By Digital Output Staff
Trade-only wholesale printers are out on the front lines, working with fellow print service providers (PSPs) to craft a variety of applications. They are some of the most knowledgeable folks to discuss application trends.
Above: Capital Wraps of Raleigh, NC offers knowledgeable customer service representatives who are dedicated to the success of your print job.
Top Applications
According to Keoni Denison, CEO, Capital Wraps, top applications going in and out of its main facility in Raleigh, NC include banners for buildings, architectural graphics, commercial signage, and event signage—in addition to its main service, vehicle wraps.
Capital Wraps has grown over the years with talented designers, experienced installers, and top-of-the-line equipment. It offers knowledgeable customer service representatives dedicated to the success of your vehicle graphic wrap. Vehicle graphics expertise includes NASCAR, ARCA, numerous local events, and thousands of satisfied customers that have purchased elevator wraps, car wraps, murals, event graphics, building banners, and numerous other large format projects.
With a multitude of offerings, managing client requests and prioritizing jobs is a challenge. Capital Wraps has a “team who manages the offerings to understand what the client wants, and prioritizes based on delivery dates and complexity and requirements of the jobs,” shares Denison.
Supreme Color Graphics, LLC, located out of Mandeville, LA, is another trade-only wholesale provider that offers a wide breadth of services—from yard signs to crafting custom and distinctive signage that requires cutting, routing, and specialized finishes. The company is known for working with customers to source the right substrate if it isn’t in stock. As such, clients rely on Supreme Color for speed, support, and a variety of product offerings at a great price.
Out of the many products it offers its growing client base, Grant Waters, operations manager, Supreme Color, notes yard signs and banners are top application requests. Yard signs are popular due to “the simplicity of production and temporary nature, often eliminating the need for sample proofs,” according to Waters.
Banners are also frequently ordered because of “the versatility of options and multiple applications, like yard signs, they offer an affordable way to inform and engage large audiences,” continues Waters.
As its name might imply, Yard Sign Ninjas’ most requested application is corrugated plastic yard signs. According to Jeff Hartman, CEO, Yard Sign Ninjas, the popularity stems from their superior quality, weather resistance, and competitive pricing, making yard signs a go-to solution for campaigns, promotions, and events.
With over 20 years in the signage market, Bettendorf, IA-based Yard Sign Ninjas stands out from the competition for its top-quality materials, digitally printed signs, and fast turnaround times. The company combines expertise and efficiency to empower its partners to thrive in the competitive signage industry.
“We manage client requests on a first-come-first-serve basis for regular jobs, with three rush service options available to handle urgent orders without compromising quality or turnaround times,” says Hartman.
Ebbs and Flows
Trade-only wholesale printers handle a range of products on a daily basis. That being said, top applications may change throughout the year.
Seasonal requests are common. At Yard Sign Ninjas, Hartman says “polybag signs, for instance, are particularly popular during political seasons due to their cost effectiveness for high-volume, short-term campaigns.”
“Throughout the year, application demands may change due to upcoming holidays, school events, political season, and weather conditions. The demand for yard signs and banners, our top application requests, stays fairly constant, but experiences a noticeable surge at certain times of the year,” shares Waters.
To keep up with fluxuations in demand, Supreme Color operates by assigning dedicated customer service team members to each project. This is also because most of the trade-only printer business involves custom projects—the procedure allows team members to manage unique requests effectively.
“Our job prioritization is centered around meeting the customer’s specified in-hands date, and we strive to accommodate special requests as best as we can,” adds Waters.
More to Look For
Capital Wraps, Supreme Color Graphics, and Yard Sign Ninjas are part of a vast network of trade-only wholesale printers serving the large format graphics segment. Other notable players offer similar services and we include some of them here.
4over operates as a business-to-business wholesale trade printer. The Glendale, CA-based company works out of six production facilities across the U.S. Signs and banners are a portion of 4over’s services, but whether rigid, fabric, vinyl, or mesh—customers choose from a variety of substrates and have them printed right at 4over.
FireSprint is a wholesale-to-the-trade sign and graphics printer out of Omaha, NE. Next day production and one to three day shipping is available on many of its most popular products. Think FireSprint for yard signs, stickers, banners, foamboard, posters, political signs, corrugated plastic, PVC, styrene, magnetic, and vinyl.
Good Guys Signs (GGS) is self-proclaimed as the Tampa Bay, FL area’s premiere custom banner and sign printer. As a customization specialist company, GGS can customize nearly any material—from aluminum to coroplast to t-shirts. Founded in 2009, it offers free shipping on orders over $89 and fast turn times are its standard.
ImagineThis is a premiere large format digital print shop. It specializes in going large—whether it’s banners, rigid materials, window media, magnets, backlit signage, or adhesive-based projects. Customers can request a sample kit after their account is approved with ImagineThis. The sample kit is a great tool for showcasing live samples and further understanding the printable materials it offers. The company operates out of Massillon, OH.
Headquartered in Brooklyn Center, MN, Showdown Displays is a global manufacturer and supplier of cutting-edge visual communication, event, and display products. It partners with leading distributors across industries including promotional product distributors, marketing and experiential agencies, exhibit display providers, sign shops, commercial printers, and event planners to offer signage, tents, banners, and flags.
Signs365 is a grand format, trade-only wholesale printer. The Shelby Township, MI-based company offers a wide variety of full-color, high-quality printed products all produced in 24 hours. $10 Overnight Anywhere shipping is available on all products. It is known for its promotion of supporting artists of the trade from yesterday to today.
Wholesale trade printer SinaLite celebrates over 20 years in business. Today it operates out of a 100,000 square foot facility in Dublin, OH. Large format printing includes wholesale signs, banners, wall decals, and more. These services are just one part of its offerings, as it also provides clients with business cards, promotional materials, stationery, labels and packaging, and apparel.
YardSignsResellers.com based out of Orlando, FL offers both design and print services for yard signs, rigid substrates, magnetics, banners, adhesive vinyl, and poster paper. In business for over 20 years, the family-owned company continually invests in new digital print equipment to offer its customers the best quality signs.
Trading Up
Trade-only wholesale printers deal with the ins and outs of the wide format business on a daily basis. They are in a position to identify trending applications and act quickly. Some of the most requested applications include yard signs, due to their simplicity in production as well as low cost. Working with a trade-only wholesale printer is a great option if you need to offload certain applications like yard signs.
Mar2025, Digital Output
