5 things to do in Q4 to Grow Your Wrap Shop in 2025

By Brent Knott

he vehicle wrap industry, like many others, ebbs and flows with market conditions, and 2024 was no exception. As an election year, the economy experienced its usual uncertainty, impacting everything from consumer behavior to commercial spending. But if you want to thrive in 2025, now is the time to take action. Whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, the decisions you make in Q4 can set the stage for massive success next year.

In this article, I’m going to share my 2025 game plan for vehicle wrap shop owners. These strategies are based on my experience of more than a decade in the business, and they include lessons I’ve learned from navigating previous election years, economic downturns, and other market challenges. If you want to start 2025 off on the right foot, read on to learn five critical steps you need to take to ensure your business is ready for what’s ahead.

1. Leverage the Data from 2024

As we move toward 2025, the first thing you should do is take a deep dive into the data from 2024. What worked? What didn’t? Too often, we rely on gut feelings when making business decisions, but your numbers don’t lie. This data should guide your strategy moving forward. Look at your revenue trends throughout the year. Did you notice a dip in certain months, especially around election time? That’s common in the vehicle wrap industry, where both personal and commercial wraps tend to see slowdowns during periods of economic uncertainty. For personal wraps, customers view them as luxury items and hold off on spending until they feel more confident in the economy. On the commercial side, businesses often delay investments in fleet wraps and other services while they wait to see how the market will evolve. However, what I’ve learned from over a decade in this industry is that these slow periods don’t last forever. People have poor impulse control. No matter how uncertain the economy may seem, once things stabilize, they want to spend money again just like we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As soon as people felt the freedom to spend, they did. That’s why it’s so important to understand your data and leverage it to create a plan that positions your business for success in 2025.

2. Don’t Wait Until January to Start Taking Action

Many business owners make the mistake of waiting until January to implement changes. They treat New Year’s resolutions like a reset button, but in reality, your success in 2025 depends on the work you’re doing right now. Data shows that your current situation is a direct result of the efforts you put in over the last three months. So, if you want to crush 2025, you need to start building momentum in Q4.

Don’t put off important tasks like planning your marketing strategy, refining your service offerings, or auditing your finances. Instead, start today by asking yourself a few key questions:

• What did I like about how my business operated in 2024?

• What did I dislike, and what do I want to change?

• Did I meet my goals for the year, and if not, why?

By starting this reflection process now, you can identify the areas where your business can improve and begin making adjustments before the new year even starts. This will give you a head start over competitors who wait until January to kick things into gear.

3. Conduct a SWOT Analysis with Your Team

One of the most powerful tools you can use to plan for 2025 is a SWOT analysis evaluating your business's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This process helps you take a comprehensive look at where your business stands and where it can go.

The beauty of a SWOT analysis is that it’s not just something you do on your own. If you have a team, involve them in the process. They can offer insights and perspectives you might not have considered. For example, one time during a SWOT analysis at my shop, one of my employees pointed out that my habit of “band-aiding” problems at night was preventing the team from identifying and solving root issues. It was a wake-up call that led to real improvements in our processes. Your team might also see opportunities or threats that aren’t on your radar. It’s an opportunity for open communication that can ultimately strengthen the business.

When conducting a SWOT analysis, ask questions like:

• What are we doing really well in the business?

• Where are we falling short?

• What opportunities are out there that we haven’t capitalized on?

• What threats could derail our success in 2025?

Answering these questions with input from your team will give you a clearer picture of where your business stands and what steps you need to take to move forward.

4. Simplify Your Services

One of the most significant changes I’ve made to my business in recent years is simplifying our services. It’s easy to fall into the trap of offering too many things, thinking that more options mean more revenue. But in reality, spreading yourself too thin can hurt your business more than it helps.

In my vehicle wrap business, we cut out services that weren’t aligned with our core goals. For example, we stopped offering certain smaller services like business card printing that were distracting us from our main revenue drivers. By focusing on what we do best—vehicle wraps and fleet services we’ve been able to streamline operations, reduce stress, and improve profitability.

If you find yourself overwhelmed by the number of services you’re offering, it might be time to reevaluate. Look at your profit and loss statement. Are you stocking materials that aren’t generating enough revenue? Are you investing time in services that don’t bring in much profit? If so, consider cutting them or outsourcing them to an affiliate partner. This will allow you to focus on what you do best and free up resources for more impactful initiatives.

5. Take Massive Action - Go All In.

The final step to prepare for 2025 is simple: take action. Too often, business owners

(myself included) spend so much time planning and perfecting their strategies that they never actually execute them. Don’t fall into that trap. Imperfect action is better than no action at all.

If you want to crush 2025, you need to go all in. Treat the year as if failure isn’t an option. Push forward with everything you’ve got, even if the plan isn’t perfect. You’ll make adjustments along the way, but what’s most important is that you start.

As I often say, the biggest rewards are on the other side of the dragon. Think of the obstacles you face as the dragon guarding the treasure. If you can slay the dragon whether it’s fear of failure, uncertainty about the economy, or internal business challenges the rewards will be waiting for you on the other side.

Final Thoughts

2025 is shaping up to be a year of immense opportunity for the vehicle wrap industry, but only for those who are prepared. By leveraging your 2024 data, starting your preparation early, conducting a SWOT analysis, simplifying your services, and taking massive action, you’ll position your business for success. Remember, there’s no better time to start than right now. Don’t wait for the new year, lay the foundation today and watch your business thrive in 2025.

Brent Knott Owner, Torq