Mobile Munchers

EATING ON THE GO has become so much more than your local drive-thru. Food trucks are everywhere — from designated parks in the middle of big cities to small towns where entrepreneurial spirit abounds and many would-be restaurateurs have found themselves successful with mobile eateries. They key to success in this competitive market is having a truck with such dynamic, eye-catching graphics that it intrigues and invites customers to come check out the food. Here are some projects your peers have executed that came with their own set of challenges and solutions.

Go Graphix
E. Longmeadow, MA

“Man! Buns.” What better reason could one want in order to check out this food truck’s fare? The Go Graphix team had a blast with this wrap, done for the MGM casino in Springfield, MA, which uses it for “Free Music Fridays” at the venue. Success came swiftly, but that doesn’t mean it came easily.

“While getting the bid was tough, the main challenge was that everything was last-minute,” says owner Jim White. “This truck had little nuances that we hadn’t anticipated until we got in there and started the job. We worked through it but didn’t have as much time as we normally do.”

For example, White says lining up the design between the panels was an obstacle, as was the door for the food counter that drops down. “There also was a side sliding door that goes in a bit,” recalls White. “We had to print a separate panel with extra bleed to make it work. Then the electrical/utility boxes on the back, all the handles, worrying about the greasy areas getting the vinyl dirty … it all added time to the install.”

But the team consulted with the casino’s marketing team continuously and White says the high level of rapport helped them avoid other problems that might have arisen had the teams not had open communication. “We’re service-based and are a partner first to our customers,” says White. “And the result was a highly branded, exciting design that attracts lots of hungry customers.”

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Mandel Co.
Milwaukee, WI

Wrapping a vehicle in a “permanent/semi-permanent” installation is nothing short of challenging. For Rick Mandel, president and fourth generation of this 132-year-old, family-owned business, it meant his team wouldn’t have a 360° space to work in.

“The battered, used truck was permanently put into a retail area of the Potawatomi Casino Hotel in a section called ‘Street Eatz,’” says Mandel. “We were doing our work while the construction teams were completing the space, so we had to wrap in dust, and around people and permanent walls, etc.”

“There were small spaces that were tough to get into to wrap. And because metal had been cut away from the truck to install it and drywall had been put up in certain places, we had to make sure our material worked on both surfaces so the entire truck had a cohesive look. Drywall gets permanent very quickly, so we had to be precise.”

Even the rivets posed frustrating to work with. The other big factors were the truck’s handles, bumps, and ridges, says Mandel. “The dimensions were unexpected at times because the project was still being built while we were wrapping. So things changed midstream.” But Mandel Co. is known for its event imagery and point-of-sale graphics, and the team completed the project seamlessly with no wrinkles. And the final result was a very happy client.

Atchley Graphics
Columbus, OH

The Yuengling Beer Tap truck wrap presented a unique and engaging challenge for the Atchley Graphics’ team. The company’s objective was to wrap a vintage 1960’s Chevy panel truck that was being retrofitted to serve as a mobile beer tap dispenser and brand ambassador for Yuengling.

While the project may have initially appeared straightforward, the team encountered several obstacles that required innovative solutions.
One significant challenge was the lack of accurate vehicle outline templates designed specifically for wraps of this vintage model.

The PSP’s extensive library and Internet searches yielded no satisfactory results. Complicating matters further, the vehicle was out-of-state undergoing retrofitting and modifications, preventing direct access for measurements.


Atchley’s team collaborated closely with the fabricator, communicating extensively via phone and email. Preparing the surface of the vintage vehicle to accept the wrap media was another crucial step, says Atchley.

“Given its age, careful consideration was necessary for every area. Our installers — known for their meticulous attention to detail — ensured the vehicle was professionally prepped prior to applying the wrap.”


The success of this project is a testament to the skill and dedication of Atchley’s entire team, he adds. “Our designers, print and production specialists, and certified installers all worked in concert to deliver an exceptional result that greatly pleased the client.” The wrapped vehicle went on to be featured prominently in several commercials and marketing campaigns, underscoring the quality and impact of the team’s work.

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