Sharing is Caring

By Tara Taffera

I don’t know why this headline popped in my head, or why it reminds me of a kindergarten slogan, but it somehow seems appropriate this month. I have heard many variations of this theme recently: why can’t we all just get along in the PPF and window film industries? Or put another way: Why can’t we just help our fellow tinters? I mean, I get it: no one wants to give away the secrets to the details of their perfect wrap to the guy down the street. But if a guy in Florida can give some general tips to a gal over in California, doesn’t it make the industry as a whole better? Some resolutely say yes, while others just as adamantly say no—let them fend for themselves.

All of this has been on my mind lately, and then I received the column on page 6 from Jamie Werner. It’s chock full of easy, useful tips for installing PPF, and I thought about how helpful this is for both new and long-time installers alike. Then at the end, Werner addressed that do-we-or-don’t-we question in the industry. Do we share our tips or let the newbies just figure it out as they go? He resoundingly said yes, but of course that ultimate decision is up to you.

If you are one of those in the yes column, and you want to meet and share ideas with your fellow installers, I encourage you to attend the Window Film Conference and Tint Off, to be held September 27-29 in San Antonio.

And in that vein, I will leave you with one final piece of advice from Werner.

“I’ve learned that there is so much more we as an industry can be doing shop by shop, but also as manufacturers. The awareness of PPF is getting better so that consumers push installers, who push manufacturers to make better products for the future. That includes both film and patterns. Since the bar is being set higher every day from the installer to the consumer, the bar is being raised all the time from installer to manufacturer. The installer is the backbone of our industry, and they are finally being heard.”

So here’s to you, the installer. I hope you enjoy this issue, and I look forward to seeing you at the show.

To view the laid-in version of this article in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.