We all have industry connections that make our jobs easier. For me, Matthew Sandherr, owner of Naples Tint Company in Naples, Fla., is one of those people. From decorative film to the importance of customer service, Sandherr always has great quotes and insight. Today, he shares his journey.

Starting at Sears

Matthew Sandherr, owner of Naples Tint Company in Naples, Fla., fell into the industry in 2003 while working a job at Sears.

“I was a vacuum cleaner salesman at Sears, and I was also studying business at Penn State,” Sandherr shares. “I heard a customer say to her husband, ‘Honey, just put it on the business card.’ I asked, ‘What kind of business do you have? I’m a student. I’m always curious about what people do and things I can get into.’ We connected, and they offered me a job and offered to train me on flat glass tinting.”

Sandherr started his industry career in 2003, but he took his first stab at tinting when he was just 16 years old in 1997.

“I couldn’t afford to have someone else tint my windows,” says Sandherr, who crosses 20 years of professional window tinting this year. “I had to do it myself and did a terrible job. There weren’t the resources available that you have today. You couldn’t just jump on YouTube, and you didn’t have great access to materials either.”

Going Mobile

Sandherr founded his first company, Mobile Tint Inc., in May 2005. “I was all automotive after leaving a company that was all flat glass,” says Sandherr, based in Pennsylvania at the time.

After 10 years of operations, Sandherr sold Mobile Tint Inc., moved South and founded Naples Tint Company in Naples, Fla. Sandherr manages four team members, including two flat glass veterans in David Cammarata and Mike Napier.

“David and Mike have over 20 years of experience, and they crush it in the flat glass space,” he says. “They’re great people, and the work is amazing. I never have to worry about anything. I enjoy working out in the field with them.”

Sandherr’s company is based roughly 42 miles outside of Fort Myers, Fla., a part of the world that Hurricane Ian ravaged. The business had an estimated $800,000 in sales in 2021. Sandherr feared the hurricane would impact 2022’s bottom line negatively. Through it all, though, the distributor powered through with $930,000 in sales last year.

Editor’s Note: Do you have a journey to share? Please contact me at ccollier@glass.com for potential coverage.