When celebrities from the sports, entertainment and business worlds want their cars wrapped, they come to Wraptors.
The Mississauga-based company has wrapped cars for the likes of Justin Bieber, Drake, Karl Wolf, Ronaldinho, Diogo Snow and Daniel Lee, to name a few.
Overall, the company has wrapped more than 9,000 vehicles since starting nine years ago, including personal and company clients.
Stas Kravtchouk, who is known as Mr. Wraptors, and his wife Christel own and operate the business that currently totals 16 locations worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., South Africa and most recently Dubai. He said the company is looking to open up 50 franchises in the U.S. in the next two years.
Stas said it’s been fascinating working with high-profile people, especially because they are approaching him instead of the other way around.
“Obviously in the beginning it was incredible to see international artists, Diogo Snow, for example, who became one of my best friends,” Stas said. “We create a lot of cool relations with a lot of these guys. We spent two weeks with Ronaldinho in Miami and in Toronto, so it’s been an incredible journey to see that. When you’re growing up you see these guys on TV and now they’re coming into your office and sitting on the other side of the table. You’re able to offer your services and create a relationship with them, so now you have them on the phone and you can talk to them any time you want. It is cool. It’s definitely something I always dreamed about, but more important is my kids seeing that.”
For its origin as a small business vinal wrapping cars, Wraptors broadened into paint protection film (ppf), which is a clear protection that goes over the original paint, and now includes plant-based car detailing products that are retailed in 7-11 stores in North America. NASCAR has entered into a business relationship for the products.
Wraptors also includes a fashion line of hats, shirts and the like, and has classes to teach people how to wrap. It also retails plastic license plate coverings with the company’s slogan, “If we didn’t wrap it, who really did?”
Stas said he and Christel began their business knowing nothing about cars.
“We just wanted to entertain, do something funky, cool and create energy in this shop,” Stas said.
The company is based in an industrial area and has a large Wraptors banner advertising vinyl wrap, ppf, ceramic coating, tint and detailing. There are some luxury cars out front that include a pink/peach Cybertruck (Christel’s car) and Stas’s black Lamborghini (with the words Wraptors Mafia Members Only on the windshield).
“I was looking for something that stands out, something that can also protect the vehicle, especially with Cybertrucks because they don’t come painted, so you want to protect that finish” Christel said. “Every girl loved pink, right? So that’s why went with that. It’s a little bit different. I have a pink Escalade as well, but this one is a little bit peachier, so it’s a softer pink and my daughter also loves it. She definitely had a choice in it.”
When you walk into the main entrance of the business, there’s a sweet smell that hits you like walking into a spa. Wraptors has a business relationship with Toronto-based Elegance Aroma, which has produced a natural organic fragrance. Walking through the various rooms of the business, you notice luxurious elements, including marble floor tiles and decorative walls. The back room where the work is done is clean and airy. This does not fit the stereotype of a car garage.
“We wanted to create an energy where celebrities feel very secured and protected, so there’s not too much outside noise, but at the same time a fun atmosphere,” he said.
One of the rooms is devoted exclusively to the company’s multi-media production. Social media is a big part of the business, including one million views on Instagram, which has attracted companies knowing their business with the company will receive exposure.
“It became more a hub of a marketing company rather than a wrap business,” Stas said. “It became a lifestyle brand where you could come in and hang out, take some cool pictures, see some cool clients and overall have a great experience.”
Stas monitors the day-to-day aspects of Wraptors, in particular design and marketing, while Christel bides her time looking after the couple’s three children and also helping out with marketing.
“She’s the brains behind a lot of it,” he told me.
“She’s the brains behind a lot of it,” he told me.
The business was originally going to be called Toronto Wrap Stars modelled after the Toronto Star newspaper and morphed into Wraptors.
“It’s been a cool journey, but it’s been a lot of hard,” Stas said of the company’s growth. “With any business, there’s a lot of ups and downs. We just focus on doing great business and being consistent with our craft. Marketing-media has helped a lot. Having an in-house videographer, Tik Tokers, Instagramers, YouTube and obviously working with a lot of influencers and celebrities helped put us on a different platform.”
He said he and Christel never imagined their business would take off but said the key has been standing behind their quality products. He said they are the only company in the industry to offer five-year warranty on wraps and 12 years on PPF and created a lifestyle brand.
“It became a cool factor,” he said. “It’s not just for the protection purposes for your car. It’s a want now, it’s not a need. It just became a factor where people wanted to change their colours every year like you change your suit and ties.”
Wraptors will be featured in separate Netflix and Amazon Prime series. The Netflix series will be about their life and business and will include giving away an expensive wrapped car to a single mother in Toronto trying to improve her life. The pilot has already been shot and filming for the episodes will begin at the end of July.
Perry Lefko is the Content Manager of The Car Magazine. He can be reached at [email protected]. Feel free to forward any story suggestions or comments.
