storming back from katrina · volume 16, issue 2 •march-april 2012 a publication for the entire...

Inside: Must-Have Tools

Architectural - Auto - Decorative - Paint Protection - Security

Volume 16 - Issue 2 - March-April 2012

A PUBLICATION OF KEY COMMUNICATIONS INC.

Also Inside:• Training Tips• Vehicle Wraps• Industry News

and More

Storming BackFrom Katrina

Free Subscription Form on Page 42

How One Window Film Company Positioned Itself for Growth After the Storm

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Contents© 2012 WINDOW FILM Magazine. All rights reserved. No repro-duction of any type without expressed written permission.

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Most window fi lm dealers would agree that selling window fi lms is easier when they’re backed by 3M. Why? Because people know and trust the 3M brand.

Cash in on the opportunity. Find out all the benefi ts of becoming an authorized 3M window fi lm dealer at 3M.com/windowfi lmdealer

Au tomo t i v e Res i den t i a l Commerc i a l3M is a trademark of 3M. © 2012, 3M. All rights reserved.

It’s like moneyin the bank.


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Volume 16, Issue 2 • March-April 2012

A Publication for the Entire Film Industry

DEPARTMENTS & COLUMNS

24 • Storming Back from KatrinaThe owners of a New Orleans window filmshop share their story of survival andrebuilding.

30 • Toolin’ AroundWindow film installers share what tools theycan’t live without.

34 • From the Ground UpWindow film shops share successful trainingexperiences that they have used in theirbusinesses.

36 • Wrap-OffCheck out the stylings of wrappers fromaround the industry.

Dear Reader—Editor’s Letter ..........................................................6

IWFA Update—IWFA Presidential Notes ....................................10

Open 24/7—Web Advice ................................................................14

Ask the Expert—Expert Advice ....................................................18

Noteworthy—New Products and Services ....................................19

Newsworthy—Industry News ........................................................20

Suppliers’ Guide—Directory of Industry Suppliers ......................40

On the Horizon—Upcoming Events..............................................42

Advertisers Index ..........................................................................43

Film Stars—Installer Profiles ........................................................44

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24

For Subscription RequestsBy Mail or Fax:

Subscribe by filling out the form on page 42.To change your address, mail your old label,along with your new address, to P.O. Box569, Garrisonville, VA 22463, or fax to

540/720-5687. To unsubscribe, mail or faxyour old label with a request to be removed

from our mailing list.

On the Web atwww.windowfilmmag.com:

Under “Subscription Central,” click on:“Free e-Newsletter” to sign up for our Focuson Film bi-weekly publication; “WINDOW FILMPrint or Digital Edition” to sign up for themagazine; “Change Mailing Address”; or“Cancel Print or Digital Subscription.”

On the CoverA New Orleans window film shop survived the devastation ofHurricane Katrina and has come back better and strongerthan ever. Find out how they are making their comeback onpage 24.

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2 WINDOW FILM www.windowfilmmag.com

WINDOW FILM Magazine (USPS 020-895) ©2012 by Key Communications Inc. P.O. Box 569, Garrisonville, VA 22463-0569, 540/720-5584, fax: 540/720-5687,Email: [email protected], www.windowfilmmag.com. Copyright 2012, all rights reserved. Views and opinions expressed by authors are not necessarily those of thepublisher. No reproduction without the express written consent of publisher. WINDOW FILM is published six times annually (bi-monthly) by Key Communications atP.O. Box 569, Garrisonville, VA 22463-0569. Periodicals postage paid at Stafford, VA 22554 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changesto Key Communications P.O. Box 569, Garrisonville, VA 22463-0569. Phone 540/720-5584, Fax. 540/720-5687. Subscriptions are free to all qualified recipients.Addresses outside the U.S., postage fees apply. Members of the International Window Film Association receive one subscription as part of their membership dues.


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6 WINDOW FILM

KATIE O’MARA

It started innocently enough. Iopened the door to show my 1-year-old yellow lab that there was

no one outside (genius, I know). Sheproceeded to bolt out the front doorand into the rain. She ran down theroad and through numerous yards.The faster I ran, the faster sheran. Promises of food, treats,walks and various usual tricksfailed to catch her attention. Imanaged to keep her withinmy sights and followed herinto the woods behind a ran-dom home (cue flashback of ahorror movie). This is when I real-ized that you cannot outrun yourcompetition by doing the same thingthat your competition is doing. Ineeded to be smarter. So I began justslowly walking behind her and shequickly slowed down (she is not assmart as she may seem). After beingcaught in brambles, thorns and sink-ing my lovely new Sperry’s into themud, I picked up a stick nearby andbegan to wave it around (cavemanstyle). Lo and behold the puppy’sears perked up and she came cau-tiously towards me. I snatched hercollar and we made our trek backthrough the woods and to my hus-band with the waiting car (therewere a few choice words spoken tomy pup at this point—feel free touse your imagination).

In the moment I listened to myinstincts, which was to do what Iknow. My initial thought was that Icould catch the speed demon.However, when something isn’tworking for you then you have to

change your game plan. Sometimestrying to use the strategies thatcome naturally to you and that youare familiar with, won’t help you. Itwill just keep you in stride or a stepbehind your competition.

In this issue of the magazine youwill find plenty of new ideas tohelp you set your businessapart from the competition.We are taking a look at differ-ent kinds of training—both tra-ditional and non-traditional—to see how businesses are con-tinuing to educate themselves

and their employees on page 34.Finding the right fit between a

technician and his tools is anotherhuge factor in determining a compa-ny’s success. It could be said that atechnician is only as good as thetools he uses. Find out what sometechnicians swear by when it comesto completing a quality film installa-tion on page 30.

Also, back by popular demand, isa new edition of our vehicle wrappictorial on page 36. Check out thenew designs being installed acrossthe country and be inspired to tryout new designs or a new add-onservice completely.

Finally, I had the pleasure and thehonor of traveling to New Orleansto profile a true survivor. The part-ners behind GT Tint shared theirstory with me about survivingHurricane Katrina and re-buildingas a new company with some majorfilm installations under their belt.Read GT Tint’s inspiring story onpage 24.

So the next time you are in a goodold-fashioned foot race, surpriseyour competition with somethingunexpected and the results justmight astound you. WF

Key Communications Inc.385 Garrisonville Rd, #116

Stafford, VA 22554540/720-5584; 540/720-5687 (fax)

www.windowfilmmag.com

Publisher DEBRA [email protected]

Editor KATIE O’[email protected]

Contributing TARA TAFFERA, VICE PRESIDENTEditors [email protected]

SAHELEY [email protected]@[email protected]

Managing DAWN CAMPBELLEditor [email protected] Artist CARI CAYTON

[email protected] NICKIE BLOUNTCoordinator [email protected] TINA CZARManager [email protected] ALLY CURRANCoordinator [email protected] HOLLY BILLER, VICE PRESIDENTDirector [email protected] CHRIS BUNNProducer [email protected] BRYAN HOVEYDeveloper [email protected] JANEEN MULLIGANRelations [email protected] ERIN HARRISManager [email protected]

ADVERTISING OFFICESMidwest LISA NAUGLE

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Phone 540/720-5584 x111Fax 540/720-5687

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Phone 770/664-4567Fax 770/740-1399

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Phone 206/283-6762Fax 888/786-8777

Europe PATRICK [email protected] Kings RoadWestcliff on SeaEssex SS0 8PH ENGLAND

Phone (44) 1-702-477341Fax (44) 1-702-477559

China & Asia SEAN [email protected], Block 17, Wuyimingzhu, No.6 Jinshan Road,Fuzhou, Fujian, 350001, China.

Phone (86) 591-838-63000

All Others Contact Publisher Directly

DEBRA LEVY540/720-5584, ext. 111;

fax: 540/[email protected]

A PUBLICATION FORTHE ENTIRE FILM INDUSTRY

An Old-Fashioned Foot Race

Follow the MS tag atright to view a videoreport from NewOrleans and GT Tint.


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STRATEGYalways startwith a

U.S. Film Crew Maximizes Your Capability The optimal strategy requires the balance of your resources and abilities with your goal to reach the top. U.S. Film Crew offers the manpower, the experience and the proven expertise to ensure the most efficient route to a cost-effective realization of your project. realization of your project. Strategy Driven Efficiency. That’s U.S. Film Crew.

Link to USFC


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Email: Choi@Nex�l.com Tel: 310.516.8986 www.Nex�lUSA.com

14462 South Avalon Boulevard Gardena, CA 90248 USANE FIL

USAProfessional Window Film Manufacturer

Elegant Styling...Unrivaled Performance...Lifetime Warranty!


