The Wacky World Of Window Tinting
Somewhere in a quiet room I envision a fellow window film person reading my posts.
You are a vital part of my audience, and I always keep that in mind.
You should know that I literally stumbled into writing this blog shortly after my exit from 3M in early 2007. (That's a topic you won't read about in this blog!)
I wanted to write a simple blog as an adjunct to my Advanced Film Solutions website. The Godaddy site seemed perfect since I had purchased several domain names at the same time with the absurd premise that we would grow so large an unscrupulous competitor would scoop up a domain that might sound very close to mine.
I recall several similar instances of "name theft" when I worked at 3M.
In one case a successful dealer in Orlando had built up a solid reputation under the name Tint By Masters. (He had "coincidentally borrowed the name concept from a former boss in Phoenix who named his company Accent By Masters)
Another window tint shop nearby changed the name of his company to Tint Masters in an obvious attempt to confuse the local gentry. Lawsuits or threats of same ensued and eventually the original Tint By Master guy won his battle, and as far as I know the loser is now slinging 3M window film for a local distributor. (I'd love to observe that sales call!)
As it turned out the internet search engines seem to "like" blogs more than I had supposed. An innocuous post would surface higher than my detailed website .
Once I realized this was occurring I began to focus on the blog as part of my morning ritual.
The company and this blog have evolved during the last three and a half years. We've had challenges that any small business owner would have faced during this time.
(I'd throw in some medical issues that might have persuaded some others to relent a bit. .but my feeling sorry for myself days have long passed! Self pity can really muck things up and won't help close a sale!)
Starting a business during a recession can only seem brilliant if the company succeeds.
Success is measured by getting out there every day and winning your fair share. We have done that by any objective measurement given our more than 3700 homes and 4,000 cars since we opened. (If I told you the $$ of film purchased you'd think I was fibbing.)
So it turned out that having this blog helped my ranking position on Google, which in turn helped my lead generation from the Internet from the population of consumers researching window film solutions for their home, business , or vehicle.
That realization altered my approach from a daily diary or acting like an academic professor of tinting, to the more free wheeling approach I currently employ.
I am somewhat unique by having spent so many days in the past in discussing all aspects of this business with independent window film dealers across the USA.
I actually paid attention to their bragging and their complaints. The complaints outweighed the joy by a healthy measure. Still I envied their independence and fortitude. No politics, butt kissing, or namby pamby baloney.
Dealers are isolated from their suppliers and their competition (literally everyone else!)
We pick and choose which brands we represent and try to leverage them as well as we can.
There is a balance between cost, performance, brand reputation and post installation consumer satisfaction. We have installer issues, cash flow concerns and the constant demand of reacting to today's critical issues, while simultaneously thinking about the short term future and long term planning.
Since there is no obvious blueprint for success in any business and in particular this window film business, you take risks and earn the reward (or simply pretend you've learned from your failures.)
Everyone has a suggestion or critique about what you might have done or should do. The difference is that you are the one making that call, and win or lose the burden is always on you.
Forgive my rambling approach in this post. What I am trying to say is that my blog has a myriad of goals all competing for space on these pages:
Why would you pay any attention to me?
You already know the answer to that question, don't you?
If you have any questions call me at 727-481-5467 my cell phone.
Mike Feldman
You are a vital part of my audience, and I always keep that in mind.
You should know that I literally stumbled into writing this blog shortly after my exit from 3M in early 2007. (That's a topic you won't read about in this blog!)
I wanted to write a simple blog as an adjunct to my Advanced Film Solutions website. The Godaddy site seemed perfect since I had purchased several domain names at the same time with the absurd premise that we would grow so large an unscrupulous competitor would scoop up a domain that might sound very close to mine.
I recall several similar instances of "name theft" when I worked at 3M.
In one case a successful dealer in Orlando had built up a solid reputation under the name Tint By Masters. (He had "coincidentally borrowed the name concept from a former boss in Phoenix who named his company Accent By Masters)
Another window tint shop nearby changed the name of his company to Tint Masters in an obvious attempt to confuse the local gentry. Lawsuits or threats of same ensued and eventually the original Tint By Master guy won his battle, and as far as I know the loser is now slinging 3M window film for a local distributor. (I'd love to observe that sales call!)
