Window Film, and Graphic Installations have come a long way. From an afterthought to what can be considered a crucial element in many construction plans.
The reason I titled this a Tale of Two Window Film Businesses, is because window film companies are ran in two different models. Model 1 is a more comprehensive model, it’s a developed company that includes Employees, or what I like to call a team made up of Installers, Estimators, Sales, and Support Staff. Model 2 falls into the old way of doing things, which is where one company acts as the Sales Agent, and coordinates the project, but hires another company, or person to do the actual installation.
Both models can be quite successful in business, and it’s obvious which one is more “cost effective”. However, when we formed Solar Vision Inc. we opted for Model 1. While Model 1 comes with a lot of additional cost like Employee Benefits, and Payroll taxes, as Owners, Heath and I felt it was still the better option. This way of doing business would provide more opportunity for growth, and create meaningful Employment for people who chose to work at Solar Vision Inc.
Also as a Model 1 company, we can deliver better customer service, as there is no middle man. From pricing, contracts, scheduling to installation, it’s all handled through Solar Vision, not a third party. While service, and convenience are of the utmost importance, so is safety. Since our Installation Team are not Sub-Contracted out to another company, our customers can rest assured that our Installers are covered under our commercial, and workman’s comp insurance.
As a Model 1 business, we can’t always be the cheapest, but we do feel despite the additional cost, we can be of the most value to our customers, and in many cases still offer competitive pricing, and superior service.
Next time you choose a window film company, consider what type of company you’ll be working with, is it Model 1, or Model 2? It could make a huge difference in the accuracy, and timely completion of your project. -Shelley Meador