What future does window film have?

V4V · January 14, 2012

We are participating in a business that is heavily impacted by this terrible economy. That tends to make "the glass seem half tinted?"

No it isn't easy and everyone should keep an eye open for new opportunities but. .

Howard is correct.

As long as the Sun shines and glass replacement costs run high there will be a market for us. You know there's a huge market just driving around and seeing how many cars have clear glass. You know it when you complete a home or commercial property and every other store or home on that block has clear glass with the same issues your client solved with your window film.

The recession has worn us down as an industry and it's wrecked many of our associates. No one is immune.

Stay lean and mean. Get creative and focus on what works. Augment your approach with designer films and get out of your comfort zone by networking or learning new skills.

Spring and Summer is coming. .

(Of course if you compete directly against my company- -don't listen to me. Why not quit and open a lawn mowing service?) ;-)

January 14, 2012

(Of course if you compete directly against my company- -don't listen to me. Why not quit and open a lawn mowing service?) ;-)

:lol2

F1windowtinting · January 14, 2012

There will be a market for retro fit solar films for a fair number of years to come, many older buildings still have basig glazing systems in place now and it is cost prohibitive to replace the glass with new. As contractors and building owners become more conscious of energy conservation, they will encorporate smart glass into new construction, particularly when they get tax incentives to do so. The deco market in my market grows every year. As technology grows I expect to see more and more options for deco suppliers. At some point I expect to see a affordable option for a shop to do in house deco printing.

Good point.

I finished a project last week of a building where they had high performance low E glass and spec'd a high performance film. They figured that a 9k in film was a better option than replacing their new glass with an even more highperformance glass costing in the 30k range

F1windowtinting · January 14, 2012

I need to find the link but I know this exists:

In 2011 the DOE estimated that over 74% of existing glass is inefficient. There is plenty of glass out there to put film on and it will be that way for a while but I always have admired and heeded this quote from Wayne Gretzky; "I always play to where the puck is going..."

That number could even be higher :thumb

F1windowtinting · January 14, 2012

Clients with single pane glass can really enjoy the benefits of a film with a SHGC of .28 or lower

If the right approach in sales is taken LowE films could be the best answer for upgrading existing older glass types for our future industry. That new glass out there is not cheap!

Fiveofeen · January 14, 2012

We are burried in installations right now and lots of bids going out but not for solar film.

Digital print decorative film is really booming. And were printing a lot of it.

We've been working toward a goal for the past 6 years and we should do it this year. I wish I could say the same for solar and safety films but I don't see those markets returning like they were for a long time if ever. Here's why.

1. Market saturation. Most residential customers that could buy film have already done so during the construction boom. There will always be some homes but not enough to sustain the number of tinters.

2. Seal failure. The one's that have not failed are inching closer to seal failure with every passing day. A lot of cheap vinyl windows were used in homes and 7 years is normal life expectancy which means they are not going to spend money tinting a 10 year old home full of bad windows.

3. New technologies. When a tornado destroyed most of the glass at the St. Louis Airport they used custom manufactured blast glass. Not film.

4. Architectural design. Most architects we meet with are using new glass technologies in construction and unless the building owner is retro fitting an older building film is not considered.

5. What's left in solar/safety film industry? Older window film applications failing on commercial buildings is about it. You just love that CDF adhesive removel!

6. Consolidation of film manufacturers. Notice who is buying the solar film companies at bargin basement prices? Why would they want them and what will they do with them? Get the picture?

I conclusion Ithink it's safe to say there will be auto tinting to do for awhile but you never know what laws the politicians are dreaming of and the entry barrier to auto tint is cheap so competition is everywhere.

Where do we go now? Architectural decorative film, digital graphics, vehicle wraps, vinyl signs and logos mixed in with what window film we can do. I have really enjoyed this industry for the past 30 years but technology has caught up with it and if you don't keep looking for new cheese you'll starve cause it keeps moving.

Had we not focused on digitally printed film and graphics we would be gone. So what do my industry peers think?

You've obviously read the book "Who moved my Cheese"... good read

That is a great book among many that we should all be reading. There is no single trick or scheme to succeeding but one thing I hope we all do is continue to learn, encourage and improve ourselves and our coworkers/employees. As long as we continue to grow we are on the right track. Like Rob mentioned, go where the puck is going not where it is right now. Once you think you have it all figured out, you are probably in trouble.

My view on this industry industry is that it is going in two different directions.The industry is splitting up to cater to two types of businesses and only one of these is going to survive and profit for the long haul. The other will slowly put itself out of business. There is tremendous opportunity but it does not look the same as it did ten years or even five years ago, things are far more advanced when it comes to the technical and marketing side of things. The classic rules of how to conduct your business from an ethics standpoint are more important than ever but if you aren't advancing and understanding the technical and marketing side, things are likely to just get tougher.

I'm a quote junkie and love this one

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results." If it isn't working, you need to do something differently.