itintforlife

Fusion Tools are rocking with QUALITY

Thank you for your advice!!  We've run a few ad campaigns through Facebook and Instagram, and it hasn't necessarily increased our reach. At the same time, it was our first few campaigns, but I feel like word of mouth is still the best marketing strategy. 

Both...you can do videos while tinting cars as well as walk around after the vehicle is completed.  We get a lot of views when we do videos showing off the clarity while driving done the road.  We actually need to do a lot more...we mainly upload photos made into a video which gets views, but seems to get a lot of dislikes from people.  

full-time firefighter/emt here.  24 on and 48 off.  generally the 48 i am off, i am slinging tint.  been doing this for several years.  my fulltime job pays my taxes, child support, and bills.  so what i make tinting is mine.
 

I've trained half a dozen people. We machine cut. I teach them running the plotter first, as it's main reason we hire them, but if they're serious about learning then we go to installation. 
 
After watching me install for a while I usually start them off doing small, no tuck, windows, so they have a grasp of handling film and dealing with squeegeeing a piece that slides around everywhere. Ask them to identify what they've done wrong, and ask them how to avoid doing that again. I can always tell what they did wrong, so I just tell them if they can't figure it out. Then we move on to squeegeeing film I've placed and tacked, so they get used to the hand motions and so I have a good installation(unless they crease it).
 
Really depends how busy we are. Teaching them to help me is first thing, then installation when it slows down. Have them work on one window once they learn the basics. Most of the time, with a fresh installer, I will have the entire vehicle finished by the time they get that 1 window done. They usually put a lot of pressure on themselves in that situation, so they will drive themselves harder. Nothing feels worse to them then when I've tinted an entire car and they haven't finished 1 window. I just smile and say to them it's part of learning. You aren't going to learn this in a day. You may understand installing, but you will need to train your muscles, hands, eyes. Takes time.

I'm not the best teacher in the world, and some of what S2S said I agree with...What I disagree with is letting them find their own way early on. .. I insist they learn my way until they are competent enough to install without supervision. I know my way works, and I know what happens and why, if steps are not done correctly. I have no interest in letting a newbie experament in the learning curve, and trying to figure out a way for everyone's different approach to be successful. .. Learn my way.. master it.. then if you can improve on it .. have at it. 

I started newbies by having them cut a picture out of window film they themselves applied to a piece of glass. We were big in window film graphics back in the eighties so there were plenty of liner tattooed pictures on display. Had them pick one they wanted to do. This gave me an idea of their working through challenges skills, how well they installed the film to the 12 x 12 glass and their ability to handle an olfa knife without cutting the glass, all in one fell swoop.
 
After the test and they start from scratch (not to the picture glass LOL) and if they don't show signs of 'getting it' within a couple months, window film installing may not be for them. Anyone with experience can see a bullshioter a mile away so, you'll know.
 
Show them how you do it but don't chastise or brow beat, if they work out a different approach than yours. I would start them the same way I approach each car. In other words break down your approach into segments (tiers if you will), they have to work at until moving on to the next. Don't be afraid to let them handle film, it will cost you money in time and film but, the sooner they know film handling the better. It'll cost you about the same to have them attend a training course (dependent upon cost of training) as it would to train them yourself.
 
Ask the newbie these questions:
Do you have any artistic skills (not autistic, artistic)? Many natural installers have an artist strain in their blood.
Can you play a musical instrument? Manual dexterity is a must.
Do you problem-solve like McGyver? Problem solving skills without the need to wait for or ask for guidance.
Have you ever installed vinyl, wallpaper, shelf-lining material, decals, etc.? Got at least a jump-start on those who have never done any of this.
 
In 18 of the 20 years I spent training newbies, I only spied 3-4 naturals. They are rare but they're out there. Had one, who appeared to be all thumbs, take the tool apron off halfway through day two saying this isn't for him. I could tell by the end of the first day who might succeed and who would be a nightmare in waiting. Women make the best tinters because they are already meticulous and methodical. I only had two men work in my shops over the course of the 80's to early 90's, one I let go after three months, the other turned out to be a she and a damn good tinter at that.
 
This isn't the gospel according to one trainer, it's simply my input to a subject that will bring about much input from those that have been there.
 
Good luck.
 
Edit: And in the words of Cheech or Chong, you don't need no stinkin' poll (to get your answers).