Prowling USA Window Film
I wrote the post below one year ago.
It took me a bit longer than you'd have thought to lose the 3M DNA in my blood. But now, two years plus of independence has given me the time and distance I needed to focus on different priorities.
Windowfilmusa.com
So. .it isn't quite as interesting for me to help my competition get better or improve their portfolio.
In fact it's become our competitive advantage.
4/2/08
Old habits die hard.
Many of my dealer associates tell me that I am still thinking like I did when I was National Sales Manager of 3M Window Film.
Why would I care how the window film dealers are doing in the North East USA or the West Coast?
Who cares how much film is being sold in Jacksonville, Ft. Myers or Miami?
Does the Sun still bake'em in Phoenix and Scottsdale??
Geography and climate conditions differ from region to region and economic pressures create unique dynamics in each marketing area. The level of competition and the number of "schmucks with trucks" competing against legitimate window film business people can truly stagger the mind.
I keep involved because the "matrix" of window film and tinting throughout the USA is inexorably connected to what has happened, or will happen here in Florida.
Is the "Greening" movement actually gaining traction in LA?
Is "Global Warming" a selling point?
How does the housing downturn and rising foreclosure rates effect consumer confidence and stability?
Are the manufacturers of window film experimenting in a specific market either adding dealers randomly, or protecting their dealers marketing area?
If you are a dealer who reads this blog let me give you one piece of solid advice:
Your window film manufacturer has no clue in showing you how to remain a profitable or sustainable business!
If you are looking for some brilliant "Eureka!" moment from your manufacturer sales rep or distributor, your battle is already lost.
Here are some pointed questions that you need to ask yourself:
Call if you have questions. Join the dozens of your fellow dealers who have found a better way to be profitable with people that value you and your business.
Mike Feldman
877-575-3456
E-Mail
It took me a bit longer than you'd have thought to lose the 3M DNA in my blood. But now, two years plus of independence has given me the time and distance I needed to focus on different priorities.
Windowfilmusa.com
So. .it isn't quite as interesting for me to help my competition get better or improve their portfolio.
In fact it's become our competitive advantage.
4/2/08
Old habits die hard.
Many of my dealer associates tell me that I am still thinking like I did when I was National Sales Manager of 3M Window Film.
Why would I care how the window film dealers are doing in the North East USA or the West Coast?
Who cares how much film is being sold in Jacksonville, Ft. Myers or Miami?
Does the Sun still bake'em in Phoenix and Scottsdale??
Geography and climate conditions differ from region to region and economic pressures create unique dynamics in each marketing area. The level of competition and the number of "schmucks with trucks" competing against legitimate window film business people can truly stagger the mind.
I keep involved because the "matrix" of window film and tinting throughout the USA is inexorably connected to what has happened, or will happen here in Florida.
Is the "Greening" movement actually gaining traction in LA?
Is "Global Warming" a selling point?
How does the housing downturn and rising foreclosure rates effect consumer confidence and stability?
Are the manufacturers of window film experimenting in a specific market either adding dealers randomly, or protecting their dealers marketing area?
If you are a dealer who reads this blog let me give you one piece of solid advice:
Your window film manufacturer has no clue in showing you how to remain a profitable or sustainable business!
If you are looking for some brilliant "Eureka!" moment from your manufacturer sales rep or distributor, your battle is already lost.
Here are some pointed questions that you need to ask yourself:
- Does your brand of film offer the consumer the best solution?
- Is there are price of entry? Do you need to pay a fee to carry their product?
- Is that fee justified by the product performance, territory protection and trust that you'd expect for this fee?
- Can you win solely based on a brand promise? Do consumers care about that brand and are they driven by loyalty?
- Do you have to exaggerate your film performance to close an order?
- Aside from talk, does your manufacturer support your marketing efforts with national media or adverting?
- Are you already carrying a better priced, better value and better looking window film?
- Does your manufacturer back you up when there are quality issues, or do they "throw you under the bus?"
- Are you branding yourself rather than your manufacturer's logo? This is critical because your advertising investment can be used by the new competition they have set up or will be setting up in your town.
- Do you receive leads from your manufacturer, or are they handing these leads over to that new competitor or their preferred national bus depot dealer who only pretends to have an office in your town?
- Do they treat you like a partner or rather like an entry level employee?
- Have they recently raised your film pricing without improving their quality or performance? Certainly you are aware of the competitive pricing for the very same film without their re-boxing add-on costs! Is it costing you an "arm and a leg" to drop your installed price while their film price only increases?
- Can you continue to mislead your clients that a film that can not pass the hurricane test is stronger than films that did under the exact same conditions?
- Do you have a bad case of "logo-phobia?"
Call if you have questions. Join the dozens of your fellow dealers who have found a better way to be profitable with people that value you and your business.
Mike Feldman
877-575-3456
Posted by Mike Feldman at 5/5/2009 4:29 AM 
Categories: Consulting Coaching
Tags: Window film consulting
Categories: Consulting Coaching
Tags: Window film consulting
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