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SPUTTERED SERIES

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JOHN PARKER

In the last issue of WINDOW FILMmagazine you might recall read-ing about a new informational

booklet we were preparing tolaunch. We’re proud to deliver onour promise to you and invite youto check it out on our website,www.iwfa.com in the consumerinformation section here,www.iwfa.com/ConsumerInfo/IWFAWindowFilmBooklet.aspx.

BOOKLET BREAKDOWNThis booklet is a very powerful

new marketing and sales tool wehope you’ll take advantage of thisyear. It is a basic primer on windowfilm and can help educate peoplewho may know nothing about win-dow film at all—and eliminate mis-conceptions that consumers mayhave from past exposure to first-generation window film.Our goal with this is to get the

public as excited as we are aboutthe numerous ways that windowfilm delivers on its promises toadd immediate protection andlong-term value to properties. Itgives readers high-impact data in afriendly, easy-to-read format. Forexample, most homeowners maynot realize that window film can bea great alternative to replacingolder windows, without the highcost and intrusion of replacing thewindows themselves. They canrealize an impressive ROI in termsof energy savings, while benefitingfrom UV protection, glare reduc-tion and safety (i.e., holding shat-tered glass in place).We’re always scoping out new

ways to help you drive your busi-ness forward and support growthwithin our industry overall. And,we appreciate how much today’s

savvy consumers want to get anobjective, product-neutral andexpert resource’s perspective oninvestments they might be consid-ering for their homes.

RESOURCEFULSo—we’ve created this booklet

as a simple but effective solutionto satisfy any home (or building)owner’s craving for the straightfacts on what window film can dofor them. The IWFA is a resourcefor consumers as well as our mem-bers in the window film industry,and we’re working hard to giveconsumers the knowledge andconfidence they need to do busi-ness with you. This new booklet isone resource to help pave the wayto more sales opportunities foryou in 2012. And, information ispower—when you’re armed withit, opening new doors will comemore easily too!Please download the booklet

and offer to share it as a resourceguide. Along with your businesscard, deliver it to prospects whenyou meet as an additional way tokeep your business top of mindand to assure your prospectivecustomers that you’re supportedby the IWFA.To make it even better—our

public relations team at WarnerCommunications is pulling out all

the stops and getting word aboutthe booklet into the hands of edi-tors and reporters at magazines,websites, radio stations and tele-vision stations around the coun-try and working together with theIWFA team to provide expertinterviews with the media. Pleasetake a look at the news section ofour website www.iwfa.com/NewsEvents/MediaReleases.aspx tofamiliarize yourself with some ofthe coverage this has generatedin media outlets from Today’sHome to CBS Radio.We’ve already told you that in

2012 we want more people thanever to think of window film rightaway when they’re looking forsolutions to their energy savings, areduced carbon footprint, UV pro-tection, safety and glare issues.That is the goal we’re committedto—more awareness and generat-ing more demand for the uses ofwindow film—and this is one stepwe hope will go a long way in mak-ing it happen! WF

John Parker is the president of theInternational Window Film Association(IWFA), whose members include windowfilm dealers, distributors andmanufacturers. Contact the IWFA at276.666.4932 or [email protected], orvisit www.iwfa.com.

Pumping Up Awareness“Our goal with this is to get the public as excited as we are about the numerous ways that window film delivers on its promises to add immediate protection and long-term value to properties.”


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MANNY HONDROULIS

My company’s networkadministrator recentlyupgraded our server to

replace six year-old equipment andtake advantage of new technology.Our server came pre-loaded withMicrosoft Exchange and our per-sonal computers were upgraded toOutlook 2010 to ensure compatibil-ity. If you are an avid email user,you are most likely familiar withOutlook. For those who aren’t,Outlook is a component ofMicrosoft Office and is a user-friendly application that allowsyou to write, check and manageemail, all the while integratingalmost seamlessly with otherOffice applications.

OUTLOOKI’ve been using Outlook for

years and wouldn’t compose anemail without it. I use it to checkpersonal and professional emailaccounts. Prior to the serverupgrade, my work email was man-aged through our websiteprovider, GoDaddy. Essentiallymail sent to any company employ-ee was stored on GoDaddy’sservers until we checked our emailthrough Outlook, at which timeemail is grabbed from GoDaddy’sserver and displayed on our com-puters. This type of emailarrangement is called POP andthere are pros and cons to it. Onpro is that GoDaddy is responsi-ble for making sure that theequipment used to manage youremail works. Among the cons, itis very difficult to sync all ofyour email (inbox, outbox, sentitems, deleted items, personalfolders, etc) between your com-puters, tablets and smartphones.

In a time when email manage-ment and online data organiza-tion are key, having all of yourdevices synced together canmean the difference between highand low productivity.

EXCHANGEMicrosoft Exchange is the world

standard for organizations thatwant to host their email. Havingcome with our new server, wemigrated our email fromGoDaddy/POP to Exchange fornumerous reasons. First, our net-work administrator wanted tomanage our email internally forsecurity purposes. Too oftenincoming viruses sent via emailwould put our network at risk(just to be clear, this is notGoDaddy’s fault nor is GoDaddyresponsible for these viruses).Now that we host our email, it iseasier for our network administra-tor to eliminate or quarantine anypotential threats, thereby increas-ing the security and reliability ofour network.But what was important to me

as a user is that Exchange pro-vides great flexibility in how emailis stored, managed and delivered.The most noticeable benefit isthat email is “pushed” to yourdevice, whether a computer, tabletor smartphone. When checkingPOP email through Outlook, emailneeds to be “pulled” fromGoDaddy’s servers, either manu-ally or during a scheduled check,leading to a delay in the receipt ofemail. Exchange email is deliv-ered to my inbox instantly oncethe sender hits the send button.When an email is sent, my laptop,iPad and iPhone receive the email

at the same time.The most significant benefit is how

email is synced between differentdevices. Any change I make inOutlook can be viewed across mycomputer, tablet or phone. Here is anexample—I send an email from mylaptop to John Smith in the morningat the office. Later that day, while athome, and while my laptop is sittingon my desk at the office, I can viewthat same sent email frommy iPad oriPhone because everything I do isautomatically synced across all threedevices. The same is true for my cal-endar. If a colleague schedules ameet-ing with me by sending an Outlookmeeting invitation, the meeting isautomatically placed on my iPhoneand iPad calendars—no double ortriple entry required. Another bonusfeature is that when I add a contact inone device, the same contact appearsin the other two. Don’t get me wrong,this functionality can be achievedthrough POP email hosting but thirdparty applications and a bit of manu-al entry may be required. The use ofMicrosoft Exchange makes it easy.Given the nature of my job, I

often write mass emails to multiplecustomers. Many POP providerslimit the number of emails that youcan send in a day.After using Exchange for almost

two months, I regret that we weren’tusing it earlier. Having a handle onthe correspondence that we sendand receive, knowing where we needto be at a given time on a given day,and having accurate contact infor-mation on our business associatesmakes us more productive. WF

Manny Hondroulis is marketing managerfor Energy Performance Distribution inBaltimore.

Managing Mail


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….there’s a tool for that!Tool Solutions for Window Film Professionals

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DONNA WELLS

Hello and welcome to anoth-er spring—another year forall of us to set the world on

fire and another year to figure outhow we are all going to make 2012the best year ever. Two wordscome to mind when I think of whatwill help make you successful orcause you to fail. Those two wordsare “follow through.”

ASSESSINGHow many times have you said,

“If only they had called me in atimely manner,” or “They saidthey would finish on Monday andtoday is Wednesday and they arestill not finished?” Yes, we haveall been on the receiving end ofsomeone not following through.We have all thought to ourselves,“How do they stay in business?”Now, let’s turn that around andask ourselves, how many timeshave we not followed through?What happens to our businessrelationships when we make acommitment and then do not fol-low through?First, let’s examine what this

term means.” Quite simply, it isthe art of completion; seeing aproject through its various stagesand making sure that the endresult is satisfactory. Sounds sim-ple enough, but some people havea difficult time with the finishingpart of the job. As an entrepre-neur, you must not only be able to

start a project, but nurture itthrough its cycles, making surethat every step is being tended toproperly. It doesn’t matter inwhich area of the window filmindustry you specialize, followthrough is important. It is impor-tant to those whom you made thecommitment to as well as thosewho may be waiting on you totake the next step. Don’t fall intothe phrase, “I’ll do that tomor-row.” Do it today! When you makea commitment, follow through!

