Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions has announced the opening of its annual Wrap Like A King Challenge. This year’s vehicle wrap competition will run from June 3 through August 30, 2019, and it will again include Regional Wrap Kings, Continental Wrap Kings and the crowning of the prestigious “King of the Wrap World.”
Wrap installers from 50 countries across the world are invited to submit non-commercial, full print or colour change wrap projects to be judged for the chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes. The prize packages for 2019 are worth a combined total of over $30,000, available to Regional Wrap Kings, Continent Wrap Kings and the “King of the Wrap World.” In 2018, more than 200 installers entered the challenge.
“We’ve been expanding the Wrap Like A King Challenge to new regions across the globe over the past two years, with the newest addition of South Africa for this year’s competition. We’re also introducing the ‘People’s Choice Award’ which allows the public to vote for their favorite project.
This new award will provide additional and well-deserved recognition for our valued customers,” said Oliver Guenther, senior director, Marketing and Channel Strategy, Graphics Solutions Europe. “We’re astonished at the level of creativity and talent with each passing year, and we anticipate the submissions for the 2019 challenge to surpass our expectations.”
Participating nations make up 13 geographic regions across the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and South Africa. Wrap installers in these regions will submit projects featuring Avery Dennison Supreme Wrapping™ Film, the Conform Chrome Series, MPI 1105 Cast Wrapping Films or a combination of car wrap films to be evaluated against their regional peers by a panel of judges.
The 10 Regional Wrap Kings will win nearly $2,000 worth of personalized marketing materials, Avery Dennison product, SEMA passes and more. They will then go on to battle for royalty on their continent: North America, Europe, North Asia, South Africa and Australia/New Zealand. The overall winner will be chosen by the judges as the best in show and crowned the “King of the Wrap World” at the 2019 SEMA Show, Nov. 5-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Industry experts from around the globe will use their wealth of experience to narrow down the field, picking the most beautiful, technically challenging or otherwise most impressive wraps to move on in each round of the Challenge.
The 2019 Judges Panel:
• Justin Pate - The Wrap Institute, Global
Pate is an Avery Dennison-certified installer/instructor in the United States with over 20 years of experience. He leads the Avery Dennison North America hands-on car wrap workshop and certification program and is co-owner of The Wrap Institute.
• Myles Kovacs - DUB Magazine, USA
Kovacs is the president and co-founder of DUB Magazine, a U.S.-based magazine that focuses on the urban custom car culture and celebrities and their vehicles. He has been in the auto industry for 25 years.
• Yianni Charalambous - Yiannimize, UK
Charalambous is the owner of Yiannimize, a wrap shop in London catering to celebrities and high-end clientele. He has an incredible social following, with more than 1.3 million YouTube subscribers.
• Eddy Speelman - Speelman Graphic Applications, Europe
Speelman is the owner of Speelman Graphic Applications and has been an Avery Dennison trainer for 15 years. He has been part of the wrapping industry for decades, and he specializes in color change applications, paint protection and window tinting.
• Molly Waters - Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, North America
Waters is a senior technical specialist in North America with over 19 years of industry experience. She often travels all over the country visiting sign and wrap shops and talking with customers about the car wrap industry. She also frequently contributes to the Avery Dennison blog.
• Peter Wright – Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, Australia/New Zealand
Wright is a technical marketing manager and works with the industry’s leading installers, teaching vehicle wrapping workshops and promoting the industry. With strong expertise in leading vehicle wrapping workshops, he has trained more than 2,000 people from Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN countries.
• Sarel Krüger - Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, South Africa
Krüger joined the Avery team in 2011 after working in the signage industry for nearly 10 years.
His experience ranges from equipment and software, to the manufacturing of signage and graphics, vehicle wrapping and, ultimately, the supplying of material.
• Frank Marquart - Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, Europe
Marquart is a technical marketing manager, digital print media, in Europe and actively participates in product development and relationship management with printer OEMs.
• Jun Kinoshita - Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions, Japan
Kinoshita is the sales manager for Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions in Japan. He introduced the Certified Wrap Installers training program to Japan and worked together with Justin Pate on the training course.
The five continent winners will receive a four-night stay in Las Vegas for the 2019 SEMA Show, where the “King of the Wrap World” will be announced. The $3,200 prize pack for continent winners also includes personalized Wrap Like A King t-shirt, $500 in gift vouchers and a variety of promotional and marketing tools for the winner’s wrap shop. The “King of the Wrap World” grand prize package is worth almost $5,000, with additional gift vouchers and exposure via the Avery Dennison website and web advertisements.
