The Tintstitute Blog

Building a Community

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Mon, 05 Feb 2018 23:20:12 GMT

The Tintstitute - an overall effort to help improve professionalism and efficiency within the window film industry.

An online platform can only go so far, right? As much as we want to teach through our informative videos, you will only learn as much as you practice. There are months, even years, of planning that go into starting a business - location, expenses, potential revenue, hours of work, etc. So, why did we choose online?

It’s the most accessible platform to share what we know. It’s no secret that 88.5 % of the US population consistently used internet in 2016. With the advancement of technology, people are devouring bandwidths, downloading thousands of videos, songs, photos, and more on the daily. Being the most used platform, how could we avoid it?
You can access it anytime. Our hours of operation are 24/7. Whether you’re struggling with insomnia, or want to try a new technique while on the job, we have you covered. Not to mention, our videos are compatible with any device.
You can access it anywhere. We won’t get too ahead of ourselves here. You need a form of internet to watch our videos, and thankfully with upgraded cellular services, that can happen just about anywhere. Waiting in line for a sandwich? Learn a new tip.
It’s up to you - how much you want to learn, what you want to learn, dependent on your skill level - all at your own pace. Whether you want to quickly find a technique mid-tint at the shop, or want to thoroughly practice what you learned. Once our videos are uploaded to The Tintstitute, they stay there for access whenever you want. The beauty of no time constraints.
We firmly believe practice makes perfect. Learning definitions, tools, and techniques is a great way to get started and to fully understand the technique. That’s why we aren’t competition to traditional tint schools. Take your education to the next level by knowing the terms and tools before attending a brick and mortar, and use that knowledge to gain the experience.

Become a member, set up your device and get to learning - the overall mission of The Tintstitute is to help you succeed.

History of Tinting

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 18:31:11 GMT

Ridin' in style since the 1940s.

America - the land of the beautiful and creator of the tinting world. Flash back to the 1940s, post-World War II when Americans were riding low - Impala style. It didn’t take long for them to notice the heat blaring into their windows, and cue - the act of the window tinting.

Window film wasn’t the mechanism of window tinting used back in the day though. This was a time of window spray, where the resulting product was dark and usually uneven. Window film was invented in the 1966 and thankfully we advanced past spray. Although it was a good idea, it poorly rejected heat, which was the sole reason it was invented.

Dye-Based Films

Moving away from tint spray introduced window film. Dye-based films were an upgrade compared to spray-based, but also had their own set of problems. Heat caused these films to display unattractive bubbles and discoloration, which in turn reduced the amount of heat being reflected.

Metallic Films

The next advancement happened in the early 90s. This film was produced on transparent polyester and finally solved the problem of heat absorption with the metallic particles embedded in the film. As cars advanced, so did window film. Metallic films presented an issue of interfering with electronics and therefore a new window film was invented.

Ceramic Films

Longer lasting and no electronic interference made ceramic window films the top of the line and highly valuable. Providing maximum visible light while simultaneously cutting 45% to 50% of solar heat by infrared light, makes this film the most effective in terms of heat reduction.

About Us

An online collection of the most informative videos in the tinting industry, the Tintstitute aims to provide cutting edge resources to all skill levels - whether one wants to start tinting, or a seasoned professional is looking for technical detailing. And the videos don’t stop there - the duo provide entrepreneurial tips & tricks, workshops and more, including how to run a business, building your businesses reviews, or setting up your show room.

The Tintstitute is committed to delivering an educational experience to those interested in producing professional film installation and business operations.

6 Ways to Motivate Your Employees

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 21:02:39 GMT

Happy tinters, happy life.

Employee turnover varies within industries, with the food industry having the highest turnover rate of all. The tinting industry varies by shop - dependent on the way it’s run, the frequency of customers, and quality of work being produced. We decided to give 5 tips on how to motivate your employees to keep them around longer, so you can reduce the cost of turnover and training.

