Getting your van branding right

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According to experts, around half of Britain’s 2.5 million van drivers don’t have their contact details on the side of their vehicles.

Business owners with unbranded company vehicles are being urged to use their vans as a marketing tool to win over customers and grow their business in 2019.

Experts at van suppliers LeaseVan.co.uk have outlined the ways in which branded vans can support businesses, rather than simply getting employees from A to B, in the New Year.

Cost-effective advertising

Branding on the sides of vans can be one of the most cost-effective forms of advertising with as many as 3,000 potential customers an hour catching sight of a van operating in one of our major cities.

Unlike billboards and advertisements which involve recurring high costs, a branded van simply requires an initial investment for a fraction of the cost.

No matter if your vehicle is stationary or moving, you need to create something that stands out from the crowd.

Think about big, bold, lettering and a visible company logo which can be easily associated with your trade, such as a flame icon for a gas engineer.

Getting the look right

Make sure you work with a professional designer and remember to check what the vans will look like when the doors are open.

If you have text splashed down the side of the door, you must remember that words will become shortened when the van door is open.

If you have a company name that could cause offence when shortened – you might want a rethink.

It’s also vital to ensure you’re not using any misleading information in your branding. Companies will often put prices on display, but this can lead to all sorts of trouble.

For example, if you’re offering to clean windows for £5, someone may take this to mean £5 for ALL windows – so wouldn’t be too happy when you asked for £45. Customers are well within their rights to lodge a complaint and could even go directly to Trading Standards.

It is advisable to keep vans clean and tidy, not only to improve the visibility of any branding, but to also show that the entire company cares for its vehicle and work.

First impressions speak volumes and having a clean and tidy van shows a dedication to your company image that would reflect in your work too.

A dirty, untidy van would likely turn people off the idea of hiring your company as it suggests a poor standard of work.

This goes for inside the van as well as outside so don’t leave paperwork sprawled across the seats or coffee cups scattered in the foot-well.

A spokesperson for LeaseVan.co.uk said: “White van drivers really could be missing a trick when it comes to van branding, and so what better time to fine tune your marketing that the start of a new year?

“Business owners should not only be looking to make a great first impression, but also a lasting impression too, and vehicle wraps are an effective way of spreading your business’ message and making an impact on those all-important potential customers.

“It doesn’t cost much to order some professional graphics for the side of a van and it’s an investment which will pay for itself in no time.

“You can reach a larger audience with a vehicle wrap than almost any other form of advertising, and in fact many businesses gain more customers from their vehicle wraps than their websites!

“It’s important to note that if you’re branding a leased van, you will need to make sure any decals are removed before you return the vehicle at the end of your lease, but this is equally a very simple and cheap process.”