MOTIVATIONWhy do we not do this? Usually

the reason falls into one of threecategories: 1) I don’t want to dothat project; 2) I don’t feel likedoing that project; and 3) I justdon’t have the time to do thatproject. We all have things wedon’t want to do or don’t like todo. Unfortunately, that is just apart of life. My best advice is todo those projects first thing inthe morning and get them offyour plate. The longer you waitor put them off, the more agoniz-ing they become. So, don’tdelay—follow through.What if the project seems larg-

er than life? What if we just donot have the time to complete itin a timely manner? Consider del-egation. Many times, we have

business asso-ciates that we couldlean on to help us get throughthe task at hand. Delegatingempowers us and those aroundus. It is human nature to want tohelp others. It makes us feelgood. Delegating will allow you tocomplete the project and per-haps boost the self-esteem of awork associate.Finally, think about your com-

mitment to follow-through andhow it affects others in youroffice? If you do not complete aproject, will it keep others frombeing able to follow through ontheir projects? Will your lack ofcommitment cause a chain reac-tion? How will that make you lookand, more importantly, will it tar-nish your company’s reputation?So, the next time you catch your-self saying “I will handle that nextweek,” don’t. Do it now and fol-low through! WF

Donna Wells is the division head of thewholesale division at Window Film Depot.

Got a questionfor Donna?

Ask the Expert by emailing yourthoughts and questions to Donna [email protected]. Individual namesand company names will be withheldupon request.

“As an entrepreneur, you must not only be able to start a project, but nurture it through its cycles, making sure that every step is being tended to properly.”

Follow Through


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NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Extra HandsThe installation services of Pitts-

burgh-based U.S. Film Crew havemultiplied in the past three years.Last year, the company installedmore than 500,000 square feet of filmwith 60 percent of those projectsencompassing 5,000 square feet offilm or less. They have experience

with wet glazing only projects andare being studied as a process stan-dard for a major film manufacturer.The company has also been a part ofmultiple international projects.�� www.usfilmcrew.com

Inked3M introduced a new ink for print-

ing on 3M brand opaque, translu-cent and reflective graphic films. GX3M ink is available in eight colorsincluding cyan, magenta, yellow,black, light cyan, light magenta andtwo shades of white. GX 3M ink ismade for use in the Seiko I InfotechColorPainter H Series printers andwhen used with the proper over-laminate, the inks are also durableand weather resistant, according tothe company.�� www.3m.com/graphics WF

CONGRATULATIONS

T&T Tinting SpecialistsTommy SilvaHonolulu, HI

Congratulations to the Regional Dealers of the Year:T O T H E S O L U T I ANATIONAL DEALER OF THE YEAR

Glass EnhancementsDan Murdoch

Midwest Region: Loves Park, IL

International Energy SaversSaul Buchinsky

Southeast Region: Ocala, FL

Atlantic Sun ControlChris Baccus, Brien Looney

Mid-Atlantic Region: Manassas, VA

Amersol, Inc.Rick Dietal

Texas Region: Dallas, TX

© 2012 Solutia Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. All rights reserved. Vista and Vista Logo are trademarks of Solutia Inc. and/or its affiliates. As used herein, ® denotes registered trademark status in the U.S. only.

DEALERDEDEALERO F T H E

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DEALERDEALERS O L U T I A

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DEALERS O L U TS O L U T I AI A

O F O F O F O F T H ET H ET H ET H ET H E

2 02 02 02 0 1 11 12 0 1 1YEAR

NATIONAL DEALER

Tommy SilvaWing Kwang (Solutia)Brien LooneyChris BaccusSaul Buchinsky Dan Murdoch

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Solutia_DealerofYearCongratsAd-2012-HR.pdf 1 2/23/2012 11:12:34 AM

MARCH-APRIL 2012 WINDOW FILM 19

—Advertisement—

Zola Distributing, anational supplier of win-dow film installationtools, is excited toannounce our new freeshipping program. Be-ginning in February, Zolabegan offering freeGround UPS delivery onany domestic order over$49.50. For more information

visit www.zolatools.com.


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There is much in store for2012 at Performance FilmsDistributing. With the late

2011 announcement of the renewalof the company’s distributorshipagreement with Solutia, 2012 is offto a strong start for the company.“We are extremely happy that

Solutia has renewed the agree-ment,” says Bo Ryan, vice presi-dent of Performance FilmsDistributing. “We are looking for-ward to progressing with Solutiaand it puts our customers at easeto know there will be stabilitywith the Solutia brand and withus as their distributor.”

Performance Films Distributingwill continue to serve as the exclu-sive supplier of LLumar, Vista andFormula One window films in theMidwest through 2015.“As the last independent distrib-

utor left, I believe Solutia is confi-dent that we have and will contin-ue to deliver value to our cus-tomers,” says Ryan.Hinting at some possible surpris-

es in 2012, Ryan adds that whatthey have in store for the new yearincludes a new approach to thewindow film market.“Our focus is to provide our mar-

ket with a new and fresh approach

adding value to our customers andcontinue to serve our customersthe best way possible. Our growthstrategies for 2012 are all focusedon understanding our customers’needs and developing solutions tomeet those needs,” says Ryan.

Madico Aquires SelectEnpro Distribution AssetsMadico has taken more of its

window film distribution into itsown hands. The window film man-ufacturer has purchased selectassets from The Enpro Group,including the distribution rights ofMadico products in 16 states.“The Enpro Group has been suc-

cessfully distributing Madico prod-ucts for over 30 years and we havetruly enjoyed this long-standingrelationship,” says David Fletcher,president of Madico WindowFilms. “After the purchase is com-pleted, Madico Window Films willleverage its broad resources tobuild upon Enpro’s legacy of out-standing customer service, whileThe Enpro Group will focus itsenergy on its FirstCut program,retail services, contracting andother business segments. We areconfident that this purchase will bevery positive for our window filmcustomers, for Madico WindowFilms and for The Enpro Group. Weare also pleased that our relation-ship will remain strong since wewill continue to meet Enpro’s needsfor window film products.”The states affected by the pur-

chase include Alabama, Arkansas,Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas,Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina,Oklahoma, South Carolina,Tennessee and Texas.

Solutia Re-Ups With Performance

THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS


COMPANY NEWS

Performance Films Distributing (above) has renewed its agreement with Solutiato be the sole distributor of Llumar,Vista and Formula One window films in theMidwest.


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“Distribution has been the founda-tion of our business since our firstday in operation,” says DavidDickey, president of The EnproGroup. “This acquisition of assets isa testament to over 30 years of out-standing sales andmarketing efforts,territory development and relation-ship-building strategies. Madico hasbeen an excellent partner and welook forward to continuing our long,successful history with them.”

Paint Protection IndustryContinues to GrowPaint protection film (PPF) has

taken the window film industry bystorm. The future of the productremains unknown, but some manu-facturers are feeling optimisticabout its potential.“Cars today cost more and are

designed to last longer than everbefore. Both factors are giving con-sumers more reason to hold ontotheir cars for longer periods,” saysPhil Novac, director of marketingand business development atAvery Dennison’s Designed andEngineered Solutions division.“Whereas at one time a typical carowner might trade in after two orthree years, today that period hasexpanded to five to seven years.”Manufacturers are continuing to

promote PPF as an add-on serviceto existing window film companiesas the two industries have com-mon ground.“The process of installing paint

protection film is basically thesame as installing window film, sowindow film installers will have avery short learning curve,” saysNovac. “But perhaps more impor-tant is the opportunity for windowfilm installation companies to

expand their businesses. Paint pro-tection film opens the door to anadjacent market and additional rev-enue stream right at the time existingcustomers are committing to havetheir windows tinted or protected.”Market-wide the expectation is

to see growth for PPF among all carbrands and window film shopsadopting the product as an addi-tional service.“From a market perspective, look

for continuing growth. PPF was firstrecommended for owners of highend cars, like Maserati andLamborghini, where paint jobs costtens of thousands of dollars,” saysNovac. “But lowering costs of PPFtechnology, and awareness of itsvalue among the auto consumingpublic, has made PPF affordable anddesirable for most new car buyers.We estimate its growth at 15–20 per-cent for the foreseeable future.” WF

EVENT NEWSRegistration is Open for the InternationalWindow Film Conference and Tint-Off™ 2012

Registration for the International WindowFilm Conference andTint-Off™ (IWFC) 2012 isnow open online at the official event website,www.windowfilmmag.com/IWFC.The IWFC isset to be held September 20-22, 2012 at theKentucky International Convention Center andthe Hyatt Regency Louisville in Louisville,Ky.TheExhibition/Extravaganza, including theTint-Off™competitions, will be held September 21-22.

