By Cassandra Balentine
Pressure-sensitive adhesive media is versatile, supporting a range of applications from labels to walls and windows.
Started in 2012, Stick Em Up has run as a full-time operation since 2015. Based in Bayonne, NJ, the print provider primarily serves the New York, NY and NJ area, but also ships nationwide. It offers custom stickers, graphics and installations, packaging and labels, as well as graphic design services.
“We’re a hands-on shop run by a small team of two to four, handling everything from print to finishing in house. Our space is compact but efficient, set up to keep production tight and quality consistent,” shares Julia Macedo, co-owner, Stick Em Up.
A lot of its work is generated by word of mouth, especially within creative communities, brands, and small businesses.
Above: Stick Em Up recently worked with Newark City Parks Foundation for a rebranding project. Relying on media from GF and printers from Roland to create both exterior and interior wall graphics.
From Labels to Walls
With a foundation on custom printing items like stickers, decals, and labels, it is also well adept at producing banners, signs, posters, magnets, and heat-pressed apparel.
Scaling up, Stick Em Up creates wall graphics, wraps, and installations for retail spaces, events, and branded environments. Macedo estimates that wallcoverings currently make up about 30 percent of its business. “It’s an area that we’re continuing to grow, especially as we look to expand into a larger space this year.”
Staying on Trend
When it comes to wall graphics and wallcoverings, there is a noticeable shift to immersive, experience-driven spaces. “People don’t just want a logo on a wall anymore, they want something that feels like an environment. Social media plays a big role in that. Spaces are designed to be photographed and shared,” attests Macedo.
She also notes an increased interest in temporary installs, pop-ups, and seasonal changes that makes removable materials more important than ever before.
While the opportunities of wall graphics and wallcoverings are nearly limitless, they do come with obstacles. “Every wall is different, and that’s probably the biggest challenge. Texture, paint, age, and environment all affect how the material performs, so preparation and planning are everything. Getting a clean install really comes down to understanding the surface before anything goes up,” shares Macedo.
Stick Em Up prefers General Formulations (GF) wall graphics media, which it’s used for approximately ten years.
Recently, the shop had the chance to meet the GF team at a trade show, and it really reinforced “how much we like the company, not just the products, but the people behind it,” shares Macedo.
Macedo finds GF materials to be consistent, reliable, and easy to work with. “That combination, along with being made in the U.S., makes a big difference when it comes to trusting what we install.”
Proof in the Pudding
Stick Em Up recently worked with Newark City Parks Foundation for a rebranding project, which included both an exterior building wrap and an interior exhibition install.
The rebrand was part of a collaborative project between the Newark City Parks Foundation and Rutgers University, with design work created by Rutgers graphic design students.
Stick Em Up printed and installed graphics for an outdoor park headquarters building as well as a full interior exhibit inside Express Newark, which is part of Rutgers.
The project included large-scale printed graphics, paneling, and detailed cut elements installed across multiple surfaces.
Macedo admits the job had a tight turnaround, about a week from production to installation. This meant everything had to move quickly and efficiently.
The exterior wrap was printed on a Roland DGA Corp. TrueVIS LG-640 printer/cutter using UV inks for durability and outdoor performance. The interior pieces were printed on a Roland VersaCAMM VS-540i printer/cutter using eco-solvent inks.
The shop chose GF 223–a 6-mil matte white semi-rigid vinyl with a removable acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive—for the exterior, and a combination of GF 227 WallMark Lite 3.4-mil premium matte white calendered vinyl film and GF 209 MetroMark 3.5-mil matte white polymeric flexible high opacity vinyl film for the interior.
The Stick Em Up team found the Newark City Parks job to be rewarding. “It was a really meaningful project to be part of. Seeing student design work come to life at that scale, and in a public space, was something special. It’s a strong example of how print can transform both a space and the way people interact with it,” shares Macedo.
Proficient in Media
Stick Em Up is focused on continued growth into larger scale work, and is always looking to take on more creative, collaborative projects that push it further.
Jun2026, Digital Output
