Vendor Newsmaker Q&A Charles J. Bonfiglio

April 18, 2016
Affiliating with an established franchise operation “is the fastest way to understand proven business systems,” according to Charles J. Bonfiglio, the founder and CEO of Tint World Automotive Styling Centers, which has 64 franchises in 18 states along with a growing presence of overseas outlets.

Affiliating with an established franchise operation “is the fastest way to understand proven business systems,” according to Charles J. Bonfiglio, the founder and CEO of Tint World Automotive Styling Centers, which has 64 franchises in 18 states along with a growing presence of overseas outlets.

“When you understand the systems behind a business, you understand how business works; all the formal education in the world can never prepare you for the constant reinvention it takes to stay ahead in the automotive business,” he points out.

Experiencing firsthand “what it was like to be too young and too inexperienced” to get his ambitious ideas off the ground, Bonfiglio recalls his struggles to get loans from banks, credibility from landlords and support from industry colleagues.

Never giving up, Bonfiglio pushed ahead with his goals, and upon establishing Tint World he continues to emphasize assisting others in achieving the appropriate levels of training needed for business success.

“Not just new-store training, but ongoing education as well,” he reports. Tint World annually hosts a convention that coincides with the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas. “Owners benefit from special training sessions, roundtable discussions, meetings with vendor partners, and the network with thousands of automotive exhibitors.”

The company also presents an annual awards banquet during SEMA to honor its outstanding franchisees. “The whole event really creates a comradery between all the store owners,” says Bonfiglio, who recently answered a series of questions posed by Aftermarket Business World.

Q: You started out as a young and inexperienced entrepreneur; what were the challenges that you faced and what path did you take to success?

A: I started off as a young New York City clothing designer and restaurateur in the 1980s. While other kids were in universities, I spent my time in business. I had a dream that I wanted to install automotive stereos, so I moved to Florida to develop myself. It wasn’t easy, though, and I was met with a lot of challenges trying to get my own business off the ground; from gaining credibility with landlords, getting loans from banks, you name it.

I was in a new state and while I had good ideas, I didn’t have the knowledge needed to get the right support. Around that same time, my cousins had recently opened their own automotive service and repair shop, and in talking with them I realized they were struggling with the same things I was. They couldn’t legitimize their business concepts any more than I could. That’s when we discovered the brand recognition, internal financing and buying power of franchising. They signed up for a national automotive franchise and I followed suit.

Q: How did your company get established?

A: In the span of 15 years after I got my first franchise, I opened eight more franchises and invested in a lot of real estate. By that time, I had enough experience and capital, and decided it was time to go create my own franchise based on my love of automotive customization. In 2006 we began franchising the business with the goal of offering the same opportunity I found to other entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses.

Q: How many locations do you have in the U.S.? Where are they located?

A: In the U.S. we’ve got 64 franchises in 18 states. As for our customers, we offer a lot of different products and services from automotive aftermarket, to marine services and even residential and commercial window film. Because of this, we have a wide range of customers – from guys looking to upgrade their cars to building owners looking to put security film on their office spaces.

Q: Do you have an international presence?

A: We’ve been licensed in Canada and signed up with the Canadian Franchise Association a few years ago, and we have a franchise in Kingston, Ontario that’s been doing really well. We also just awarded a new store in Toronto that is projected to open this year, and we expect to have a total of three stores open in Canada this year.

We also have a 30-store master franchise with its first store that opened last year in Riyadh Providence in Saudi Arabia, and we have a six-store master franchise in the UAE and are expecting their first store to be open in Abu Dhabi this year.

Q: Are you seeking additional franchisees in the U.S.?

A: We’re always looking for new store owners. I get really excited when we open up in a new state, and I can’t wait to be in all 50 states. I also love when we grow and dominate a state, like in Texas where we now have five locations.

Q: What about additional international locations?

A: Since we have had such success in the four countries that operate Tint World franchises, we are now aggressively offering international master franchise opportunities in most major countries.

Q: How can an aftermarket business become a supplier to you?

A: Contact our corporate vendor management department and set up an account with us. Because we’re a fast-growing company, we appreciate vendors that support our entire franchise company. If they can support all our franchisees, it allows us to spend money on marketing it all. We want buying power for all of our franchisees, and we invest heavily in a marketing program that allows everyone to flourish. If you can provide support to all our franchisees, we can aggressively stock, promote, display and market your products.

Q: What are some of the industry affiliations that you have?

A: We’re a part of SEMA, CTA (the Consumer Technology Association, formerly the Consumer Electronics Association) and VTD (CTA’s Vehicle Technology Division) – which for CTA and VTD both myself and my vice president of operations and product management, Paul Pirro, are members of the board. We’re also a part of the IWFA (International Window Film Association) and the Auto Care Association, and we support and require ASE Certification and MECP (Mobile Electronics Certified Professional) certification for our franchisees to perform services in those categories.

Q: What are the franchise programs that you offer?

A: Whether you want to start a new store or integrate Tint World into your current operations, we offer a variety of franchise opportunities – from single store and multi-store to co-branded and conversion store programs. We also offer programs to allow investors to contribute to the growth of their market, whether that’s at a regional or state level, as well as international opportunities for those looking to bring the Tint World name into their home countries.

Q: You have a seven-point formula for success; what does this entail?

A: First and foremost, we want our owners to be profitable as it’s fundamental to success for any business. Our training programs help ensure our owners have superior personnel while our commitment to broadening our services beyond automotive tint allows owners to take advantage of multiple profit centers.

In addition, we work with our owners to ensure that their facilities are more inviting and attractive to potential customers and that they have the highest quality products to turn first-time customers into repeat customers. Getting your business in front of the right demographics is very important, and we offer innovative marketing and advertising campaigns to all our franchisees to target new customers by introducing them to the brand. We are also committed to continually improving and updating our operating procedures to continue growing the brand and your business.

Q: What are the various profit centers that you provide?

A: We offer more than 20 categories of profit centers – but our core categories are window tinting, paint protection film, vehicle wraps, mobile electronics, A/V, car alarms, remote starts, detailing and conditioning services, and custom wheels and tires. We also provide products and services for motorcycles, RVs and tractor trailers. Additionally, we reach outside of our automotive core of business to do residential and commercial window tinting (window films, decorative, security, solar protection) and marine services.

Q: How do you assess the future outlook of these categories within the aftermarket?

A: We are positioned more than anyone else in the automotive aftermarket when it comes to vehicle technology. There are a lot of people who do automotive repair, but they don’t do vehicle technology services, safety and security, upgrading older cars and enhancing new ones. You’ve got to retrofit. The infusion of technology into cars is happening, and you’ve got to be prepared to incorporate both seamlessly.

Q: Do you offer programs for veterans?

A: We participate in a special program called VetFran, which was created by the franchising community in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Corp. and the U.S. Small Business Administration to help qualified veterans acquire franchise businesses by providing financial incentives not otherwise available to other franchise investors. In addition, our stores offer a 10 percent discount to all qualified veterans.

Q: Who are the types of franchisees joining your system?

A: We have franchises that join our system from all walks of life – corporate, retail, military and construction. We even have owners who have retired from a large company and want to open a new business. It’s not just car enthusiasts. We have a very appealing business and we’re very technology driven. Our marketing systems are advanced, and we’re always looking to stay one step ahead of our competition.

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