Attendees can now pre-register online for an early bird discounted price of$179 for non-IWFA members and $149 for IWFA members. Attendees cansave $50 by taking advantage of the best rates during early bird registration,which will be available until June 29—regular pre-registration ends August 31.An attendee registration includes registration to all seminars, workshops andadmittance to the Exhibition/Extravaganza.

Registration is also open to compete in the InternationalWindow FilmTint-Off Architectural and Automotive Divisions. The competitions will be heldSeptember 21-22, 2012, as part of the IWFC with the champions beingannounced Saturday evening at the Gala Awards Reception and Ceremony.

Contestant registration will be open now through July 27.Registration to com-pete in the Automotive or Architectural Divisions of the InternationalWindowFilm Tint-Off is $250 for IWFA members and $350 for non-IWFA members.Contestants interested in competing in both divisions will receive a discountedprice of $450 for IWFA members and $650 for non-IWFA members.Contestantregistration includes all seminars, one ticket to the Gala Awards Reception andCeremony, and access to IWFC Exhibition/Extravaganza where the competitionwill be held.

The InternationalWindow Film Conference andTint-Off is co-sponsored byWINDOW FILM magazine and the International Window Film Association.AutoGlassWeek™ will also be held concurrently.�� www.windowfilmmag.com/IWFC


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Travis Carpenter, winner of the Daytona 500 Solar Gard Experience Epic Glass Tinting, Klamath Falls, OR


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24 WINDOW FILM

How One Film CompanyPositioned Itself for

Growth After the Stormby Katie O’Mara

StormingBack FromKatrina

In August 2005, Americans sat with eyestransfixed to their television sets taking

in the images of the sunken city of NewOrleans. Hurricane Katrina, the mostdestructive hurricane to ever strike theUnited States, devastated the famousLouisiana town and the surrounding area.In the weeks to follow, as reports rolled in,the loss of homes and human life was stag-gering. However, the toll that a storm likethis one could take on a small business wasnot a major headline around the country.

StormingBack FromKatrina


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BACK TO THE BEGINNINGFor two window film profession-

als, the storm forever changedtheir paths and eventually broughtthem together. Peter Kaufmann,former owner of Solar Solutions ofLouisiana, and Gregg Taylor, ownerof GT Tint, joined forces and com-panies to promote their new jointbusiness, GT Tint. Kaufmann suf-fered an injury in the years afterKatrina to his shoulder that hasmade it difficult for him to continuetinting. Joining forces with Taylor,Kaufmann is staying in the busi-ness doing marketing and sales forthe new company. The former loca-tion of Solar Solutions of Louisianawill now house the new Southshore location of the company.“For the last year and a half I

have mothballed my former com-pany Solar Solutions. I’ve knownGregg since before Katrina and weworked well together for years,”says Kaufmann. “I finally decidedsince I can no longer do what hedoes, we need to figure out a wayto make this work for both of us.We are small and steady. I don’tbelieve the one-man operation isthe way to go, but I don’t want toworry about a staff of 12 either. Wehave one or two other guys wework with and try to keep our bookfull about 3-15 days out, workingon a few things here and there.”“I’m passionate about the film

industry and clearbras are anoth-er kind of film we work with,”says Taylor. “A lot of tint shopswill have car stereos and uphol-stery and things like that. Thosekinds of shops offer window filmas an extra service, but this is ourmain service.”Kaufmann and Taylor came

together to work on the U.S.Customs House, a historic landmarkand the thirdmost prestigious build-ing in the GSA. The building housesoffices for the Department of

Homeland Security, the Departmentof Commerce, Federal MaritimeCommission, U.S. Tax Court,Audubon Nature Institute, SmallBusiness Administration and GSA.“Almost as many people came

through there as did Ellis Island,”says Kaufmann. “We wrappedabout 13,000 squares. Since thenwe’ve felt like, ‘why fight this?’Some people have it and some peo-ple don’t, but Greg has it.”As the partnership between

Kaufmann and Taylor takes off,both are confident that they havemet their match.“I like to sell and market and I

can’t tint any longer and he hatespaperwork and people,” saysKaufmann with a smile.GT Tint will serve the New

Orleans market completing archi-tectural and automotive tintingjobs. While Taylor and Kaufmannare happy with the size and offer-ings of the company, they are opento some additional film relatedproducts in the future“We are dipping into automotive

paint protection,” says Taylor. “It’sdoing well for the word-of-mouthbusiness that we are getting. Wereally haven’t marketed it at all.”“We do like decorative films, plot-

ters and vinyl work,” addsKaufmann. “We have been toolingaround with a full wide-formatprinter. It’s a matter of one or twogood jobs or some steady revenue.”GT Tint works mainly with thin-

ner films, but have good connec-tions around the New Orleansarea and can bring in additional

help if needed.“We like to think of ourselves as

mainly working with thin films.That’s where we like to stay,” saysKaufmann. “We are not scared ofsafety and security [film], but if itgets stupidly thick or big then wewill partner up with someone orbring someone else in to completethe job.”

UP TO THE CHALLENGEThe Customs House tops the list

for Kaufmann and Taylor as one ofthe most challenging projects thatthey have been a part of.“You have to imagine the situa-

tion—you are outside in theFrench Quarter where they don’tever stop serving alcohol and youare allowed to preach on the cor-ner. You have drunk people walk-ing through your barricades andyour yellow tape,” says Kaufmann.“We are working off of an 80-foot

articulating boom that you haveto drive around the building anddeal with the one way streets,”adds Taylor.Despite the challenges, Taylor

and Kaufmann’s work helped theU.S. Customs House obtain a cou-ple of LEED points. For Kaufmannthe project changed his path as hesustained a rotator cuff injury thathas kept him from being able toinstall film. However, the pair con-tinues to work towards new high-dollar projects like the local aquar-ium and some of the historichomes that New Orleans is so

continued on page 26

“I was tinting police cars and cars for FEMApersonnel. The water was so bad coming out of

the sink that the FEMA guys would drop offcases of water just so I could tint their cars.”

—Peter Kaufmann, GT Tint


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famous for, in the Garden District.“We are in with the aquarium

now and everything has been bud-geted so we are just waiting onthat. We did a sample floor for amajor hotel down here,” saysKaufmann. “Most of my goodmoney came in these high-endhouses. People here will have $20million in priceless furnishings andheirlooms. People have drapesthat cost $400 per square yard thatneed to be protected.”In addition to tricky projects,

Taylor and Kaufmann have foundthat just dealing with the compe-tition is a major challenge fortheir company.“The hardest thing in the world

around here is the phrase, ‘I got abuddy,’” says Kaufmann. “A lot ofour competition is arrogant. Theyuse poor products and are dishon-est. They have super-egos. I’vebeen doing this for 35 years andmy competition could at least lis-ten. I might be wrong, but at leastlisten to what I have to say. We areeducated and accredited with theIWFA and we are honest.”Following the storm, the men

have dealt with trying to educatethe community about film’s truecapabilities.“I love safety film, but it is not a

hurricane product,” says Kaufmann.“We had water here during thestorm and film can’t help in thatarea. I find we spend a lot of timepolicing the industry against oth-ers. Whether a customer is going tobuy from me or not, I want to makesure they are educated and knowwhat they really need.”Window film can help protect

inhabitants from broken glass andflying debris, but it is not a hurricane-

proof product. Taylor and Kaufmannhas worked to give customers realis-tic expectations and honesty when itcomes to window film’s ability toprotect in a hurricane.

SURVIVING THE STORMLife changed for the city of New

Orleans as well as the businessesthere in 2005.“This building only lost power

for three days and the water camewithin a block of the building,”says Kaufmann about the formerhome of his old business and thenew location of GT Tint. “We evac-uated, went to Shreveport and wewatched the storm on TV there. Weknew it couldn’t get much worse.”“We just assumed that every-

thing was gone from watching iton TV,” says Taylor. “We droveback five days after the storm andwe couldn’t even recognize ourstreet. We didn’t have power forthree and a half to four weeks. Igot a job in Florida tinting win-dows while we were evacuatedand [the Florida tint company]really took me in.”Following the storm, Kaufmann

actually moved into his shopbecause of damage to his houseand the need for his services.“It was a complete reset to zero,”

says Kaufmann. “After the storm Imoved in here and lived in theshop for about four months. I wasable to get back to the shop beforeI could get into my house. Thepolice would drop off rations andmy wife would drop off coolers offood and tools. The National Guardand helicopters were here and youcouldn’t get in the city without apass. I was tinting police cars andcars for FEMA personnel. The


Peter Kaufmann and Gregg Taylorinstalled film on 13,000 squares at thehistorical U.S. Customs House indowntown New Orleans.

