Box truck added to the Sign Warehouse workshop
Wrapping a box truck has just been added to the basic/intermediate workshop coming up at Sign Warehouse on May 10/11. This means that the students will wrap 2 full vehicles during the workshop - a mini-van and the box truck. I think this really rounds out the class because the one question that always comes up during my workshops is how to do rivets. I show my foam roller method which is key to doing rivets quickly and precisely. For sign up info go to: http://mutohcarwraps.com/MutohSchoolofWrap.html
ISA Show in Orlando
The ISA show in Orlando this past weekend went really, really well. The crowd turnout at Mutoh's booth was big with lots of people inquiring about the Carwraps Business Builder and my videos/workshops. Todd LaBrie, owner of Carwraps, and myself did 3 demos a day, highlighting the strengths of our program which is efficiency and quality. I used Avery's new 1005 Supercast film for the demos and people were very into it. I think this is going to be a very good product for Avery. High quality media that prints and installs extremely well for an excellent price point. Smart on their part to make the price point the same as their old 1005 Easy Apply RS. The people at Mutoh, particularly Randy "The Man" Anderson, went out of their way to make sure the booth looked great. Always a pleasure to do the demos for Mutoh. The next U.S. event on the horizon is the hands-on workshop at Sign Warehouse from May 10-12. For more info on the workshop go to: www.mutohcarwraps.com.
Dinner with Rob Ivers
I arrived in Orlando yesterday for the ISA sign show which starts in just a few hours. Rob Ivers, a legend in this industry, suggested that we grab some dinner before it all started. I think one of my favorite things about coming to these sign shows has been the chance to talk to some of the legends. I really like to understand how things work, the history and there is no one better and enlightening me than Rob Ivers. This guys has been in the biz since the 70's and has seen it all. Rob will be on of the head judges at the wrap contest this year. I'm now off to get the Prius ready for the demos today. I will be doing 3 demos using Avery's new 1005 Supercast film. The graphics were printed by a Mutoh Valuejet. Todd LaBrie, owner of Carwraps, will be talking about the Carwraps Business Builder that comes with any Mutoh purchase for 2010. For more information on this program go to: www.mutohcarwraps.com.
Video from the last workshop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQWuC3-TTwo
This is a video of the beginner/intermediate workshop that I just completed for Mutoh. The workshop was held at Avery-Dennison headquarters in Ohio. The next workshop will be at Sign Warehouse in Texas from May 10-12. For sign up info go to: www.mutohcarwraps.com.
Mutoh/Avery Workshop completed
I just got done teaching Mutoh's School of Wrap workshop for beginner/intermediate students at Avery headquarters in Painesville, OH. It was a very good class of students and the training facility was first rate. I wish all my workshops were at Avery. Everyone in the class was really eager to learn and put their head down for 2 full days. We worked with Avery's new 1005 Supercast film with the 1.3mm overlam. After learning my UGIS system on day one, they wrapped a Ford Explorer on day 2. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they wrapped the car because all of them were brand new to installing. Very impressive. The graphics really popped due to the high quality print by a Mutoh Valuejet and that the new supercast film prints really, really well. A nice bonus for the workshop is that Crystal Baus from Mutoh came by to answer any questions about Mutoh printers and Todd LaBrie, owner of Carwraps, was present to answer any design questions. Tomorrow is the advanced workshop and then I'm back to Amsterdam to be with my ladies.
Gettin’ ready for the first workshop of 2010
One week from today I fly out to Painesville, Oh to teach the first of 6 hands-on workshops for Mutoh and Avery-Dennison for 2010. This first workshop is at Avery-Dennison headquarters which I'm very excited about. The reason for this is that Avery has offered to give the participants (and myself) a full tour of their facility. I always love these behind the scenes tours and its a great chance to learn about how the material is made. For the workshops, both beginner/intermediate and the advanced, we will be using Avery's new 1005 Supercast film that was officially launched on March 1. I'm pleased to have Crystal Baus of Mutoh and Todd LaBrie of Carwraps at Avery for the workshop. They will be on hand to answer any questions about printers and the Carwraps Business Builder that comes with the purchase of Mutoh printers for 2010. For info on the workshops go to: www.mutohcarwraps.com.
