Newsworthy - Window Film

Volume 15, Issue 3 - May-June 2011

Newsworthy

EVENT NEWS
Tint-Off ’11 Opens to Record Numbers
Registration opened in early April for the International Window Film Tint-Off and Conference™, which will be held September 15-17 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn.

“First week contestant registration numbers are at an all-time high and competitor registration is quickly filling up,” says event director Holly Biller. Contestant registration closes August 19 and no on-site registration is available. The early-bird deadline for attendee pre-registration is May 31, and pre-registration runs through September 2.

Co-sponsored by the International Window Film Association (IWFA) and Window Film magazine, the event will provide two-days of educational sessions, quality networking events and a chance to showcase some of the best automotive tinters in the business. IWFA members do receive a discount when registering.

“We are so pleased to be able to work with the IWFA to bring this event to the window film industry once again,” says Holly Biller. “I have already received a record – high number of Tint-Off contestant registrations in the first week so I know the technicians are as excited as I am and we’re really looking forward to being in Memphis!”

Previous winners have been weighing in on the competition’s importance and what new competitors should prepare for.

“The thing that I like the most about competitions is that you learn from the other installers,” says Les Helton of Performance Window Tinting in Carrollton, Ga., and the 2008 Tint-Off winner. “When you work with the same guys all the time you really don’t learn new things because you are all doing the same thing all the time. When you go to that competition you can open your mind up to new ideas, tools and techniques.”

The Tint-Off grows every year, but competition veterans have first-hand experience with what installers should or shouldn’t do on event days.

“Do 200 percent that day because those three judges are like your worst customer,” advises 2008 second-place winner Chris Brooks of Kauff’s Kustom Tint & Graphics in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. “That’s what you are supposed to do everyday anyway. Every job is supposed to look great before it leaves your shop.”

“Don’t forget any tools,” adds Helton. “I’ll write a list out several weeks in advance and every car that I work on for the two weeks prior I will remember what tool I needed for that specific car. You have to be prepared for anything.”

At this year’s event, the first place winner will be awarded $10,000. Second place will win $3,000 and third place will merit a $1,000 prize. In addition to cash prizes, the first place winner will be awarded a trophy and a Winning Champion’s leather jacket.

Stay tuned to Window Film magazine and windowfilmmag.com for more information as the September 15-17 dates approach.

COMPANY NEWS
Sunset Glass Tinting Named National Dealer of the Year by 3M
Sunset Glass Tinting of Houston, Texas was named National Dealer of the Year by 3M in February. Other dealers were also recognized by 3M as Dealer of the Year for their region of the country including Brower Tinting & Graphics of Seattle, Wash. (Northwest), Metro Solar of New York, N.Y. (Northeast), Solar Tint of Cincinnati, Ohio (Midwest), Carolina Solar Security of Raleigh, N.C. (Southeast), Climate Insulating Products of San Francisco, Calif. (Southwest), The Tint and Trim Factory of Albuquerque, N.M. (Rocky Mountain), Shades of Texas of Austin, Texas (Southern), ATD Solar & Security of Frederick, Md. and Solar Eclipse of Washington, D.C. (Mid Atlantic). New Dealers of the Year were also recognized and included American Window Tinting of Fayetteville, Ark. and Sun Solutions in Williamston, S.C.

“We are extremely proud of our network of hardworking independent window film dealers, and look forward each year to celebrating their successes, exploring new product developments and sharing best practices in the commercial, residential and automotive sectors,” said Peter Eisenberg, U.S. business leader with 3M’s Renewable Energy Division.

Advanced Window Solutions Named National Dealer of the Year by Solutiaa
Advanced Window Solutions of Cortlandt Manor, New York was named “National Dealer of the Year” by St. Louis-based window film manufacturer Solutia, Inc. The company was chosen from more than 350 dealers across the country that are members of Solutia’s Vista dealer program.

Also receiving awards were Custom Sun Control of Marietta, Ga. who won the Southeast Region Dealer of the Year award, Suntrol of Bedford Heights, Ohio which took home the Midwest Region Dealer of the Year award, Spokane Sunscreen of Spokane, Wash. who won the Western Region Dealer of the Year award, and Sunbusters Window Tinting of Austin, Texas who took home its second consecutive Texas Region Dealer of the Year award.

“I was shocked, but extremely honored to be named Solutia’s National Vista Dealer of the year for 2010,” said Marc Vitaliani, co-owner of Advanced Window Solutions. “Both I, and my business partner, Ross Jurman continuously strive to better ourselves and make our company the best it could be. We are fortunate to be part of such a progressive and innovative thinking manufacturer in Solutia.”

ASSOCIATION NEWS
IWFA Announces Creation of Members Action Committee
The International Window Film Association (IWFA) has announced the creation of the new Members Action Committee (MAC). The committee’s purpose will be to develop programs to assist current dealer and distributor members as well as attract new members to the association.

While the committee is being organized, Jack Mundy has volunteered as a temporary chair of the committee. The committee chair will be an advisory member of the board of directors.

“The mission of the Member’s Action Committee is to develop, deliver and manage programs, activities and incentives both to benefit existing dealer and distributor members, while attracting new members and to provide input and participants to other IWFA functional committees,” says Mundy. “The Member’s Action Committee is in its infancy stages, and the first major project was to act on behalf of the IWFA to co-sponsor the IWFE with Window Film magazine. This is a major undertaking, and it is the committee’s goal to work in conjunction with other interested parties to put on educational sessions for the dealer market segment, and to showcase the IWFA as an organization that is vital to the future of our industry.”

The committee is open to any dealers or distributors that are currently members of the IWFA.

“Upcoming activities will be oriented around programs and incentives to keep existing dealer members, and to significantly increase membership at the dealer level,” adds Mundy. “The MAC will also have representation on other IWFA functional committees, and this will ensure that the dealer/distributor voices and input will be available within the IWFA, and this will be a win/win situation for our trade association. The current members of the MAC are mainly from the dealer category, and they are very enthusiastic and interested in activities and programs that will help to sustain and grow membership, particularly at the dealer level. “