StormingBack FromKatrinacontinued from page 25


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water was so bad coming out of thesink that the FEMA guys woulddrop off cases of water just so Icould tint their cars.”Both Kaufmann and Taylor’s

businesses experienced an influx oftinting needs following the storm.“I couldn’t keep up with the

work,” says Kaufmann. “A lot of thepeople forced to higher groundwould call whoever did the workfor them four or five years ago tocome tint their houses again.“The car business picked up

tremendously too,” adds Taylor. “Alot of cars were damaged and hitmy trees so everybody got newcars. From the end of Septemberthrough February I was bookedthree weeks out all the time. Thateventually slowed down and nowit’s back to normal.”

REBUILDING EFFORTSNow, more than six years later,

Kaufmann reflects on the rebuild-ing efforts.“We have so much federal

money that is still here. There is aton of construction going on here,”says Kaufmann. “One of the ironicthings is that I went to the Hyattshortly before Katrina and therethey had no tint on the buildingand management pretty muchlaughed me out of the building.Well the roof came off the super-dome and took off half of the[Hyatt’s] glass. They just re-opened it three months ago.”For many in New Orleans,

rebuilding has been a slow processthat is still on-going.“Anytime you have to wait for

the government to get permissionto do something it’s slow,” saysKaufmann.

Kaufmann’s house is still under-going renovation and sustainedsignificant water damage. Taylorexperienced long-term power out-ages, debris and downed trees inhis neighborhood. Luckily, bothmen were able to keep businessmoving by tinting cars and homesfor other New Orleans residentsafter the storm.Moving forward Kaufmann and

Taylor hope to grow GT Tint.“I still see new hope in this indus-

try,” says Kaufmann. “We really wantthe manufacturers to step up andhelp facilitate us doing what theythink we should be doing. Show mehow to sell these buildings withoutcharging me $10,000 per module.”At the end of the day Taylor just

wants to have a successful busi-ness to support his family.“I want this to last,” says Taylor.

“I have two kids and want to leavethem something to come intowhen they get older.” WF

“We just assumed thateverything was gone fromwatching it on TV. Wedrove back five days afterthe storm and we couldn’teven recognize our street.”

—Gregg Taylor, GT Tint

GT Tint’s new location used to house Peter Kaufmann’s former business, whichhelped tint police and FEMA vehicles in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.


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2012


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The Classics

A


An installer is only as good ashis tools. It may soundclique, but for many

installers their tools can make orbreak a film install. However, in theage of technology and invention theidea of a tool has evolved. Thereare still classic tools that installerswill always rely on, but now manyinstallers are creating their owntools and finding ways to use tech-nology to grow their business.

The ClassicsAmong some of the most loved

and reliable tools most tinterswill always tell you that theirknives, chisels and squeegees aremust-haves.“We use the blue max blade,

which is just a squeegee blade, forflat glass applications and you canuse it in different length handles toget higher pressure on film,” saysRick Puthoff president of EclipseWindow Tinting Inc., in Cincinnati,Ohio. “We use red dot knives which

are a little different than your stan-dard OLFA knife. They are left andright-handed so you can put theblade in either way.”“You have to have an OLFA stain-

less steel cutting knife. That is byfar the most powerful tool no mat-ter what kind of film you areinstalling,” says Charlie Arakelian,owner of Northeast Tint Co., inBoston, Mass. “I always use an old-fashioned five-way. You can flip itaround five different ways to getperfect angles on your windows.”While squeegees may not have

evolved much over the years theyremain essential to an installer’s job.“Another important tool would

be the orange crush squeegee. It’sa little easier on your wrists afteryou have evolved a few millionsquare feet of tint,” says Arakelian.“I was reluctant to make thechange over from my old wooden-handled squeegee, but eventuallyswitched it up to the orange crushbecause it was easier on my wrists

and forearms. You get a longerreach and more pressure.”Heat guns have changed and

grown a lot over the years as welland every tinter has a preference ofhow they want to want to applyheat to film. For some newer heatguns are valuable, but others pre-fer to stick with an old favorite.

Toolin’Around

Window Film Installers Share Their Must-Have Tools

by Katie O’Mara

Always being prepared and findinglarger tools, like scaffolding, to help inhigh places is the key for CharlieArakelien, owner of Northeast Tint Co.


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A New Spin


“Some people use different varia-tions of heat guns. Probably 95 per-cent of my automotive installationsinvolves using a torch, which actu-ally helps things dry quicker andmakes for a cleaner job,” says SteveWilke, owner of S & A Restyling &Accessories in Midland, Texas.“Also, I am not using any electricitywith a torch. A lot of people don’teven know how to use a torch. Ihave probably been using it forautomotive installations for 26 ofthose years.”Large equipment can be expen-

sive and take up space, but comesin handy when a challenging installrequires extra height or space.“From an installation perspective

with complicated installs youalways have to be prepared. That ismy motto. Scaffolding is definitelya necessity,” says Arakelian. “Everyinstaller has to have something likethat or a place that will rent it tothem fairly inexpensively.”

A New SpinTechnology has changed the

way most industries do businessand for window tinting it is no dif-ferent. Non-traditional tools con-tinue to be exceptionally valuableto window film shops who are try-ing to take their business to thenext level and bring new cus-tomers in the door.“We use Computer Cut. We have

two 40-inch plotters and a 60-inchplotter and it’s a great tool for tak-ing you to the next level as far asautomotive, paint protection film(PPF), architectural and decora-tive,” says Puthoff. “We are doingfinal overlays—we cut a Camarowith carbon fiber roof, but then we

made some SS stripes go up thehood and Computer Cut was ableto do that. It shaves a lot of timeoff. You can take an entry-level guyand have him pull the cars in, cutthem out on Computer Cut, set thepatterns out, clean the car downand it’s just the same as if I had athird full-experienced window tin-ter. You can get more work doneand save money at the same timebecause you are not paying thesame amount for an entry level guyas you are a veteran.”Mobile and web-based technolo-

gy is also helping businesses setthemselves apart. Having a valu-able online presence can keep cus-tomers connected to a window filmshop so that when they are readyto buy, that company is at the topof their mind.“Advertising or getting on

Facebook and putting together achangeable website were probably

the biggest tools I have used to growmy business,” says Wilke. “I had lesswork to have more exposure in theend and that has increased businesswhich increases profit.”Also, bringing technology to the

job-site allows shops to appearmore modern and well equipped.“We are using iPads. All of our

estimators have them and we usetechnology like a lot of shops donot,” says Puthoff. “We are creatinga mobile version of our websitesince 60 percent of your searchesare done from mobile phones.”Another non-traditional tool for

many installers is education. It maysound simple, but learning newtricks for installation and market-ing techniques for a company canbe inexpensive and pay off big timeat the shop.“Everybody picks up tips, but


Most installers use a trial and error system to discover which tools work thebest for them. Many then create a tool kit to use when doing different jobs.


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Creativity at Work

“One of my installers has a dad that works in a machine shop and so he comes in with the craziest stuff. He ‘Frankensteins’ parts together and creates something new.”

—Charlie Arakelien, Northeast Tint Co.

Toolin’Around


the biggest thing that will growthe window film industry is if allthe dealers would go to theirdealer meetings,” says Puthoff.“Education is the key. When wego to the national meetings thepeople who come to the meetingsdo astronomically better num-bers than the people who don’t. Idon’t know whether it is theworkshops or its sitting at thebar with the other dealers talkingabout tools and technology—butit makes a difference.”

Creativity at WorkWhen many installers run into a

situation where none of theirexisting tools seem to work for thejob, some take tool creation intotheir own hands. Combining toolsor taking them apart allowsinstallers to create a completelynew tool that will specifically workfor them.

“People modify their tools likecrazy. I am a large dealer and I am

very confident in what I have, but Iwill see these guys and it is amaz-ing,” says Puthoff. “Sometimes Ithank God they are not in businessin my market. You learn so muchfrom the other dealers from mar-keting to installation to tools.”