Welcome to the jungle, baby
Avery gave me 25 yards of their new supercast film to try out because it will be the film I will use in my advanced hands-on workshops for Mutoh and Avery this year. Avery's new supercast film exceeded all my expectations. On many areas that I normally use a little bit of heat the film simply conformed perfectly to the area with minimal tension. The best way to explain how the film felt during the application was that it was like driving a super luxury car. It did everything I have always wanted a film to do with the greatest of ease. A truly extraordinary film. Also, the film printed very well - the colors clean and sharp. I would like to thank Knibbe Lettering (www.knibbe.nl) for printing the wrap. At Avery, Molly Waters and Hans Bruins did a great job in coordinating the delivery of the supercast film and lamination. My wife and daughter love leopard print so they are very happy to have it on our car. Anything for my ladies.
Merry X-mas Mom
For X-mas this year, my mom asked me to wrap her car so that it looked like wood. I thought this would be a good chance to experiment with a new combination of film/overlam. For the Mutoh workshops/signshows for 2009 I used Avery 1005 Easy Apply RS film with a 2.0mm overlam. I like a thinner overlam for it helps the film conform better to bumpers and recessed areas so, for my mom's wrap, I used Avery's glossy 1.3mm overlam. The thinner overlam really made a big difference in how the film conformed to curves and recessed areas. It was also just as easy to handle as the 2.0 overlam, an added bonus. I highly recommend this combination of film/overlam (1005 Easy Apply RS/1.3mm glossy overlam) and will it for all my sign shows and workshops in 2010. I would like to shout out a few thank you's for helping make this wrap happen. For the design, Todd LaBrie and Chalong Nanthamong of Carwraps created the file/art work. Randy Anderson and Ken Parsley of Mutoh did the printing/shipping. Lance Hutt, Molly Waters and Ron Winter of Avery coordinated/supplied the Avery film and overlam. Rob Rule and Kyle of Signs Now in Boise for letting me use their space and helping out when needed. Now my mom is the coolest 72 year old driving around Boise. Merry X-mas and a Happy New Year.
2010 Workshop Schedule Set
The 2010 Hands-On workshops for Mutoh have been set. Go to the Workshop tab on this website for the dates and full descriptions and pricing. One thing I like about this schedule is that it has something for everyone - basic/intermediate and advanced classes. If you have any questions feel free to post a comment or contact me at justin@justinpate.net.
SEMA – Great way to end the year
SEMA 2009 just came to a close and what a great show. Since it was a car show I didn't know what kind of response people would have to my demos and the Carwraps Business Builder that Mutoh launched at this show. To my very pleasant surprise it was the best show of the year both in the size of the crowds and how people really get the program and are excited by it. I did my 2 demos a day with the help of Sandra Schreuder, one of my favorite installers who was in town from the Netherlands. She came here with her boyfriend, Niels Langedijk, co-owner of Squeezy, the premiere installation company in the Netherlands. For the demos I used Oracal film that was printed on a Valuejet. Todd LaBrie, owner of Carwraps, would take over the mic when Sandra and I would wrap the passenger side. Todd LaBrie would explain in detail about the Carwraps Business Builder that now comes free with a Mutoh printer. Essentially it is: for one year, any new Mutoh customer gets access to the HD installation videos I created, Todd LaBrie's design videos, discount for hands-on training and then, after a testing period, the printers/installers get listed on Carwraps which is America's #1 website. This will generate leads for the customers. This separates Mutoh from every other printer out there in that their customers get a great printer, they will learn how to design/install and get leads. A business in a box. Cool stuff.
I'm looking forward to relaxing tonight and tomorrow then flying to Sign Warehouse for the sold out hands-on workshop which is sponsored by Mutoh and Avery. After all the hardwork this year, its nice to see things start to really come together. Viva Las Vegas.
