Electric van. Big blue flames.
Not two things you'd usually put together, but for Gasflow Heating, it works rather well.
We were tasked with transforming their Volkswagen ID. Buzz into a fully branded mobile advert, combining bold vinyl graphics, oversized logos, QR codes and custom-printed reflective rear chevrons.
The result? A vehicle that looks just as good parked outside a customer's house as it does driving around Hertfordshire.
And one that's pretty difficult to miss.
Project Details
Client: Gasflow Heating
Industry: Plumbing & Heating
Vehicle: Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Service: Complete vehicle branding, graphic production and installation
Graphic type: Large conforming vinyl graphics and custom-printed reflective rear chevrons
A fresh look for a familiar trade.
Gasflow Heating is a Hemel Hempstead-based plumbing and heating company, providing boiler installations, heating services and plumbing solutions across Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas.
With their new all-electric VW ID. Buzz ready to hit the road, they wanted vehicle branding that was professional, recognisable and a little different from the usual plumbing van.
And the ID. Buzz certainly gives you something different to work with.
Its distinctive shape, smooth body panels and modern styling make it an interesting canvas for commercial vehicle graphics.
Rather than covering every inch of the vehicle, we worked with its existing dark paintwork, using striking blue and white graphics to create a high-contrast design.
The sort of van that does a pretty good job of introducing the business before anyone's even stepped out of it.
Turning up the heat with oversized graphics.
The standout feature is undoubtedly the enormous blue Gasflow flame.
Positioned across the rear side panels, the graphic wraps around the shape of the vehicle, following the bodywork and creating a bold splash of colour against the dark finish.
It's simple, instantly recognisable and large enough to catch your attention from a distance.
The Gasflow Heating logo sits prominently along the upper side panels, while matching branding across the front bonnet and rear window area keeps the identity consistent from every angle.
We used large conforming vinyl graphics, carefully applied to the vehicle's contours, panel lines and curves.
With a design this bold, getting the positioning right is everything.
A logo that looks great on a computer screen still needs to work around sliding doors, wheel arches and all the other bits Volkswagen decided to put in the way.
Fortunately, that's our department.
A van that works even when it's parked.
TGood vehicle branding isn't just about getting noticed.
It's about making it easy for someone to remember your business and get in touch.
Alongside the large graphics, we incorporated QR codes into both sides of the VW ID. Buzz.
They're a useful addition for a trades business, giving potential customers a quick way to access more information when they spot the van parked up.
No trying to remember a website address.
No searching for a company name later.
Just a quick scan.
It's a small detail, but another way of making the most of the vehicle's advertising space.
Reflective chevrons with a difference.
We also wanted to give the rear of the van some proper attention.
After all, it's often the part other drivers spend the most time looking at.
For this project, we produced specially printed reflective chevron graphics, using Gasflow's distinctive blue to create a bold diagonal pattern across the lower rear doors.
Reflective vinyl has the added benefit of responding to light from vehicle headlights, helping the graphics stand out in darker conditions.
But the practical side doesn't mean they have to look boring.
Rather than relying on generic-looking rear graphics, the custom-printed chevrons tie directly into the wider Gasflow colour scheme.
Above them, the company logo, contact numbers and website branding make the business easy to identify.
And along the lower bumper, three simple words tell you exactly what they do:
BOILERS | HEAT PUMPS | PLUMBING
Clear. Straightforward. No guesswork required.
Bringing everything together.
One of the trickier parts of vehicle branding is making sure the design flows properly from one panel to another.
The VW ID. Buzz has a distinctive shape, with sliding doors, large glazed areas and curved rear panels.
The oversized flame graphic needed to follow those contours without losing its shape, while the lettering and QR codes needed to remain properly positioned and readable.
Using conforming vinyl meant we could carefully work the larger graphics around the vehicle's bodywork, achieving a clean finish without needing to cover the entire van.
The bright blue graphics, white lettering and dark paintwork all work together to give the vehicle a sharp, contemporary appearance.
It looks like Gasflow Heating from the front.
It looks like Gasflow Heating from the side.
And thanks to those reflective chevrons, there's certainly no mistaking it from behind.
More than just a work vehicle.
For a local plumbing and heating business, a branded vehicle is one of the most useful pieces of advertising you can invest in.
Whether it's parked on a driveway in Hemel Hempstead, travelling through Watford or heading to another job around Hertfordshire, it helps put the company name in front of potential customers.
And unlike a traditional advert, it doesn't need a separate advertising space.
The van is already going to be there.
It might as well look the part.
With Gasflow's new VW ID. Buzz, we've combined modern electric vehicle styling with bold branding, practical contact information and specialist reflective graphics.
A proper head-turner.
Without needing a noisy engine to announce its arrival.Got a blank wall that could do with something better?
A simple logo can make a surprisingly big impact when it's made from the right materials.
If you're looking for bespoke 3D signage, raised lettering or interior branding for your restaurant, café, office or business, we'd love to hear what you've got in mind.
Talk to us about bespoke signage and wall graphics.
Van graphics and commercial vehicle branding in Hertfordshire.
At Toy Creative, we design, print and install bespoke vehicle graphics for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
From simple van signwriting and vinyl lettering to partial wraps, full vehicle wraps, reflective graphics and complete fleet branding, we help make sure your business looks professional wherever it goes.
Based in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, we work with tradespeople, heating engineers, plumbers, electricians and businesses across Hemel Hempstead, Watford, St Albans, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and beyond.
Whether it's one van or an entire fleet, we can handle everything from the initial artwork through to production and installation.
Is your work van working hard enough for your business?
If your vehicle spends its days travelling between jobs, sitting outside customers' homes or parked around town, that's a lot of potential advertising space.
We can help you make the most of it.
Find out more about our van graphics and vehicle wrapping services, or get in touch with Toy Creative to discuss your next project.
