Avery Dennison Corporation has invested $3 million in San Diego-based Wrapify, the technology-based car wrap company. According to Wrapify CEO James Heller, this is the largest investment for Wrapify since it raised $3.1 million in seed money in order to launch in 2015. The investment will specifically strengthen the company’s sales force, as it looks to expand from 29 cities to the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the United States.
Bill Podojil, senior business director for Avery Dennison Graphic Solutions, North America, has been in touch with Wrapify since its launch in the summer of 2015, but he and Heller became serious about working together in the summer of 2016.
Podojil believes the investment opens up an opportunity to expand the wrap industry and to create a new revenue stream for installers. The growth of Wrapify will also expand the vibrant sharing economy, in which consumers can leverage their personal vehicles.
“Wrapify is actually paying drivers to do what they normally do anyway,” says Heller. “They’re not going out of their way to drive around in their car. They’re literally driving on their normal routes, whether it be to work, dropping their kids off at school, etc.”
This investment is not the only boost that Avery Dennison has provided for the startup. Wrapify’s business model required a film with great printability and conformability that would last while being quickly removed for changing ad campaigns. That is exactly what Wrapify found in Avery Dennison film.
Wrapify exclusively uses Avery Dennison films, designing and printing the films in-house. Then, they leverage a network of certified installers to complete the installs on the vehicles. The company requires a certification for shops, even those that are Avery Dennison certified, in order to become official film installers for the company. Once certified, Wrapify will direct business toward these select shops. Those interested in becoming a Wrapify certified installer should visit install.wrapify.com.
With 42,000 registered drivers already, Wrapify is well on its way to becoming a force in localized advertising. Learn more about the company and how you can get involved as a driver or installer at wrapify.com.