1. Incentives - Aside from your morning inspirational talks, real rewards are highly motivating for employees to produce quality work. Offer a percent commission to each employee for upsells or cross-sells. This will not only incentivize employees, but also help them learn price points of your products and services to develop customer service skills. Second option - Designate an upsell jar in your shop for tinters to place their name when they successfully upsell a product. The competitive edge of seeing other names in the jar will motivate them to talk to more customers.

2. Domino Effect - Energy goes a long way, quickly. If you notice negative energy, take the time the team member aside and talk through it. Some of the time, it can be an issue outside of work, but talking about it can help them clear the issue on their own and build a closer relationship. When the boss is having a rough day, there is more profound effect trickling down to the employees. If you’re having a difficult time pushing emotion aside, consider sitting the team down to let them know what you’re thinking.

3. Team Bonding - we’re not talking about those awkward team building activities where you hold hands and sing Kumbaya. We’re talking about fun activities people will enjoy rather than dread. Take it outside - studies show that people feel psychologically restored after 15 minutes of being outdoors. Going for a hike, getting happy hour, or visiting a local landmark. Don’t know the similar interests between everyone? Take a survey.

4. Lift Weights & Lift Spirits - It’s no secret that exercise improves mental health. Regular exercise has a profound impact on happiness and reduction of depression, stress, and more. The benefits of offering memberships to full-time employees include the expensive and unaffordable pricing of gyms, dependent on the area.

5. Involvement - provide volunteer opportunities for your team members. It may not be in their normal routine to donate time serving the community, so incentivizing with hourly pay may help. What’s the point of community service? One, studies show that companies that serve their community are more likely to increase their sales because community members see them as genuine and empathetic. Can’t afford to pay your employees for extra work? Try another incentive program - whoever volunteers the most hours, gets a $100 gift card of their choice. 90% of volunteers leave an event feeling good about making a difference. Also benefiting your business is the team bond it will provide your employees as they spend time together outside of work.

6. Small Business Collaboration - Name one interesting fact about every one of your employees. If you can’t, you don’t know them well enough. Small businesses need collaboration considering they have fewer resources than a corporate company. Your employees don’t necessarily need to be your friends, but enough of a relationship should be established to promote comfort in collaborating with you, as the owner.

How To Keep A Clean Shop

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 22:59:07 GMT

Fewer contaminants, happier customers.

A clean shop is a happy shop. Especially if your shop is in a sandy, dusty, or dirt-filled area. Not only does a clean shop present your business well to customers, it also helps your shop produce quality work with fewer contaminants. The more time you spend cleaning, the less time you will spend replacing contaminated window film.

Here are fool proof ways to keep your shop clean & customers happy:

Closed doors - It’s a given rule in the tinting industry, but how many shops actually follow it? It’s hard to keep them closed when you’re drained of the outdoor air.

Clean your floors at least once a week - we suggest using moto cleaner on concrete floors.

Walk backward with a peeled template, rather than forward. This allows for the a reduction in contamination as airborne particles don’t stick to the adhesive side of the template.

Wash your hands before installing film, each time.

Always squeegee off your glassboard or workstation before and after each template is placed

Replace your sprayer often if it is a pump. It will start wearing & will emit tiny plastic particles making it look like dirt specs.

No fans, No A/C

Never sweep, always mop

Checklists are the ideal way to make sure these tasks get done each week. There are plenty of tips & tricks to keeping your shop clean. It’s necessary to reduce dirt contamination as much as you can.

About Us

The Tintstitute is committed to delivering an educational experience to those interested in producing professional film installation and business operations.

10 Ways The Tintstitute Can Help You

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

A quick guide to how we’re here to see you succeed. The Tintstitute is not a competitor to a traditional tint school, we’re a supplement.

Started from the bottom, now we here

Our videos start at the beginning of the learning curve - introducing tools, brands, beginner techniques, and advancing from there. Interested in traditional schooling? Understand the principles before your first day, and spend the rest utilizing them.

2. At your own pace, anywhere

Stream videos from any device. Take the power of portable education into your own hands.

