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Van livery is free ongoing advertising (only initial cost) and provides a 'presence'. If designed professionally is most likely an effective tool.
Personally, the last two years I've not had one enquiry direct from the livery but plenty through media advertising and referral.
I like the clean plain van look, so have now removed the livery, but always display sign boards when on site.
Will be interested to hear of anyone who has had more success with their van livery,
I would leave them on, the van looks good. I would keep the contact numbers up to date.
Is there anyone in your area you could pass the extra work onto and still make a couple of bob out of it if you couldn't fit it in?
Are they not higher value items than the grass cutting service that you offer, plus some of the services can be done in the winter.
Reckon the Van looks cracking.
As Robbie says keep your number out there, but perhaps just remove bullet points and leave it looking more generic and allow you to offer additional services? We keep ours 'simple' and mention no services:
Gary RK said:
That could be the secret! Less is more, and all that.
Had much response directly from your van's advertising, Gary? It does look smart.
One of my regular management agents requires signwritten vans from it's contractors. I tend to agree with them that it inspires confidence in the customers, and raises you above the "will do anything for cash" type of van-man.
I just have the company name, nothing more, on the sides. I don't want enquiries from having a number or anything, as to me they are always the "how much do you charge per hour" types who are probably contacting plenty of others for the cheapest quote.
I think it's enough, if you want to use the van as an advert, to have perhaps just one line to describe what you do. The trouble with a list of services on a van is that it either limits what people think you do, or becomes so long it's never going to have any impact. "All garden services undertaken", for instance, has so much more impact than a long list, and doesn't exclude anything. Keep it as simple as possible, big and bold, and easy to remember.
I'm not sure I could ever attribute gaining a contract 'directly' to one of the vans, but can absolutely acknowledge we are 'recognised' and known which is important at commercial sites as they are more comfortable for security reasons, recognising we have been etc.
We find it helps at suppliers, waste sites etc again because we get recognised.
Logic suggests/supports it does help in being contacted.
They are also 'well received' by the large residential sites we look after, ie the neighbours know ;-)
One hidden spin off is somewhat better driving by us all.....
That's interesting, both, and makes absolute sense. Don't 'limit' your services, and the recognition aspect.
Perhaps the answer is to look for van livery to achieve brand awareness, rather than as a mobile sign board advertising various services.
Get rid of those bullet points, chums!
Looks great but if you're fully booked up with your gardening customers and not looking for extra work, do you want to advertise the contents of your van to the local travelling community? Does it really matter if your van looks "professional" or not as long as you do a "professional" job? I'm sure you'll also be offered extra jobs, if you want them, throughout the year through personal recommendations.