The other day one of our employees asked, is a decal and a sticker the same thing? Well, the short answer is, yes and no. In our business we use the term decal a lot, but the truth is, while decals are stickers, a decal and a sticker are not always synonymous.

All decals are stickers, but not all stickers are decals….have I got you confused yet? A sticker is a generic term for a substrate adhesive on it. They can be made of paper, plastic, fabric or vinyl, and come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

When we use the word Decal, we are referring to a product that has been specially made for durability and long-term exposure to outdoor elements. They are usually larger, thicker and made to be more permanent. Printed decals generally have a UV laminate on them to sustain them through different weather conditions and are often placed on vehicles, walls, windows, floors and even used to create parking and street signs.

Decals that are meant to last are made from premium vinyl material. Vinyl is more resilient than paper and other sticker materials. They come in both a white base and a clear, transparent base.

Vinyl decals are weatherproof, oil resistant, and can last years in direct sun exposure before degrading. With that being said, decals are often more expensive than paper sticker products. They are also less environmentally friendly as they are not biodegradable.

Want more information on business stickers and decals you can use in your business? Read on.

Business Wall Decals

Printed decals are a great way to transform most solid surfaces. For a business, decals can be used to impart important information, such as your brand, business contact and business hours, or even just liven up your business space with wall, window, or floor decals.

Wall and floor decals are used for more permanent decorative or branding use. You can find wall decals a lot in office buildings in the form of murals or mission statements for a company.

Perforated Window Vinyl

Perforated vinyl is a great option for store fronts or vehicles, to cover an area with a marketing design, to add cover from the sun or as a privacy screen, but still be able to see through it from the inside. This type of vinyl is fully printable, but has small holes that allow you to see through the vinyl under the right lighting.

Vehicle Decals and Wraps

Full or partial vehicle wraps are a great way to turn your car or truck into a moving billboard for your business. Vehicle wraps are made using high quality, specialized air release vinyl, which helps to apply the decals to the curvature of the car’s surface. The vinyl also has a UV protective laminate that helps the vinyl hold up under the sun and elements. Combine vehicle decals with perforated window vinyl and you can create a continuous canvas for your company’s logo.

Cut Vinyl Transfers

Vinyl transfers are made by cutting lettering, logos and shapes from solid pieces of vinyl and then using transfer tape to keep the pieces in position while they are being placed onto a solid surface. After the decal is placed, the transfer tape is peeled away, leaving the desired design behind. Vinyl transfers are often used for business and vehicle windows, or office doors to display business hours or contact information.

BOPP Labels

BOPP labels are generally unlaminated and will often come on a roll for easy placement by hand or by machine. BOPP labels are resistant to most liquids and oils, which is why these types of labels are most often used as food and product packaging labels.

Bumper Stickers

Everyone has seen them as they travel, bumper stickers are used to advertise, impart information, share political preferences, entertain, and even annoy others as they commute.

What’s so great about bumper stickers is that they are an inexpensive way to get lots of eyes on your message, brand or slogan, which is why they are so popular in the political marketing arena.

Die-Cut Decals

Die-cut decals are produced just like regular decal, except they are cut out following the shape of the printed design. Many people prefer die-cut decals to basic round or square ones, as it removes the excess white space or background, and allows them to blend better with an applied surface and bring out the design more. Some uses for die-cut decals include logo on vehicles, bikes, or racing decals, helmet stickers, skateboards, and as water bottle decorations.

Signage

Decals are also used to created indoor and outdoor business signage, as well as parking and street signs. Some signage is even created using special anti-graffiti laminate which makes the signs easier to clean and maintain.  

There are so many applications for vinyl decals, as independent stickers or as media to build larger projects, such as signs, billboards, or street banners. Because the material is so versatile and has such great printing capabilities the use is endless for business advertising.

Just remember when you’re shopping for stickers though, not all stickers are created equal. Give us a call and we would be happy to go over your options for your next project.