After watching Andrew Luck play in these past couple of preseason games, though, I know my Colts are in good hands. I was reluctant to let anyone else into the franchise, but I have to admit, even though Luck’s different I don’t mind the change. Dare I say, I even like him?

The sports world and window film industry are frequently changing. New film products are frequently introduced into the market which may replace old favorites, such as UCLA’s new transparent solar film and Heliatek’s flexible solar films (see today’s newsletter links). Peyton left Indy to pursue a new opportunity with Denver, just like former Window Film magazine editor Katie O’Mara is now leaving to pursue a new opportunity at graduate school.

As a side note and a fun fact, did you know that Luck attended Manning’s summer training camps when he was younger? This just seems so fitting since Katie has been training me these past few weeks. Despite my training, I’m still learning everything there is to know about the big leagues. Just as Luck hasn’t figured out the playing style of every team in the NFL, I am certainly not yet an expert in the window film industry. But just like Luck will learn the playing style of each of the other 31 defenses, I will learn the unique and intricate products and fields of the window film trade.

Andrew’s a little different than Peyton, just like I’m a little different than Katie. As new solar and energy-efficient innovations begin to flood the window film market, certainly those products will be different than what you may be used to. While nothing can ever entirely replace your old favorite, it doesn’t mean you can’t find something new that you like.

In my case, I now have two favorite teams to follow on Sundays. As I find myself cheering on both the Broncos and Colts this football season, I wish Katie the best of luck at grad school and thank all of you continuing to follow Window Film.

Editor Katie O’Mara and video producer Chris Bunn, were recognized for their efforts during ASBPE’s Central-Southeast Region Awards Banquet and ceremony.

Katie OMara and Chris Bunn pose with their best webcast award.

“We’re thrilled that Katie and Chris’s efforts have been honored in this way,” says Debra Levy, publisher of WINDOW FILM magazine. “Our staff puts a great deal of work into providing this newscast for our industry, so it is nice to see our efforts recognized.”

The national award is incredibly competitive as entrants are compared against publications from New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and across the country.

To view an example of the FILM’d newscast visit WINDOW FILM magazine’s studio.

“It’s just the wind,” responded my husband.

“No seriously that sounds bad,” I argued.

“Katie, why do storms freak you out so badly?” he (offensively) questioned me.

Well, for the record, the storm that freaked me out tossed trees into houses, disrupted power for millions of people and have left neighborhoods with piles with branches. I guess there was something to freak out about. At my own house a tree snapped and broke a four foot wide hole in my fence and allowed my pups to explore the neighbor’s yard yesterday (one ran and the other one desperately tried to figure out how to get back to our yard). Besides the hole in our fence we are counting ourselves lucky because we never lost power and had no damage to our house or vehicles.

Other areas of the country have been experiencing disasters as well. Colorado has been ravaged by wildfires that are swallowing homes and ruining property. Heat waves have hit much of the country and tropical storms have beat the Gulf Coast.

The question becomes how we deal with our surroundings when “the thunder rolls.” In the world of small business that symbolic thunder rolls often and without warning. Maybe a natural disaster knocks out your power or floods your shop. Maybe you have experienced a break-in or have been understaffed unexpectedly. What about the economy? That has been a disaster for so many small businesses. How have you responded? Are you paralyzed by fear (like I was last weekend)? Or do you plan ahead for the unexpected?

Has your shop experienced any disasters this summer? How were you prepared or how did you deal with it? Have any of the nationwide disasters brought you extra business?

Far too often we have attended barbeques and gatherings on this day and the meaning behind the day is never mentioned.  I spend Memorial Day remembering my grandfather. He joined the Army as a Private and retired as a Full Colonel. Along the way he raised 12 children and fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He was a kind man who always let me “do his hair” and sent me coupons in the mail when I cried because my mom refused to let me play with hers. One Christmas I cried because my brothers had more Christmas ornaments than me and my grandfather sent me all sorts of random ornaments (many of them even Easter related). I still have these ornaments on the tree every year. My grandfather passed away from Leukemia, likely related to exposure to gas while in battle. I choose to spend this day remembering him.

If your business is open on Monday you can still recognize those who have died for our country. Ask your customers who they are remembering on Memorial Day or hang a flag outside of your shop for the day. If you are off work, do something small to remember those who have gone before us. Visit a military cemetery or talk to your kids about what Memorial Day really means. Thank a soldier—chances are they are spending the day remembering the friends they have lost, which can be a very heavy burden.

Who will you be remembering on Monday and how will you be recognizing them?

Recently we made the decision to purchase a new vehicle—something that would be much more efficient. We ended up purchasing a 2012 diesel Volkswagen Passat (I know, I know—it’s not American-made like the Jeep was, but our gas bill was literally killing us). Already my husband has gone from filling up every other day to once a week and last week on a trip home from Michigan we didn’t have to stop to fill up once. When we arrived at home our average gas mileage was an impressive 49.5 mpg (something my husband was VERY proud of—there may have been a photo of the mpg gauge posted to Facebook).

Black Betty, as the Passat has been nicknamed after the Ram Jam song, needs a film makeover now. At the dealership the salesman tried to sell us on “Auto Butler,” a paint protection service for the car. We declined (after my husband proudly told the salesman that I worked for Window Film magazine and so I knew where to go), but it started the conservation about how we would like to film the car. My husband definitely wants to get film installed on the windows so the search is on.

I know plenty about dealer-manufacturer relationships, energy-efficiency, legislation and advice from expert tinters, but how do I ensure that the person who installs film on my vehicle will do a good job?

What would you tell a consumer who was unsure where to turn (besides just to come to your shop)? What are the most important factors that consumers should look at when deciding where to take their vehicle? In addition, in your opinion, should new car-owners invest in window film or paint protection film first?

Share your thoughts with me and maybe you will see a future blog on what we decided to do with Black Betty.

One night this week my husband and I were watching ESPN and he turned to me and asked, “What do you think is going to happen to Peyton?”

In the spirit of confident denial I simply said, “He’ll play.”

Well I’m getting nervous, folks (and dreading that I am wrong in front of my husband). I’m now crossing my fingers that we haven’t seen the last of my favorite athlete. You can only be in denial so long before the ugly truth forces you to face the music.

We certainly know a thing or two about change here in the window film industry. Only so many acquisitions can happen before it really sinks in that the industry is shrinking. Just last Friday we broke the news that Solutia had been acquired by Eastman. Another major window film manufacturer is being brought under another company’s wings. In 2011, we saw Solar Gard Specialty Films move to Saint-Gobain and we saw Solutia acquire Southwall Technologies. I wonder if the manufacturers’ acquisitions and mergers mean something to window film dealers. Does it concern you? Are you more concerned with increasing business in-house than what the film suppliers are doing?

 However, the wonderful part about our industry is that we have a product with a lot of value. While the industry may go through bouts of shrinking and growing, there is a demand for our product and the future certainly looks bright for energy conservation products. We are forever changing and adapting and that is one thing that I know I am not in denial about.

Share your thoughts on the recent acquisition by emailing me at komara@glass.com.