(This article first appeared in the September 2019 issue of “Dealer E-News.”) At 18 years old, Wayne Hemming installed window film on his first vehicle, a Toyota Corolla. His friends soon started asking him to tint their cars.

What first became a hobby turned into a full-fledged business in 2003. Now Wayne owns a successful window tint company in Pembroke Pines, Florida that specializes in installing products from the world’s manufacturing leader of window film.

“I wanted the 3M brand exclusively in my shop,” Wayne said of his business, Hi-Line Styling. “I didn’t want a mix. I wanted to be exclusively 3M so that my customers associate me with that very reputable brand.”

Hi-Line Styling is a 3M™ Authorized Prestige Dealer for flat glass, a 3M™ Silver Installer for paint protection film, a 3M Crystalline™ Certified Dealer and considered Premier Elite, which means that he has demonstrated the highest level of knowledge, expertise and service with the 3M Automotive Film Dealer Network. Wayne’s family owned and operated company services automotive, residential and commercial customers in the south Florida market.

“No matter what, I want to be linked with the brand for as long as I am in business,” he said of 3M. In fact, he said it’s 3M that gets the phone to ring from architects, interior designers and construction companies. “They already know you have a good product. They already know you are a reputable business to be associated with. Being a 3M dealer, the product sells itself and that’s half the battle”.

Wayne has a team of five employees, including 4 installers. From time to time, when necessary, he also joins the installers on a project. It brings him back to the first time he installed window film as a teenager in New York.

To new dealers just starting out, Wayne advises, “To be successful, be honest; be consistent. Take pride in your work. Stand behind your word and stand behind your work. Repeat customers create long term business.”

Learn more about Hi-Line Styling at www.hilinestyling.com.