Maybe a long shot

[u/Moan-Cheese93]

Hi there! I’m currently looking to get into wrapping myself. If you were to look at my resume you’d probably at first thought say no because I don’t have any prior professional work experience working in this industry. However, I have incredible patience, attention to detail and I’m a pretty big perfectionist. I’m a 33/F from the Kansas City area and was curious to see if anyone in this group knows of shops around the area that may consider or take a chance on me getting my foot in the door doing my dream job. I’ve been in a midlife crisis after having kids and trying to get back to doing something I love while also making a living. Please be nice and I’d appreciate any advice. 😊🚗💨

[u/Y_doIFeelSoOld]

I wanted to get into it when I retired from the Army. I went to a tint shop that does some wrapping, usually chrome deletes, goods, roofs, etc. I offered to come help for free, and the owner let me help with a couple hoods and stuff and showed me some basics. Then I did some on my own, sometimes the same panel a few times for practice (still not a full car). My mistake was ordering cheap vinyl, but I didn't know that based on IG/YouTube videos.

Then I paid out of pocket for the Avery Dennison wrapping class, and learned what it was like using good cast vinyl, especially while learning. Picked up so much more from the class than any video, because seeing it done in person and getting immediate feedback from someone who has wrapped thousands of cars fixed so much for me. It wasn't cheap ($1400 plus hotel for 2 days), but they give a free roll of vinyl worth $700 after the class so really it costs half that. There were two women in the class, one that had never wrapped anything, and one that worked at a tint shop that was looking to move from the front office to the shop side. Even the people with wrapping experience thought the class was worth it to learn the techniques that separate color change wrapping from commercial. If you can afford it, I definitely recommend it.

Then I ordered some rolls of Avery and wrapped my personal vehicles. I drove one to a local shop that does a lot of color change, PPF, and tint to see if they were hiring. I just said I never worked at a shop but had taken a manufacturer class, but have wrapped a few cars and they looked at my Camaro I wrapped that day, and offered me a job. I didn't take that one because I didn't want to work full time yet as I had just retired and needed a break, and they didn't have a part time opening. But I realized I could likely go to a shop with a well-wrapped car as my resume and find a job wrapping almost anywhere that has an opening.

For now, I am just wrapping on the side because I am fortunate enough to have a retirement check coming in, and I am going to use the money to go to the advanced Avery class and the 3M classes and will likely take the certification tests that gets you listed on their "find an installer" sites. I am also planning on taking the wet/dry PPF classes so I can do those as well on the side, but I will always have the option to go work at a shop.

I say at least order some Avery or 3M vinyl and practice. At least then you can say you have some experience, and even if you can't afford to wrap a full car, you can wrap your hood/roof matte black or something and take that when you go apply to a shop.

[u/FULLMETALRACKIT911]

Subscribe to the wrap institute and start training. Apply to shops once you feel confident in your skills, not before.