Paint is Dead

What Paint is Dead does

Paint is Dead is a lifestyle brand and buying group operating in the vehicle and architectural wrap industry, founded in 2009 by Austin Smith and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The company operates a certified shop network of approximately 28 locations across six countries, functioning as a marketing collective that aggregates independent wrap shops under a shared brand identity and procurement umbrella. Its operations span sub-brands including PROSERIES (wrap installation tools), PROTRAINING (installer education platform), PID Merch (branded apparel and accessories), and WWWRAP (community event), making it a diversified platform rather than a single-product business.

The company's core assets are its brand, certified-shop network, and social media footprint — Paint is Dead claims to be the largest social media platform in the wrap industry, with stated reach of 320,000-plus video views and 20 million-plus monthly impressions. Revenue is generated through multiple small streams: margin on collective purchasing of wrap films and tools distributed to certified shops, royalties or co-branding economics from its Signature Line films (launched with APA Americas), merchandise sales, training program fees, and event revenue. The buying-group model and certified-network structure allow the company to monetize without holding significant inventory or employing large headcount.

The business remains founder-controlled and bootstrapped, with reported headcount of 1–10 employees. Its competitive positioning rests on brand authenticity and community ownership within a fragmented industry of independent installers, rather than on proprietary technology or capital-intensive operations.

Name

Paint is Dead

Legal name

Paint Is Dead

Website

https://paintisdead.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paint is Dead is a lifestyle brand and certified-shop buying group serving the vehicle and architectural wrap industry, aggregating independent installers across six countries under a shared brand and procurement platform with sub-brands for tools, training, merch, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Wrap Services

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (32551), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510), Painting and Wall Covering Contractors (23832)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Powder Coatings (IMAEAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Powder Coating Services (IMAIAKAD), Powder Coatings (IMADAKAC), Powder Coatings (IMAEAHAE), Surface Preparation & Paint Removal (Sanding, Stripping, Lead-Safe) (HSAPAHAG), Exterior Painting (Siding, Stucco, Masonry) (HSAPAHAB), Interior Painting (Walls, Ceilings, Trim) (HSAGADAA)

Keywords

• Automotive wrap services
• Vinyl wrap films
• Wrap installation tools
• Certified wrap shops
• Wrap industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Jacksonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Merchandise/Apparel Sales: Paint is Dead sells branded wrap industry merchandise including hats, windbreakers, t-shirts, joggers, and accessories through PID Merch (pidmerch.com) and wrapmerch.com.
2. Buying Group Member Fees and Discounts: Paint is Dead operates as a marketing/buying group with certified shops contributing to the network. The company benefits from volume buying group product discounts.
3. PROSERIES Ownership: Paint is Dead shares ownership in PROSERIES, a wrap tools company with distribution in every country worldwide.
4. Signature Line Film Partnership: Paint is Dead collaborates with APA Americas to create signature film products, selling through certified member shops.
5. WWWRAP Event: Paint is Dead organizes the annual WWWRAP (World Wide Wrap Recognition & Appreciation Party) event in Las Vegas for the wrap industry.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Paint is Dead is a lifestyle wrap industry brand that operates as a marketing/buying group and platform for the automotive wrap industry. The company provides certified wrap shops with consulting services, marketing support, brand association, volume buying group discounts, branded apparel, professional installation tools, and industry training. It also runs the annual WWWRAP event in Las Vegas and collaborates with film manufacturers on signature product lines sold through its certified shop network.

Product overview

Paint Is Dead is a premier automotive wrap lifestyle brand operating as a multi-faceted platform combining: (1) its core brand providing marketing and consulting services to wrap shops, (2) PROSERIES - a tools sub-brand with over 20 wrap installation products launched in 2017, (3) PROTRAINING - an industry education platform, (4) PID Merch - apparel and accessories, (5) WWWRAP - an annual Las Vegas industry event, and (6) a certified shop network of 28 locations across 6 countries. The company also collaborates with APA Worldwide to produce the Signature Line of premium vinyl wrap films. The brand is recognized as the largest social media platform in the wrap industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PROSERIES: Professional wrap installation tools brand created by Austin Smith in 2017, pioneering the first black wrap installation glove, now distributed worldwide with over 20 wrap products.
• PROTRAINING
• WWWRAP
• PID Merch
• #DeadRed

Products and services

• Paint is Dead Certified Facility Network
• PROSERIES Wrap Tools
• PROTRAINING
• PID Merch
• Signature Line Vinyl Wrap Films (#DeadRed)
• WWWRAP Annual Event

