Turbo Tint Gains Traction: Teamwork drives Moran's new concept

An idea for a new window tinting concept from a longtime Moran Family of Brands franchisee is helping fuel growth and create lasting partnerships.

For more than 30 years, the company has been a franchise leader in the aftermarket auto repair, maintenance, and accessories industry. Our lineup of six brands includes household names like Mr. Transmission and Milex Complete Auto Care, as well as Turbo Tint, our new window tinting brand. We’ve seen many changes to the company over the years with the most recent major development coming at an unlikely time—during a pandemic.

Partnership fuels new concept

At Moran, relationships are key and our franchisees are family. To foster valuable partnerships, we maintain open lines of communication with our franchise owners. Our franchisees in the field know their markets and offer insights and best practices to help us sharpen our procedures and improve our concepts. Our Franchise Advisory Alliance keeps us on the right track and gives our owners an opportunity to ensure their voices are heard. The eight Alliance members are elected by franchisees and meet quarterly with the corporate office to discuss concerns and success stories. 

Our efforts to establish a family atmosphere at our company were recently put on display with a new concept we launched at the height of the pandemic. One of our top operators, Greg Goodman, approached us with an idea for a new brand. After successfully operating our Alta Mere concept in Oklahoma City for more than 25 years, Greg and his son, Chandler, wanted to focus on automotive window tinting, paint protection film, and architectural film services. 

The Alta Mere concept sells window tinting, as well as a host of other car accessories, such as alarms and backup cameras. Many of these items come standard in newer model vehicles, prompting Greg to rethink the concept. Inspired by brands like Carvana and other concepts that put an emphasis on speed, Greg and Chandler developed an idea for a streamlined concept.

In partnership with Moran, the pair created Turbo Tint, a high-quality, highly efficient installation service delivering a one-hour guarantee. The brand also offers online scheduling and purchasing as a differentiating feature, allowing customers to purchase a window tint package and schedule an appointment online. When they arrive for service, they select their desired shade of window film. The entire installation process is completed in one hour or less.

To gauge its potential, we decided to test the new concept for a year under the location’s existing Alta Mere name. Moran and the Goodmans collaborated on remodeling, signage, and developing the online ordering system for the beta test at their shop. 

The results of the test blew us away. Implementing the new business model increased their sales by 30 percent. When stay-at-home orders forced his location to close for a month in April 2020, the store sold 250 window tint orders online and increased sales by more than $10,000 over the previous April.

“This concept is a game changer for the automotive window tinting industry,” Greg told us.

In addition to positive sales results, the Turbo Tint concept provides a solid opportunity for car aficionados who want to invest in a growing industry with a brand that sets itself apart from the competition. Entrepreneurs interested in opening a Turbo Tint location in their area can expect to invest $234,010 to $314,900, which includes a franchise fee of $45,000 and operating expenses for the first 6 months.

The Goodmans officially opened the first Turbo Tint location in October 2020 in Oklahoma City and plan to add a second location in the area this year. 

Moran rolled out the brand nationally in January 2021. The concept has been received particularly well in warm weather states where the business is a welcome relief for car owners looking to block the hot and dangerous rays of the sun. Right now there are four Turbo Tints stores serving customers in Oklahoma and Florida. We also have agreements for 35 more units in development and expect 6 to open by the end of this year. 

“This brand carries a high value proposition by delivering a first-class tinting experience with a convenient online ordering process for busy individuals,” said Derek Huizinga. He is a new Turbo Tint franchise owner in the Orlando area and plans to open another four.

As part of the concept, all Turbo Tint locations feature a modern and spacious customer waiting area where customers can enjoy complimentary premium coffee, beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks while they wait for their window tint to be installed.

Collaborating with the Goodmans to launch the Turbo Tint brand has been a wonderful experience. Greg has been a staple of our franchise system and has received many accolades for his valuable contributions over the years, including being a five-time winner of our Franchisee of the Year award for the Alta Mere brand.

We are excited to watch this new concept continue to take off.

Pete Baldine is president of Moran Family of Brands.