what the company does and what benefits it offers.
• Customer Engagement – Customers often want to learn more about a company’s vehicles, making it important to engage with them in a positive way.
• Social Media – Vehicles can be used to promote events, post pictures, and increase engagement with customers through social media channels.

3 Strategies That Help branded Vehicles Succeed

A well-branded vehicle can help a company stand out from the competition. It’s important to make sure your vehicles are properly branded and that your company’s branding efforts are effective. What brands are looking for is consistency across all aspects of the brand, including visual identity and the company’s social media accounts. With the help of the right branding tools, you can create a consistent image across all of your vehicles. Make sure to focus on the right things, and the right people will see and remember it. If your fleet is in need of a rebrand, consider one of these strategies:

• Engage With Customers – Customers like to ask questions about a vehicle’s purpose, what it represents, and how it can help them.
• Connect With Passengers – Passengers in a branded car can have a positive experience with your company if you engage with them in a positive way.
• Communicate With Drivers – Drivers play an important role in helping bring the brand to life.

How to Avoid Project Pitfalls and Mistakes with brandRESPONSE

It can be a daunting task to maintain your brand’s integrity. When trying to keep track of all of your branded assets across numerous locations, it may seem like a mission impossible. If you want to alter your brand or even buy a company, it could be a risk to manage everything internally. That’s why we offer our services as your single point of contact to help you maintain brand compliance. With our technology platform and reliable process, we’ll work with you through all your branding endeavors to be sure that all the details of each branded item in every location are taken into account and incorporated into your brand’s dashboard. We’ll create options for each asset type, timeline, and quality objectives, guaranteeing cost certainty. When your plan is all set, we’ll execute your brand transformation. We provide close supervision while you can check the updates in real-time from any place. With your dashboard, you now have the possibility to do compliance checks whenever needed, making it easier to ensure consistency.

Conclusion

Some of the most successful brands in recent years have followed a rebranding process. In fact, most companies that have done a complete rebranding have seen increases in revenue and brand recognition, and have built a stronger brand value. This post has provided a basic overview of how brands are looking at their assets differently and how fleets of cars are being branded as part of this movement. If you are thinking about rebranding your company or your fleet, you should carefully plan how you will use your vehicles to help build your brand – while you are at it, make sure you do your research so you don’t invest money in a new identity that ends up not working out. When you have a strong brand, it can make all the difference. When a company decides to do a complete rebranding, it is a significant investment of time and money, but it can be well worth it. The goal is to give a fresh new look to a company or product and to strengthen its identity and connection with potential customers. This can boost brand loyalty, increase brand recognition, and boost brand value. While doing a complete rebranding takes a lot more work than simply changing the logo and some of the visual elements on cars, it can be well worth the effort.

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.

Imagine this: You’ve invested time, energy, and funds into wrapping your fleet with graphics. Your vehicles are traveling down highways and passing hundreds of potential customers in a single journey. But the vehicles aren’t generating the leads you expected. Why? Because your fleet graphic design isn’t working at high speeds! 

Are Your Fleet Graphics Being Seen at Highway Speeds? 

Fleet graphics are mobile billboards—in fact, studies indicate that they’re on the move up to 50% of the time. If you don’t factor in the speeds at which potential customers pass your message, you could be missing opportunities. 

For stationary signs, ADA Guidelines recommend 3-inch lettering for signs viewed from 25 feet away and 6-inch lettering for distances of 35 feet or more. This formula changes when you factor in the movement of the viewer. The USSC (United States Sign Council) uses a formula to determine the optimum signage square footage required for a sign to be seen by moving cars. “VRT (viewer reaction time) + MPH/800 = recommended square footage for a stationary sign. This will vary by road complexity.” But what if the buying public and the sign are both moving? 

How to Design Fleet Graphics for High Speeds

“The best way to design Fleet Graphics for high speeds is to grab the attention of your viewer as quickly as possible,” says Signature Graphics veteran designer, Carrie Flores. “A good design keeps things simple and immediately draws attention to essential information.”  

According to 3M, the average potential customer will view your graphics for 3-5 seconds. Follow these designer-approved best practices to design the most effective fleet graphics.

• Use large, clean font and bright, eye-catching colors.
• Highlight your business name and website. Many designers have moved away from including phone numbers on designs as most consumers will look your website up before calling.  
• Use very short, memorable taglines that tell your customers about your product or service. 
• Utilize the back of your vehicle for additional information. Drivers have more time to digest your message when they follow behind a member of your fleet.
• Make sure your photos are clean, and memorable.
• Ensure that any graphics are recognizable and straightforward.

What to Avoid in your Fleet Graphic Design 

User-friendly marketing is easy to digest. The goal is not to be clever, but rather to be clear. 

“You don’t want to make your customers think too hard, otherwise you’ll lose their precious attention,” warns Carrie.  She recommends avoiding the following common pitfalls. 

• Avoid busy, complex designs that take the viewer time and energy to decode. 
• Don’t use fancy or flowery font like script or italics. Choose bold, sans-serif fonts for ultimate readability.
• Don’t fill your visual space with words. Choose only the most essential information that asks people to act. For example, “visit our website at reallygreatsite.com.”
• Don’t stray from your branding. Use colors and logos that are consistent across all your marketing materials. The goal is to be immediately recognizable. 

Contact Signature Graphics for your Fleet Graphics

Signature Graphics has offered Fleet Branding and Graphics since 1986. From in-house designers to professional installation, we apply a solutions-based approach to ensure your long-term success. Contact us today for your fleet branding needs. 

We proudly use 3M^TM graphic films and overlaminates.