General Background And Experience

Can you tell us about your background and what led to your involvement with SpeedPro?

I have a BSc in Math and Physics and an M.B.A. I worked for Wood Gundy in corporate finance for 10 years and ran a retail computer business for 12 years. I was ready for a self-employed business opportunity and SpeedPro was a great fit!

How long have you been in the large-format printing industry?

10 years.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a commercial printing and design company, and how have you overcome them?

Lower than anticipated sales but perseverance helped me.

Design

How can clients prepare for a design appointment?

Clients can prepare by ensuring all logos or pictures that they want to include are high resolution. Vector files are best, however high-resolution jpegs that are the same size as the project may also work. Font names should also be provided, and any rough sketches or inspiration photos are also welcome to make the process more efficient.

What are some design mistakes you wish your clients knew about?

Clients often give us a small logo or picture and would like it blown up on a larger project. This is not possible as the image will become fuzzy, losing resolution as it gets bigger. Free design software does not have the ability to export high-quality print files. Also, clients are sometimes disappointed to hear that colours may shift in the artwork when printed. Client files are great for mock-up purposes but often require a redesign by our team to ensure the quality of the results remains high.

What are the key differences between large-format printing design and traditional print design?

Large-format prints can be much bigger than standard prints, making them more versatile and creating more opportunities for a variety of applications. The quality can be much better, and the prints can be done on a wide range of materials including vinyl, poster paper, Coroplast, banner material, aluminum composite panel, and more. Depending on the project, larger-format prints can also be printed more quickly than traditional printing.

Signs

What materials do you recommend for indoor signs vs. outdoor signs, and why?

Outdoor signs can be limited to materials that can withstand harsh conditions. We use aluminum, aluminum composite, outdoor PVC, or thick Coroplast for signs that need to be strong and durable. We also make flags, tents, as well as banners that have hemming reinforcement and are coated to last longer outdoors. If there is good support behind the sign, thinner Coroplast and cut acrylics can be used. For windows and walls, vinyls can be applied directly, and there are also special vinyls that can be applied in cooler weather.

Indoor signs generally have fewer limitations on materials, so all of these above options will work, plus we can use acrylic, poster paper, indoor banners, PVC, styrene, and foam core.

What factors play into which signs you recommend for clients?

Size, location, indoor versus outdoor, budget, and the client’s end goal all play a factor in what we recommend for signage.

What is the one thing you wish more clients knew about the process of designing, manufacturing, selecting, and installing signage?

We wish that all clients were aware of some of the size and dimension limitations, as well as sign refreshing limitations because not all signs are in good enough condition to reface (sometimes it is more cost-effective to build a new sign). 

One thing often overlooked for storefront signs is the fact that sometimes the shape of a logo does not lend itself well to the shape of their sign, so sometimes clients have to be prepared to work with us to incorporate their logo and verbiage in the best way possible to use the existing sign. 

Lastly, it takes time to print and properly dry the vinyl before laminating and applying it to the material or installing it. In some cases with heavy ink, it may take a few days before we can laminate and prepare the signs for you. This is a critical part of the process to ensure the print looks good and lasts as long as possible.

Banners

How do you keep outdoor banners durable in Barrie’s cold weather?

If banners are going to be exposed to the elements for a long time, they can be specially coated to last in the sun and also hemmed for reinforcement on all sides.

Vehicle Wraps

What are some of the most common misconceptions about vehicle wraps?

One misconception is that vinyl can cover scratches, blemishes, or rust, so it is an easy fix for some problems. In fact, grooves can be accentuated by the vinyl, and vinyl will not stick to rust areas and will fail. Vinyl will not stick to surfaces that have been oxidized, therefore old paint or surfaces that have a powered coating must be professionally detailed and polished before any vinyl can be applied.

Another common misunderstanding is that people often ask for a wrap but actually just want a logo and lettering on their vehicle. A wrap or partial wrap involves applying vinyl to the entire surface or portion of the surface. Sometimes clients only want to wrap the back end and some want the entire body wrapped. Often clients are just looking to print a logo on the doors and some key information in cut lettering on the doors or body. All these different types are extremely effective in raising awareness for your business.

An additional misconception is the difference between a full wrap and a colour change. A full wrap in our shop refers to a full application of vinyl on all outer surfaces. Sometimes that excludes the roof, mirrors, or handles depending on the vehicle and what the client wants. A colour change is very different, as there is wrapping on the inside of the doors as well.

When would you recommend a partial wrap, a half wrap, a full wrap, or decals? Is one better than the other?

Decals will often be recommended if the client only wants a subtle advertisement on their vehicle, if there is some damage or rust on the vehicle, or if there is a strict budget.  Partial, half, or full wrap often depends on the design that the client wants. The larger the message or imagery for the wrap, the more that the client may want to cover the vehicle. 

Trade Shows

What trade show displays are the most popular among your clients?

Most popular and versatile are pop-up banners, hanging banners, tablecloths, and table runners as they are easy to pack and go, and set up with little space. For larger booths and/or more impact, back wall displays are extremely popular, as are tents and flags. These also travel well, set up quickly, and can be very eye-catching.

What’s the best trade show display option when you have a different amount of space allotted to you at each trade show?

For smaller display areas, hanging banners can be made for any size and can be hung at the back for high visibility. Pop-up banners can be set up and taken down on the spot, and tablecloths or runners cover existing tables so they don’t take up any extra room.   All of these can be set up and used in a small office space later. They can also all be spread out to cover more space in a bigger booth area.

Window And Wall Decals

What types of businesses or events benefit the most from using decals?

Every business or event can benefit from having decals. They can be made for your walls or desks, as a handout to promote your business, or to advertise on your windows. They can be used by everyone in one way or another!

Business Cards

What printing techniques do you recommend to make business cards stand out?

Different textures, corners, and sizes can be used to make your card stand out.

What are the design elements you recommend to make a business card most effective?

We recommend keeping it simple. You want to get your services across clearly and concisely, in bullet form if possible so it reads easy at a glance. And use both sides.   Each can have a different focus or the colour and logos can be used more prominently to represent your branding.

Do you like QR code business cards?

QR codes can be extremely effective for part of the card. We recommend using the card to show information about you and your business and incorporate the QR code to expand on that. If you use just a QR code then you miss that valuable opportunity to make the first impression until that person decides to use the QR Code.

Flyers

Which businesses can benefit the most from using flyers as part of their marketing strategy?

Flyers can help any business that needs to get a message out quickly to many people. They can be great for events, handing out information, raising awareness, and for menus and specials in the food and services industries.

What printing options do you recommend to balance a flyer’s durability and aesthetic appeal?

Flyers work well when there is a clear and concise image that people can read quickly and immediately take away the idea. It is great to incorporate an image that people can resonate with if possible. Using colours that work well together can create a long-lasting impression.

Labels

How do you choose the right materials for different types of labels?

What will it be sticking to? That is the biggest factor when deciding what type of vinyl to use. We have vinyls that are standard for all-purpose uses, and special vinyls for vehicles, painted surfaces, rougher surfaces, cold and warm surfaces, and more. Once we understand how you are using them, we can find the right vinyl for you.

Large Print

How do you expect large-format printing to evolve over the years? Any trends you’re excited about?

Printers are continually advancing in technology, making it possible to print faster and on more substrates. Robots and AI are being incorporated into efficiency and design. It is evolving at a fast pace, and we are excited about it!