“My installers have created theirown prototypes of squeegees,”says Arakelien. “They have comeup with their own chiselers andhard squeegees. One of myinstallers has a dad that works in amachine shop and so he comes inwith the craziest stuff. He‘Frankensteins’ parts together andcreates something new.”

“I have a file folder where I jotdown ideas and even sketch ideasfor new tools,” says Wilke. “Whenyou are in the midst of doingsomething you can think if it weredone differently or shaped differ-ently it would be easier. For com-mercial work, suction cups canhelp shift and move things withoutdamaging anything. That has been

a huge one for me.”Many installers already know

what kind of tools they wish couldbe invented.

“There are rumors that certainmanufacturers have had this, butthey have talked about puttinghash marks on film,” says Puthoff.“It will tell you the footage inreverse so that when you arepulling out film you can tell exact-ly how much film you have left. Ifthey can put logos and such onthe clear liner you would thinkthey could add hash marks. Ifthey had hash marks giving youthe footage on the liner on theroll it would take the whole taskout of inventory. You wouldn’thave to worry if you have enoughfilm on a roll before it is too lateto order more.”

“I would love to see a push but-ton ladder system that has aremote control,” says Arakelien.“Some of these ladders are verycool. If they could even make a lad-der on some kind of hydraulics,lightweight and aluminum andyou could throw it in the back ofyour car.”

Whether it is a classic knife orsqueegee that makes an installer’sjob easier or something simple likeattending a class or chatting with afellow installer, having the righttools for the job makes a world ofdifference for tinters.

If you have an idea for a tool thatyou would like to share [email protected]. WF

Katie O’Mara is the editor of WINDOW FILMmagazine. She can be reached [email protected] or follow her onTwitter at @windowfilmmag.

Toolin’Aroundcontinued from page 31

A heat gun is one tool that has morphed with technological advancements.Nearly every installer uses some version of a heat gun or torch.


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™

T E C H N O L O G Y

Paint Protection Film from Avery Dennison

Better Material. Better Installs. Better Warranty.

Bumper | Front Fascia | Hood

Roof | Side Mirrors | Quarter Panel

Door Edge | Wheel Well

© 2012 Avery Dennison Corporation, All Rights Reserved. Avery Dennison® and Nano-Fusion™ are trademarks of Avery Dennison Corporation.

For a distributor nearest you visit www.nano-fusion.net


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Every tinter starts off with noknowledge of the industry. Atsome point he becomes

interested, falls into a job at a tintshop or just discovers a naturaltalent for it. However, a skill liketinting does involve some impor-tant training. Improperly installedfilm can damage vehicles andbuildings.Some window film businesses

train their employees in-house bypairing up a new tinter with a vet-eran to learn the trade. Other busi-nesses pay for employees to attendtraining through manufacturers.Finding the right teaching tech-niques can be key to successfullygrowing and expanding a windowfilm business.

Teaching the Trade“I trained new employees to

install film with the techniques thatI use,” says Robert Kersten, presi-dent of Quality Glass Tinting Inc.and Infiniteoptiks in St. Louis, Mo.“I was fortunate enough to findpeople that were hard workers anddedicated. If you really want totrain people there is so much infor-mation out there that makes it easyto train people yourself.”“It’s good to teach them from

scratch because it can eliminate allthe bad habits up front,” says RossKehl, president of Tintingpro.comin Sedona, Ariz.In addition, new tinters can help

maintain the shop and do some ofthe ground level work as they per-

fect their craft and expertise.“We do train a lot of people and

we make no bones about it—youare bottom level so when we arenot busy we expect all of theseother things to be done around theshop like cleaning up and organiz-ing,” says Brad Campbell, presi-dent of Campbell Window Film inHuntington Beach, Calif. “If theyare ambitious and get through thefirst cut we take them to the nextlevel. We don’t really waste a lot oftime. We try to get them installingfilm right away.”There are other things to consid-

er when hiring a new tinter. Manycommercial and residential jobsinvolve equipment or credentialsto access job sites and if an

Window Film Shops Share Training Ideas and Solutions

by Katie O’Mara

From the Ground Up


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employee has background or train-ing in those areas they are hired itcan save time and money in thelong run.

“There are a lot more restrictionsnow on the type of people you cansend out to jobsites,” says Kersten.“Today about 50 percent of ourwork requires someone with safetytraining. They are wearing a hardhat on a commercial site and usinglifts, boom cranes and sky jacks. Tohave people like that you may needthem to have security clearances.”

Work the ProgramFor a busy shop owner, finding

the time to educate a new employ-ee can seem daunting. There arewindow film manufacturers and dis-tributors that offer training in ses-sions. There are also some selectcompanies that specialize in train-ing and offer workshops and hands-on experience to those in need.These programs have come a longway since their initial inception.

“It was tough to try and learnhow to install film back in theday,” says Campbell. “I tried a fewtraining programs and I know I hada couple people that took advan-tage of me. There are some pro-grams that will charge a lot ofmoney for a one day course. Theyhave some pretty good one-dayprograms now though.”

Formal training programs alsooffer an opportunity for trainersand installers to share ideas andtechniques in an open format.

“Many years ago I participated ina training course,” says Kersten.“Right after September 11, Madicowas bringing up their Safety Shieldprogram and a guy was goingaround the country training. Weactually helped him learn somebetter techniques for some thingshe was training others on.”

However, some within the indus-try believe that formal training pro-grams cannot be a replacement forhands-on, everyday training withinthe shop.

“I think all those training courses

do is alleviate the business ownerof the responsibility of the initialorientation of what window film isand if it is something you are cutout to do,” says Campbell. “A busi-ness owner might want to hiresomeone to mop the floors and ifthe employee is interested long-term then they can send them tothe course. It takes years of doing itto become good at it. Be at workevery day and surround yourselfwith it in order to be good at it.”

“There are some independentflat glass schools as well as auto-motive schools. Some of the filmdistributors offer film classes,”says Kehl. “Really, the bottom lineis if they want to open a windowfilm tinting business they need towork for someone else first and getthe training before they branch outon their own. There are some train-

ing schools that you can go to now,but there is not a substitute forhands-on training. There is a lot toit, even though it sounds like it isjust installing film.”

Food for ThoughtAt the end of the day, a shop’s

image rests with its employees andtheir abilities. Investing in trainingfor the shop’s staff can impact thesuccess of a business and patientlytraining new staff can pay off lateron. Using care and considerationwhen training and hiring can makethe difference between a success-ful business year and a wastedinvestment.

Katie O’Mara is the editor of WINDOW FILMmagazine. She can be reached [email protected] or follow her onTwitter at @windowfilmmag.

Training with an experienced staff member can help new employees learn thetricks of the trade.

Back to SchoolIWFA AccredidationThe International Window Film Association (IWFA) offers accredidation in

solar control, advanced solar control, safety and security and automotive ($100for IWFA members, $300 for non-IWFA members). Manuals are also offered insolar control ($29.95), advanced solar control ($39.95), safety and security($29.95) and automotive ($5.00).Testing is available online at testing centers andat some industry events. For more information visit www.iwfa.com.

Manufacturers and DistributorsMany window film manufacturers and distributors also offer training, both

at their locations and on the road. Many of them provide it at a low cost andin conjunction with a discount on film. For more information and to see ifyour manufacturer or distributor offers training visit their website or con-tact your representative. WF



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Wrap-OffCheck Out the Stylings of Wrappers From Around the Industry

Vehicle wraps have continued to become a more prominent way for local companies to advertisetheir services. For some of these companies finding a unique design is key to a successful installa-tion. Wraps are extending beyond just vehicles now. Companies are wrapping the windows of theircommercial buildings and consumers are using vinyl on everything from four-wheelers to caskets inorder to obtain a more personalized appearance. If you have a favorite project that your shop has

completed email [email protected] and tells us about it.


Perfect Appearance wrapped

this 2010 Toyota Tundra to

use as a business vehicle for a

new company venture. They

wanted a loud design and

decided on bright flames to

catch the customer’s eye. The

film was printed on Avery

Dennison 1005 Supercast

EZRS and was laminated with

Avery’s DOL 1360.

This wrap was designed to appeal to the fem

ale buyer. Xtreme Graphix, based

in Milford, Del., used Aurora Graphics’ desi

gn to install this wrap on a family

member’s vehicle. The full wrap was done in

one weekend. The vehicle

frequently will sit out in front of the sho

p and brings in a lot of female

customers.