3. Wallet friendly

Invest in your future. The Tintstitute offers a variety of packages, benefitting our Members at multiple price points.

4. Redefining the industry

We’re opening the doors of a closed industry to share professional tips and techniques with motivated individuals.

5.Never one step behind

Access to new products, services, and techniques are at your fingertips with the evolution of the industry.

6. Cash back

Your Membership will put cash back in your wallet as you advance your professionalism and career.

7. Community

The Tintstitute isn’t just an online learning platform, it’s a community of like-minded individuals to openly discuss their experiences, knowledge, and opinions in the industry

8. Tinting plus

Once you are a member, you have access to new videos added weekly - ranging from window tinting to paint protection to entrepreneurial advice.

9. Experience

The founder & educator at The Tintstitute does the hands-on work every day. Consider the difference between learning a business course from a business professor, vs. the CEO of a company.

10. Professional

As a current shop owner of the leading tint shop in the region, Austin knows what he looks for in potential Tint Technicians - making his expertise the leading factor in deciding topics of the provided videos.

Signed up yet? Let me make it easy for you.

5 Reasons OLFA Really Is The “Best Made Cutting Tool In The World”

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Simply put - their motto rings true in the world of tinting. Precision is necessary when outlining window tint templates. Sliced to the very edge, OLFA will be your best tool.

1. Revolutionary Snap-Off

Don’t switch blades, snap it off. It’s really that simple. There are plenty of companies that have taken suit of the snap-off blade, but OLFA was the first.

2. Durable for days

OLFA products are known to last long, staying with their customers for years. There’s a possibility some knives have been with their customers for longer than you’ve been alive. Don’t believe me? Check out their reviews!

3. Versatile

There are plenty of brands that focus on more than one industry & do so mediocrely. OLFA is not one of those brands when it comes to blades. Their knives are highly regarded in industries ranging from aviation, to restaurant, to tinting.

4. Gold Metal

A statement is merely an opinion - until justified by an award . 46 OLFA products were awarded “Good Design Award ” and 33 more products boast the “GS mark” for safety.

5. Top Notch Customer Service

A business is only as good as its customers. With a dedicated fan base, OLFA proves to continue providing razor sharp customer service to their well-manufactured products. Customers need a brand they can trust, and OLFA is exactly that.

So where can you purchase OLFA blades? There are many options dependent on the tools you need. When we purchase new blades, we're usually also in need of other tools. We stick to either 44Tools or Interwest . But, if you're looking for JUST new blades, check out their website .

LLumar Full Steam Ahead

info@econcept.biz (Robert Shipman) — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 22:18:29 GMT

When Austin acquired his first tint shop in 2008, he was introduced to LLumar Window Film. After conducting hours of research on competitors and nearly 10 years later, he stays true to LLumar. Why?

As with every industry, there are a variety of manufacturers to choose from when supplying your tint shop - 3M, ASWF, SolarGard, LLumar, Sun-Gard, and more. What drives people to decide on a specific brand - Cost? Accessibility? Variety of films? How about - popularity?

At The Tintstitute, LLumar is our top choice for many reasons. LLumar not only lives up to the highest standards in the industry, they set the standards - being the only manufacturer to specialize solely in window film, making their product centralized. They take the time and use the resources to make sure they deliver a quality product - something they have succeeded at for nearly 60 years. We have compiled a list below to further discuss why The Tintstitute chooses LLumar:

Serves under the Eastman Chemical Company - the world’s leading manufacturer of high performance films
LLumar advertises statistics about their window film, providing details on the content of the film itself
Other manufacturers sell a variety of services and don’t focus on the quality of their film

Example: 3M contributes 3% of the company to window film

Longevity of their film outlives competitors
LLumar takes care of their dealers so the dealer can take care of their customer
LLumar takes lifetime warranty seriously - allowing customers to go to any LLumar dealer in the country with warranty issues
LLumar covers replacement and installation costs, making the customer experience cost and hassle-free

Don’t believe us? Read a forum, ask a peer, or try it out yourself.