Tampa's Number One Window Tinting Installation Company

The window film business in Tampa has been my obsession since the 1990's.  Back then I was the 3M sales rep for window film and eventually became the National Sales Manager for 3M Window Film.

My interest was strictly speaking focused on homes and commercial applications of window film. Throughout the last ten years of my 33 years at 3M I absorbed a fair amount of window film knowledge and in particular the competitive (to 3M landscape)

In 2007 when I "retired" from 3M my objective was to launch a new concept window film installation company serving the entire Tampa Bay area.

Taking On The Frozen Chosen was our original objective but that has evolved through the last four years.

The solutions we would offer were in every category superior in performance, appearance and investment cost to the 3M made or re-boxed films.

We thought that we knew the obstacles that would face us as we began.  After all I had paid attention throughout the previous years and having had first hand experience with some of the most successful dealers in the USA.

 I had a huge advantage compared with a typical start up dealership.



Tampa consumers were aware of the 3M window film because of the local 3M dealer Solar Security.  They had done a magnificent job of grabbing awareness through a myriad of advertising and marketing investment. 

My goal was to offer superior value with superior products never taking a back seat to 3M.

Three years later and Advanced Film Solutions has developed into one of the largest VISTA and Huper Optik Window Film installation companies in the USA.  Our footprint has grown throughout the USA as we expanded at first to Orlando and Sarasota and eventually with Window Film USA the entire country.



Locally our car tinting business has grown in leaps and bounds based upon the support and performance of our FormulaOne , Huper Optik and LLumar Brands.

The challenge throughout these last four years is to continue to develop solutions that match our clients requirements.



We augmented our portfolio with Solar Gard, Armorcoat Security films when they announced they had passed the ASTM 1886 C missile impact and cycling test that Vista and LLumar had previously met.  The Madico and Sunscape Select series were added as well. To compete against the prestige 70 we added the Geoshield Lumenesse Films and their Iris ceramic film. 

The Huper Optik Ceramic Films had already given us a competitive advantage over the prestige 40 and 50.

Our focus on competing against 3M and their home depot, budget blinds dealers along with their direct dealers has changed as we see less of 3M and more of the low cost- low quality shops in our area.



Our daily competition evolved from 3M window film to film dealers for LLumar, Solar Gard and the growing low cost SunTek film dealers.

Strategically we added SunTek and Hanita to defend our market share from these bottom feeder dealers who typically try to undercut any price and do their own installations the moment they capture a sale. They also typically work out of their truck or behind a car wash. 


Our strategy has been to offer the best solutions and warranty with films that are superior in every respect.

BUT

We are aggressively positioned to win against the local yokels who sell a me too generic re-boxed tint.

Obviously there are situations where we walk.

But if we can defeat some Craig's list advertiser or a guy who pins his card up at a local Pizza joint- -we enjoy beating them.

Nearly 4,000 homes and businesses completed and 5,000 cars done since May 2007 during a recession and no hurricanes - -well our plan so far has met expectations.



The challenge as always is to remain relevant. To meet our clients requirements and to offer the best films and the very best brands. 

We never assume a sale but rather take the time to explain the differences between the films we offer.

Of course we understand more than most that consumers continue to respond well to that 3M logo and their brand.   Seriously, how else would they be able to charge twice as much for a film that costs the same simply by setting up a kiosk at a Home Depot store? 

As a 3M veteran of 33 years I knew the advantage of representing a well known brand name.  Our competitive advantage is knowing and demonstrating our superiority in every respect and countering disinformation concerning their films actual performance.

We simply ask that consumers do their shopping based on factual comparisons like the NFRC .

We win on the glass!

Call Advanced Film Solutions
Toll Free 877-575-3456

 

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