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This vehicle, wrapped by Quality Glass Tinting Inc., in St. Louis,Mo., took one installer four hours to install the wrap, halfthe time it took to print, laminate and plot the creation. Thecompany also did a second vehicle for Magic Houseusing the same image.


The owner of this Scion XB wanted a design for his vehicle that would drawa lot of attention. Perfect Appearance of Pueblo, Colo., used art from AuroraGraphics, as well as some in-house artwork, to wrap the vehicle. The companyused Avery Dennison 1005EZ-RS cast wrap vinyl and laminated with Avery’smatching cast laminate DOL1000. Owner Mike Duran and designer RogerBernal completed the wrap together.

Xtreme Graphix wrapped this

former potato chip truck to use

as one of their business

vehicles. The design was built

from a few different downloads

and took about a week to

install. The truck was

challenging due to the amount

of rivets on it. The installers had

to take their time and go

around each rivet carefully.



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This architectural wrap, created and installed by Quality Glass Tinting Inc.,was designed using a theme installed on five vehicles for the companyalready. A boom was rented to install the second-story wrap featuring clouds,blue sky and treetops. Two installers completed the installation over a totalof five hours.WF


This “mudder” was wrapped to

appear reptile-like by Xtreme

Graphix. The wrap design was

put together in-house and

applied in a week on to th

e

one-of-a-kind vehicle. Avery

Dennison film was used to

wrap the mudder and a

matching go-cart was made

for the owner’s son afterwards.

Wrap-Offcontinued from page 37


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ATTENTION INSTALLERS!

Louisville, Ky.

September 20-22,

2012

September 21-22Think you stand a chance?

2012 International Window Film Tint-Off™

www.windowfilmmag.com/IWFC

See you in Louisville this September!

O

O

Do you have what it takes?WINDOW

have what it takes?ILM FW ™ magazine is looking for the best of the best automotive

have what it takes?™ magazine is looking for the best of the best automotive

™ magazine is looking for the best of the best automotive

and

2012 International Window Film Tint-Off™This year’s competition will feature both

an architectural and an automotive division.

and





2012 International Window Film Tint-Off™

The International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off™ will be co-located with Auto Glass Week™.

information more For


latest updates, visitand the information


latest updates, visit www.windowfilmmag.com/


www.windowfilmmag.com/IWFC call 540/720-5584. or


call 540/720-5584.


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DISTRIBUTORSArchitectural Film

Geoshield Window Film8000 GSRI Ave., Bldg. 3000Baton Rouge, LA 70820800/234-6133; fax: 225/578-3975www.geoshieldusa.com

SAGR Products Int'l1785 Biglerville RoadGettysburg, PA 17325800/223-4385; fax: 717/334-6483 [email protected]

Solar Control Films Inc. 1499 N Post Oak Rd; 214 Houston, TX 77055 877/989-3456; fax: 713/681-3040 [email protected]

Solar Gard Window Films 4540 Viewridge AvenueSan Diego, CA 92123877/345-9478fax: 858/514-4231www.solargard.com

Sun-Gard Window Films2630 Fairfield Avenue S.St. Petersburg, FL 33712888/887-2022www.sun-gard.com

Automotive Film

Geoshield Window Film8000 GSRI Ave., Bldg. 3000Baton Rouge, LA 70820800/234-6133; fax: 225/578-3975www.geoshieldusa.com

Huper Optik International Pte Ltd12, Jalan Kilang Barat, #04-03Singapore 159354(65) 6276-4555; fax: (65) 6276-9917www.huperoptik.com

SAGR Products Int'l1785 Biglerville RoadGettysburg, PA 17325800/223-4385; fax: 717/334-6483 [email protected]

Solar Control Films Inc. 877/989-3456 [email protected]


Starco Distributing1441 N. Cayamaca St.El Cajon, CA 92020619/937-0367; 888/359-3456fax: 619/937-0369

Sun-Gard Window Films888/887-2022www.sun-gard.com

Decorative Film

Solar Graphics Inc.12167 49th St., Unit 100Clearwater, FL 33762800/869-8468Fax: 727/321-6004www.coloredfilms.com

Residential Film

Johnson Window Films Inc.20655 Annalee Ave.Carson, CA 90746310/631-6672; 800/448-8468fax: 310/[email protected]

Midwest Solar Control Films 1220 N Price Rd; #B St. Louis, MO 63132 866/973-3456 www.midwestwindowfilm.com

Security Film

HanitaTek Window Films4010 La Reunion Parkway, Ste. 100Dallas, TX 75212800/660-5559; fax: 214/[email protected]

Madico Window Film888/887-2022www.madico.com

Solar Film

HanitaTek Window Films4010 La Reunion Parkway, Ste. 100Dallas, TX 75212800/660-5559; fax: 214/[email protected]

FILM INSTALLATION SERVICES

U.S. Film Crew100 Broughton RoadPittsburgh, PA 15102877/946-3693; fax: 412/[email protected]

MANUFACTURERSArchitectural Film

Hanita CoatingsKibbutz Hanita, 22885, Israel+972-4-985-9919fax: [email protected]

Madico Window Film2630 Fairfield Avenue S.St. Petersburg, FL 33712727/[email protected]

Solutia Inc.Performance Films Division575 Maryville Centre DriveSt. Louis, MO 63141 314/674-1000; 800/255-8627fax: 314/674-1950www.llumar.com


A DIRECTORY OF INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS



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SunTek®/Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc.345 Beaver Creek Drive Martinsville, VA 24112276/632-4991; fax: 276/632-0173www.suntekfilms.com

Automotive Film

3M Window Films866/499-8857www.3m.com/window

Erickson Intl./American Standard Window Film3135 Marco St.Las Vegas, NV 89115800/835-9676; fax: 702/643-0509


Madico Window Film727/[email protected]


Commercial Film


Decorative Film

Artscape Inc.3487 N.W. Yeon Ave.Portland, OR 97219888/503-0354; fax: 503/[email protected]

Film Shades

Midwest Marketing2000 E. War MemorialPeoria, IL 61614800/638-4332; fax: 309/[email protected]

Residential Film


Security Film


Madico Window Film727/[email protected]


SECURITY PRODUCTSAttachment Systems

FilmFastener LLC featuring BondKap™8206 Copeland Rd.Odessa, FL 33556813/926-8721; fax: 813/920-8662 www.FilmFastener.com

TOOLS AND SUPPLIESPerformance Tools Distributing7640 Commerce PlacePlain City, OH 43064866/448-6657 or 614/873-4800Fax: 614/[email protected]


WEBSITES TO VISITSolamatrix, Inc.888/887-2015www.solamatrix.com

Training School


Windowtinting.com800/580-7953 WF

Supplier’s Guide Rates

Basic listings are $350 per year, per listing

Additional website and email lines are $50 each. Logos start at $250.Contract display advertisers placing 6 full page ads or more receive one free listing per year.

For more information on how to reachmore than 10,000 qualified subscribers,please contact Janeen Mulligan at540/720-5584 ext. 112; email: [email protected] or fax to540/720-5687 for a price quote.

May/June WINDOW FILM magazine’scut-off date is April 22.


To place your listing(s)

in the Suppliers’ Guide,

please contact Janeen

Mulligan at 540/720-5584,

ext. 112 or email

[email protected]


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INDUSTRY EVENTS

Subscriptions are free to all qualified recipients. Digital edition is free worldwide. Addresses outside theU.S. requesting the print edition, please add $40 for postage fees. By subscribing and signing thisform, I also agree to allow publisher to contact me via fax, email and/or telephone in the future.

I want to start/continue my FREE SUBSCRIPTION to WINDOW FILM magazine: � YES � NO

Subscribe to WINDOW FILM magazine for Free

Fax This Form to630/482-3051

ORSubscribe online at

www.glass.com/subcenter

Please answer the following questions: PRIMARY WINDOW FILM BUSINESS: (check one only)A � Dealer B � DistributorC � Manufacturer D � Attachment/Component Manufacturer Z � Other (please specify)

_______________________________JOB TITLE: (check one only)A � President, Owner or other Corporate executiveB � ManagerC � Film Applicator/InstallerZ � Other (please specify)

_________________________________TYPE OF WINDOW FILM YOU BUY OR SELL: (Check ALL that apply)A � ArchitecturalB � AutoC � DecorativeD � Paint ProtectionE � SecurityZ � Other (please specify)

_______________________________

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:A � 1-4B � 5-9C � 10-19D � 20-49E � 50-99Z � 100+

MY BUSINESS IS EN-GAGED IN THE WINDOWFILM INDUSTRY:

� Yes� No

� Check here to also subscribe to the freeWINDOW FILM e-newsletter.

