The Inner Circle: 2008-The Year In Film-Window Film That Is!

The Inner Circle

Advanced Film Solutions WindowFilmUSA.COM

The Inner Circle: 2008-The Year In Film-Window Film That Is!

2008-The Year In Film-Window Film That Is!

Hands down this has been the most challenging year since the little boys at Madico (or was that 3M?) began tinting in 1900 or so!

Now of course no one ever mentions that most of my peers have seen their sales volume drop anywhere from 35-70% in a year/year comparison between 2008 and 2007. Or that 2007 tanked compared to 2006 and worse when compared to 2005.

Advertising and marketing budgets from the key industry leaders like CP Films and Bekaert are obviously tapped.

Call On Big Buildings & You Too Can Be "Dealer Of The Week!"

Manufacturers continue to make gagging and gurgling noises about their dealers advertising "Green Issues" or how their dealers really ought to go after BIG commercial jobs; while they sit tight on their 2008 price increases (never mind the fact that the oil prices have dropped to pre-2005 levels and add a growing number of ill trained and schmuck with truck type dealers!)

I won't pick on these film folks (yeah right!!) because quite honestly they are not in touch with their customers nor do they seriously grasp exactly who their customer is!

Here then, my list of the TOP TEN Window Film Stories Of The YEAR- 2008!

Sun Gard Goes Out Of Business- But- Is Reborn As Solamatrix
This one is clearly the most intriguing story of 2008 in this lunatic fringe business. They cease operations and their assets are sold off. The buyer maintains their old Sun Gard brand name and slowly tries to recapture their lost dealers, etc. All along the economy is the worst since Hoover was President. Now that's a story!
Geoshield Lumenesse and Iris Films:
Now this story is a close second and in some circles it's truly the Number 1 Story. The fellas at LSU create a film that stands toe to toe against 3M and their Prestige nano films and managed to grab the attention and imagination of Florida dealers many of whom had been loyal to 3M for years. Protected marketing areas, respect by the headquarters to their dealers requirements and a stunning film clarity and performance. This is the "Feel Good Story" of 2008.
The Crappy Economy
The story never mentioned by the Manufacturers while my peers whisper to each other just how bad it really is!
Fully 1/3 of my previous competitors have closed their doors. Car tinters are up the creek since they lost new car tinting customers (of course!)

There are practical steps that dealers and their favored brands can initiate to hold their market share as best as possible. Silly sales contests, phony awards and peer pressure have had their day, and that day sure as hell isn't NOW!
Huper Optik Gets NFRC Ratings Before Madico, 3M and Solar Gard!
Now just maybe I'm the only person who thinks that this is important; but so what! It tells me that a smaller company can be faster and smarter when it comes to meeting today's customers and their requirements. That a BRAND is only as good as the product they manufacture and the performance of these films on a real customer's glass! Keep your well known brand names; give us the better mousetrap!
No Hurricanes Hit Florida For Third Straight Year!
Despite my personal hyping every named storm (I actually wrote those two while having a heart attack!) in 2008; not one grew to hurricane strength and also hit Florida. Yeah; Fay was a wet storm for certain, but it never made the phones ring!
Manufacturers Make Some Heads Roll- While Others Seem To Keep Their Heads!
Do your own scorecard and figure out who is still standing and who has been knocked off? Which distributors are still there have been killed?

Now don't get me wrong; the poor economy obviously has that built in excuse that all of these corporate types offer any time their crappy sales numbers are mentioned. It's easy to manage when times are good; these are the times that talent wins out. If their numbers are tanking' throw them out! By the way; many of the current issues were easily predictable back in January 2008
The Professional Window Film Installer Association dies at birth!
Now this may be only somewhat interesting to me personally; but the concept was terrific. There were fatal flaws in the establishment and a general lack of enthusiasm. Unfortunately the issues that had fomented in early 2008 remain significant. Some day an association will need to be formed that protects the interests of the dealers and small businesses in this industry. The IWFA has become irrelevant in 2008. PERIOD!
RIP Yellow Pages:
Give up the ghost already! Yellow Pages are quite sincerely DEAD!
I Became A Nice Easy Going (Inspired By Nature) Guy!
My soft spoken nature and newly found sentimentality speak for itself. Humble, caring and "All Around Nice Guy! Talk about straight talking!
Crazy Elmo Demands Window Film