Tim,
 
I've attached a few photos from my setup in Oklahoma.  
 
Last April, I started out with your Prokit #1 and an aluminum single head injector.  I found a place to rent some space at a gas station, on a busy intersection, and started out with a $50 Easy Up canopy, and a few cheap banners from a website.  
 
The molded injector has done an adequate jobs; repairs done with it look as good as with the aluminum tool.  However, I much prefer working with the aluminum tool, as it just feels better to use and it easier to work with.  The molded injector serves as a great backup though for working on more than one car a time.  The molded injector also works better for windshields with more flat angles, like Jeeps and RV's.  
 
I now have a commercial grade canopy, which seems to be necessary for the high winds here in Oklahoma City.  I got the idea for the weights I use for my canopy (just PVC filled with sand and capped) from some of the vendors at a farmer's market here in town.  
 
I still buy my banners online, as the sign shops can't match those prices. The real estate signs and A frame sign were done by a local sign shop.  The string of pennants really seems to draw people's eyes to my signage.  Dollar for dollar, the pennants were probably by best sign investment.  
 
The enclosed cargo trailer with vinyl lettering a 5 x 8.  It is quite helpful, in that I'm able to lock it down, leave it in the parking lot, and still have signage 24 hours a day.  I usually get a few appointments from it a week, made from calls after hours and on Sundays.  I highly recommend using a trailer with lettering or a wrap for advertisement.  
 
The jury is still out on my vehicle wrap.  I am averaging 1.5 jobs a week from calls when I'm out driving, but I suspect it might help more than those calls.  I hope that when people see me out and about in this part of town it helps then think of me later on, when they might have windshield damage. It will at least pay for itself in less than a year, but I had higher hopes for it. 
   
Next month I plan to add headlight restoration to my business, which I'll probably only offer on days when the windshield repair business is slow.  I'll let you know how that goes.  
 
There were some things I didn't write, because I don't really have enough experience yet to get carried away with suggestions.  That said, if I had a younger brother looking for work and without much money to spend, I would recommend buying just the Prokit 1 and finding a car wash to work at. The first six months i was open, two different car wash owners asked me to come set up and their shop.  I think they both wanted $5 a car.
 
For me, the car wash deal wasn't a good option because I don't like aggressive sales.  But for the right person, they could be in business for less than $300!  That is sweet.  I guess you might recommend that to people who call, but are short on money to get started.  
 

 
Another thing that is really weird about this business is the number of windshield techs who basically stalk me.  There is this NOVUS guy who spies on me daily.  I guess he his pissed that he paid maybe 30K for a franchise and doesn't even have a storefront.  I don't know. 

Very Best,
James in Oklahoma 
 
 

 So far it has been working well. We check the vehicles that come into the store and give a list to the Big O Tire employees at the counter and they ask their customers if they would like to have their windshield chips and cracks repaired as they are performing their service for them such as tires, brakes etc.

We also set up sandwich signs for the people driving by. We are right next to a Safeway grocery store so the traffic is good.

 About half of our business in coming from the Big O customers and about one half is coming from the people driving by and seeing the signs and stopping in to see about a repair. One advantage to doing the windshield repair business this way is the ability to check customer's cars for damage. We find so many people that do not understand that windshield repair is free because their insurance company are happy to pick up the cost for this preventive service. Also many do not even know they have damage until we show them the damage. One Note: We have been very careful to not disrupt Big O's business because we appreciate being able to work from their location. Below are some photos of our set up at Big O.

Here are some photos of our recent training with Mike Borne from Saint Charles Iowa.

Mike and his son Cory own a body shop and are adding windshield repair to their business. They feel the windshield repair business will compliment their Body Shop business and give them an additional service to offer their customers. As with many businesses today they told us the additional income will be great for their business.

 It was a pleasure meeting them and training them. Both learn very quickly and we wish them the best in their new business.




We provide Insurance Billing training to all customers who come to Colorado for training at no additional
charge.

One Day of No-Charge Training

We are now offering a one day training course with the purchase of any windshield repair kit. The one day training will cover windshield chip repair.

We will teach you how to perform a chip repair with hands on training, and call in the repair claim to the insurance company. You will repair many different types of damages, such as bulls-eyes, star breaks and combination breaks. We will give you the knowledge you need to get started in your own windshield repair business.

After the one day of training, if you want to purchase advanced training, an additional 2 day course is now only $400.00. The two day course includes the insurance billing training and you will perform more extensive repairs on our customers' cars -- including long crack repair.

All standard training courses are held in Monument, Colorado. We can travel to other locations upon request for individual or group classes.
Call Windshield Repair Kits.net at 719-331-5966 or 1-877-835-7965, to schedule a training date convenient for you.

Repairing in Cold Weather

Here in Colorado we just got our first snow and it makes windshield repairs a bit more challenging. I find warming up the windshield with the defroster works well and provides a much better repair. Warming the glass to slightly warm-to-the-touch makes the windshield repair much easier and faster to perform.

You may also warm up your resins. I sometimes use the defrosters on my windshield repair van to warm the resins, or you may put the resins in a plastic bag and keep them in your pocket until you are ready to
perform the repair. Do not forget to warm your tools also so the resin will stay warm when you load the repair tool.
We are happy to answer any questions you have about cold-weather repair -- just give us a call at 719-331-5966.

Stay Warm and Good Luck!
Tim Evans

Customer Feedback on Drill Bits

We've been getting feedback lately that our drill bits are lasting longer than the other bits currently used in the industry.  Steve in Colorado Springs says "These drill bits last much longer than the ones I used to use and so therefore I am saving money by having to replace less often."
We'd love to hear more!  If you have any stories to share, please post them here.