Name: __________________________________________Title: ___________________________________________Company: _______________________________________Phone:__________________________________________Fax:____________________________________________Email: __________________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________Date:___________________________________________Address: ________________________________________City: ___________________________________________State/Province: __________________ Zip/Postal: _________Country (if not USA):_______________________________


AUTOMOTIVE FILM EVENTS

April 6-15, 2012New York International Auto ShowOrganized by the Greater New YorkAutomobile Dealers Association Jacob Javits CenterNew York, N.Y.Contact: www.autoshowny.com

September 20-22, 2012International WindowFilm Conference and Tint-Off™Sponsored by WINDOW FILMmagazine and the InternationalWindow Film Association (IWFA)Kentucky International Convention CenterLouisville, Ky.Contact: WINDOW FILMmagazine at 540/720-5584 or visit www.windowfilmmag.com/IWFC

October 30-November 2, 2012SEMA Show 2012Sponsored by the Specialty Equipment Market AssociationLas Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, Nev.Contact: www.semashow.com

ARCHITECTURAL FILM EVENTS

March 26-28, 2012NFRC Spring 2011 Committee WeekSponsored by the NationalFenestration Rating Council (NFRC)Omni Austin Hotel-DowntownAustin, TexasContact: NFRC at 301/589-1776

April 12-13, 2012Glass TEXpo™Co-sponsored by the Texas Glass Association and USGlass,WINDOW FILM and Door and Window Manufacturer magazinesEl Tropicano Riverwalk HotelSan Antonio, TexasContact: www.usglassmag.com/texpo

May 17-19, 2012American Institute of ArchitectsConvention and Design ExpositionOrganized by the American Institute of Architects Walter E. Washington Convention CenterWashington, D.C.Contact: www.aia.org

September 20-22, 2012InternationalWindow FilmConferenceand Tint-Off™Sponsored by WINDOW FILMmagazine and the International Window Film Association (IWFA)Kentucky International Convention CenterLouisville, Ky.Contact: WINDOW FILMmagazine at 540/720-5584 or visitwww.windowfilmmag.com/IWFC WF

Send your events to editor Katie O’Mara at

[email protected].


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http://www.semashow.com

http://www.usglassmag.com/texpo

http://www.aia.org



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ADVERTISING INDEXPage Company Phone Fax Web Address

For more information on these companies’ products, visit http://products.windowfilmmag.com.

catch the latest headlines from news stories affecting today’s market• watch current and past episodes of the FILM’d series • read thecurrent issue of WINDOW FILM • check out when industry events are

happening • subscribe to the WINDOW FILM e-newsletter • read industryblogs • search the WINDOW FILM magazine archives for past issues • get connected with

us on Twitter and Facebook • view new product information as seen in the latest issue• search the Online Buyer’s Guide and industry classifieds • participate in surveys affectingour industry • update your subscription • meet the editorial staff • and so much more!

Bookmark www.windowfilmmag.com today!

Windowfilmmag.com is your newssource for the film industry

Windowfilmmag.com is your newssource for the film industry

1 3M 866/499-8857 651/733-5502 www.3M.com

33 Avery Dennison 440/878-7214 440/878-7319 www.nano-fusion.net

12-13 Commonwealth Laminating & Coating 888/321-5111 276/632-0173 www.suntekfilms.com

45 Global Window Films 866/664-5622 813/814-2080 www.globalwindowfilms.com

46 HanitaTek Window Films 800/660-5559 262/754-3776 www.hanitatek.com

28-29, 39 International Window Film Conference & Tint-Off™ 540/720-5584 540/720-5687www.windowfilmmag.com/IWFC

C2 Johnson Window Films 800/448-8468 310/631-6672 www.johnsonwindowfilms.com

16-17 Madico 800/225-1926 888/553-8468 www.madico.com

3 NDFOS Window Film 82-2-782-7790 82-2-782-9284 www.ndfos.com

8-9 Nexfil USA 310/516-8986 310/538-1137 www.nexfilusa.com

11 Scorpion Window Film 800/843-9087 765/653-7175 www.scorpionwindowfilm.com

22-23 Solar Gard 877/345-9478 858/514-4231 www.solargard.com

19 Solutia’s Performance Film Division 314/674-1000 314/674-1585 www.solutia.com

7 U.S. Film Crew 877/946-3693 412/798-0900 www.usfilmcrew.com

43 WINDOW FILM Magazine 540/720-5584 540/720-5687 www.windowfilmmag.com

4-5 Wintech Window Films 888/983-3356 714/522-1448 www.wintechusa.com

15 Zola Distributing 866/994-7060 614/652-3693 www.zolatools.com


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http://www.nano-fusion.net

http://www.suntekfilms.com

http://www.globalwindowfilms.com

http://www.hanitatek.com

http://www.johnsonwindowfilms.com

http://www.madico.com

http://www.ndfos.com

http://www.nexfilusa.com

http://www.scorpionwindowfilm.com

http://www.solargard.com

http://www.solutia.com



http://www.wintechusa.com

http://www.zolatools.com

http://products.windowfilmmag.com







You’ll find Woody Richartz atExpress Tinting workinglate into the night seven

days a week. This owner spendshis waking hours installing auto-motive, residential, commercial,vehicle wraps, paint protectionand marine projects. However,Richartz started out small doingwork for friends.

“I got starteddoing backyardautomotive jobsfor friends,” saysRichartz. “I appliedfor a job in 1995 ata tint shop inVirginia Beach. Ithought I knewhow to tint, but Ididn’t. They taughtme the right way todo it.

Now, over 16 years later Richartzstill finds enjoyment in his work.“Your project ends quickly and

you can see the results of whatyou have created usually in lessthan a day,” says Richartz. “It’s notlike you are on a project for sixmonths. I think I would get boredquickly with something like that.The reason that Richartz stands

out is his dedication to his cus-tomers. He is not satisfied untiland unless his customer is satis-fied with the end result.“I just try to be fair and I don’t try

to get rich overnight,” saysRichartz. “I tell my customers thatwe have a 100 percent satisfactionguarantee. If the job isn’t done tothe customer’s specs I will pay them

to go get it done somewhere else aslong as it comes back looking better.The customer’s satisfaction is ourultimate goal. We give scratch war-ranties in case they scratch a win-dow or if they get a window brokenout we will tint it for free.”Hector Cavazos is the manager

of Express Tinting Hampton loca-tion. He nominated Richartz as aFilm Star™ because of his respectfor his employer.“He is worthy of being a Film Star

because he delivers nothing butpremier window film installationsin Hampton Roads and gets the jobdone right with over 16 years expe-rience,” says Cavazos. “He is trulyan expert in commercial, residen-tial, automotive and marine.”Richartz is constantly working on

a variety of projects. He has already

worked on some of his favorite carsand been able to install film onsome impressive buildings.“I have pretty much done it all. I

did an Oldsmobile 88 and onepiece back window last year forthe first time. I’ve done 3 or 4Berettas in one piece. I have done30 story buildings and I’ve alsodone just one window jobs. I don’tknow of anything I haven’t done,”says Richartz. “Flat glass is proba-bly my favorite. You get to see dif-ferent houses and buildings. I canget a lot of work done in a shortperiod of time—5,000 square feetin one day. One of my favorite proj-ects was working on the USAAinsurance building. We did all exte-rior work on 1,000 skylights.” WF

Dedicated to FilmWoody Richartz, Express Tinting,Virginia Beach,Va.

INSTALLER PROFILES

Do you know someone who is a star among window film tinters? Then wewant to hear from you with your nominations for “Film Stars.” Email KatieO’Mara at [email protected] your nominations.

WoodyRichartz

Richartz and his company, ExpressTinting, completed a job with black-out film on windows at the NorfolkInternational Airport.



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Finally—A Tint Tool thatTrims Wasted Time

Your time and materials are valuable—maximize both with InfoZone™, Hanita Coatings’ new

iPhone App. InfoZone calculates how much film you need in each width for your entire job,

trimming time and increasing accuracy from the old paper and calculator method. You can

even email the results to your shop to get a start on the project. Plus the glass breakage

warranty info is right on your iPhone or iPod touch.

Trim your budget and your time spent. Get InfoZone. It’s Free.

Learn more at www.hanitatek.com/app.

And our film is pretty great too.

800.660.5559 www.hanitatek.com facebook.com/hanitatek


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storming back from katrina · volume 16, issue 2 •march-april 2012 a publication for the entire...

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