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 million+ monthly viewers reached through social media channels
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• International Sign Association (ISA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Paint is Dead participated in The Wrap Summit beta event organized by ISA's Wrap Task Force at MetroWrapz in Hollywood, Florida. The event brought together wrap industry business leaders for speaking sessions, round table discussions, IGNITE Sessions, and networking appointments.
• Wrap Institute (Justin Pate)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Justin Pate's Wrap Institute partnered with ISA to organize The Wrap Summit beta event, providing strategic support for wrap industry business development.
• Arlon GraphicsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Arlon Graphics provided strategic support for The Wrap Summit beta event as part of ISA's Wrap Task Force.
• Orafol/KPMFminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Orafol/KPMF provided strategic support for The Wrap Summit beta event as part of ISA's Wrap Task Force.
• Xix3dminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Xix3d provided strategic support for The Wrap Summit beta event as part of ISA's Wrap Task Force.
• Avery DennisonminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024Avery Dennison provided strategic support for The Wrap Summit beta event as part of ISA's Wrap Task Force.
• HPminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2024HP provided strategic support for The Wrap Summit beta event as part of ISA's Wrap Task Force.
• MetroWrapzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024MetroWrapz in Hollywood, Florida served as the venue for The Wrap Summit and #DeadRed launch event. Bruno Dede Jr of MetroWrapz designed custom packaging for #DeadRed Signature Line products.
• APA AmericasflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023Paint is Dead collaborated with APA Americas (APA Worldwide/Evolv Motor in the US) to create a new 'Signature Line' of car vinyl wrap films. The partnership launched #DeadRed, a deep, gloss metallic red film that fills a niche for rich metallic red finishes. The experience includes custom-designed packaging by Bruno Dede Jr of MetroWrapz, hand-signed posters, and custom lapel pins with each purchase.
• PROTRAININGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Paint is Dead launched PROTRAINING to provide innovative classes for the wrap industry, covering shop management, wrap sales, marketing, production, and installation of every film on the market. Classes are brought by the best in the industry with first-hand knowledge.
• PROSERIEScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Paint is Dead shares ownership in PROSERIES, which creates wrap installation tools. PROSERIES was created by Austin Smith (founder of Paint is Dead) to bring life to the world of tools, pioneering the first black wrap installation glove, and now offers over 20 great wrap products with distribution in every country worldwide.
• PROWRAP (Netherlands)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPROWRAP in the Netherlands is featured as Paint is Dead's certified partner in Europe, with founder Austin Smith conducting interviews with PROWRAP's Joffrey about the industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MetroWrapz: MetroWrapz is a high-profile wrap shop in Hollywood, Florida, that is both a Paint is Dead certified facility and a major brand ambassador. It serves as venue for product launches and events, making it a peer/partner hybrid in the wrap industry.
• Wrap Institute: Founded by Justin Pate, the Wrap Institute is a leading training and education platform for the vinyl wrap industry. Both Wrap Institute and Paint is Dead's PROTRAINING serve the same audience of professional installers and share strategic alignment through The Wrap Summit event.

Broad incumbents

• Arlon Graphics: Arlon is a major manufacturer of cast and calendered vinyl wrap films used by professional installers. Paint is Dead shops install Arlon films and Arlon supported The Wrap Summit, making it a key film supplier and overlapping incumbent in the wrap ecosystem.
• Avery Dennison: Avery Dennison is one of the world's largest manufacturers of vinyl wrap films, including the popular Supreme Wrapping Film line. Paint is Dead certified shops sell and install Avery films, and Avery was a strategic supporter of The Wrap Summit, making them a key upstream partner/incumbent in the same value chain.
• 3M: 3M produces premium vinyl wrap films (3M Wrap Film Series 2080) and installation tools. As a dominant film supplier in the wrap industry that Paint is Dead members rely on, 3M is a broad incumbent shaping the same market Paint is Dead operates in.
• Orafol (KPMF): Orafol owns KPMF, a premium vinyl wrap film brand widely used by certified Paint is Dead shops. Both serve the same end customers in vehicle customization, with Orafol/KPMF supplying the films Paint is Dead promotes through its brand.
• APA Worldwide (Evolv Motor): APA Worldwide/APA Americas is the manufacturer behind Paint is Dead's Signature Line films (#DeadRed). It operates as a film supplier and broader automotive aftermarket brand in the same value chain as Paint is Dead, with deep product overlap.

Others

• SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association): SEMA is the largest trade association for the automotive specialty industry and runs the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Paint is Dead's WWWRAP event is positioned in the same automotive aftermarket ecosystem, with overlapping exhibitors and audience.
• International Sign Association (ISA): ISA is the leading trade association for the sign, graphics, and visual communications industry. ISA partnered with Paint is Dead to host The Wrap Summit, and both shape industry standards and education for installers and shop owners.

Emerging players

• VViViD Vinyl: VViViD sells vinyl wrap films direct-to-consumer with an online retail model. While not in the certified-network or training space, VViViD operates in the same vinyl wrap film category that Paint is Dead markets through its certified shops.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/paintisdead_com
• Facebookfacebook.com/paintisdead
• Instagraminstagram.com/paintisdead
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paint-is-dead

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paint is Dead