As it turned out the internet search engines seem to "like" blogs more than I had supposed. An innocuous post would surface higher than my detailed website .
Once I realized this was occurring I began to focus on the blog as part of my morning ritual.
The company and this blog have evolved during the last three and a half years. We've had challenges that any small business owner would have faced during this time.
(I'd throw in some medical issues that might have persuaded some others to relent a bit. .but my feeling sorry for myself days have long passed! Self pity can really muck things up and won't help close a sale!)
Starting a business during a recession can only seem brilliant if the company succeeds.
Failure would have ready excuses.
So it turned out that having this blog helped my ranking position on Google, which in turn helped my lead generation from the Internet from the population of consumers researching window film solutions for their home, business , or vehicle.
That realization altered my approach from a daily diary or acting like an academic professor of tinting, to the more free wheeling approach I currently employ.
I am somewhat unique by having spent so many days in the past in discussing all aspects of this business with independent window film dealers across the USA.
I actually paid attention to their bragging and their complaints. The complaints outweighed the joy by a healthy measure. Still I envied their independence and fortitude. No politics, butt kissing, or namby pamby baloney.
Dealers are isolated from their suppliers and their competition (literally everyone else!)
We pick and choose which brands we represent and try to leverage them as well as we can.
There is a balance between cost, performance, brand reputation and post installation consumer satisfaction. We have installer issues, cash flow concerns and the constant demand of reacting to today's critical issues, while simultaneously thinking about the short term future and long term planning.
Imagine a thousand different people each with their opinions and history. A thousand different methods of selling and marketing.
Since there is no obvious blueprint for success in any business and in particular this window film business, you take risks and earn the reward (or simply pretend you've learned from your failures.)
Everyone has a suggestion or critique about what you might have done or should do. The difference is that you are the one making that call, and win or lose the burden is always on you.
Forgive my rambling approach in this post. What I am trying to say is that my blog has a myriad of goals all competing for space on these pages:
- I want to show consumers why they should select my company above all others.
- Initially I wanted that for Tampa, but as time passed I expanded that goal to Sarasota and Orlando; later with Window Film USA to the country.
- I did that because I knew our business model was unique. We offered all of the leading brands other than 3M Window Film. I knew I couldn't logically lose to any 3M Window Film dealer simply because the consumer would be educated by me concerning the documented superiority of the solution.
Certainly everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts!
- I am not attempting to teach my competition anything.
If they want to copy what I do- -that's a viable strategy. I might moan a bit when I see dozens of dealers copying my writing or using my website guy, But heck; he's got to make a living and why would I care?
- I brag about successes but only within the confines of my self imposed limits. You learn to be humble in window film because each day brings you different scenarios. You might win today yet lose on a low price bid tomorrow.
- Consumers are like a vacuum when it comes to this business. They know very little, if anything, about window film. That's why they can be easily hoodwinked by a famous brand like 3M, or told that the cheapest films are equal to brands like Huper Optik or Vista .
Educating them is one of my primary goals.
- I don't delegate very well. I've seen that many of my associates throughout the USA step back and let younger people do their sales for them. I understand the concept of letting go, but. .
- If the game is on the line in the bottom of the 9th inning and I can bat with two outs and the winning run on third, I take that opportunity to hit.
In the long run Advanced Film Solutions will have to succeed without me.
Right now--it's batter up!
- I have begun to discover how to enjoy myself running my own business (at least once in a while!)
BUT
- I have not figured out how to stop thinking about window film, or winning (for me the exact same thing!) perhaps someday?
Back to you in that room reading this post.
Why would you pay any attention to me?
You already know the answer to that question, don't you?
If you have any questions call me at 727-481-5467 my cell phone.
Mike Feldman
Posted by Mike Feldman at 8/22/2010 8:30 AM 
Categories: Humor Unusual Weird
Tags: blogging window film
Categories: Humor Unusual Weird
Tags: blogging window film
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