Get Graphic With Your Aesthetic
The décor and aesthetic of your bar can be just as important as the contents of your cocktail menu—especially in today’s photo-centric, Instagrammable culture. Vinyl graphics can be an easy and affordable way to transform your interior or exterior (or even vehicle as the case may be!) into an unforgettable setting for your guests.
Here are two recent examples of businesses that transformed their look with the help of graphics.
Sadler’s Ales
Sadler’s Ales recently opened its new taproom in the UK. Sign-maker HNS Signs had painted the interior of the venue, and Sadler’s was so pleased with the results that they brought the sign company back to wrap their beer bus with vinyl graphics.
The goal of the wrap was to convey the brewery’s image and the taproom experience to a wider crowd at event settings and in a transportable format.
HNS proposed wrapping not just the outside of the vehicle, but the inside too, which they felt would significantly contribute to creating
a realistic pub ambience.
The project had a demanding timeline of just three-and-a-half days since the bus needed to be ready for its first engagement at a city social. The whole HNS team literally got on board with the project and helped wrap the bus, staying late some evenings to keep on track. In fact, with the tight timeline, parts of the graphics were still being designed while other parts were being fitted.
The vinyl graphics included window graphics, lettering on the side of bus, and interior graphics featuring wood grain and a wall of glass bottles.
“We’ve had a fantastic response to the vehicle,” said Joe Pycraft of Sadler’s Ales. “It had a terrific impact at the city social.”
America’s Dog & Burger
For Manolis and George Alpogianis, Founders of America’s Dog & Burger
in Chicago, preparing and serving Chicago’s favorite foods has been a family tradition for three generations.
The founders wanted their plain white walls and glass windows transformed into a visual storyboard of the restaurant’s fun and unique history, which included inspiration from a great American road trip.
Full-service marketing firm Graphic Alliance set out designing, printing,
and installing larger-than-life historic landmarks and family photos for the new-and-improved restaurant interior.
Graphic Alliance installed a variety of Mactac vinyl products on the windows, doors, glass cooking counter, and subway tile wall. The marketing firm even created a unique brick finish using the vinyl graphics that replicated the walls of the Alpogianis’ other restaurants.
“I’ve printed and installed a number of interior restaurant graphics throughout my career, and if you don’t pick the right material, it can be a catastrophe,” warns Eric Grossman, CEO of Graphic Alliance.
Grossman notes there were several challenges his team needed to overcome with this project—from finding a material that looked like painted brick to the tight timeframe and the need to install all the graphics in one day, while the restaurant was open for business.
“Eric and his team handled and executed the project and our vision beautifully,” says Manolis. “Graphic Alliance has tremendous experience, and the final result fully met our expectations.”
