Eric Escobedo was at a crossroads on November 1, 2023, after paying rent for his window tinting business, Mobitint in Palmdale, Calif.
“I looked at my finances and realized it was the last month I could afford to be in business,” Escobedo shares. “I was nearly broke after two straight months of no work. The shop’s location had become dangerous and crime levels were rising. I lost clientele, but quitting was never an option.”
Where to Now?
After exploring his options, Escobedo ultimately decided to deliver a 30-day notice to vacate to his landlord. That same day, his future business plans fell into place.
“My leasing agent shared a new listing in a better area,” Escobedo says. “The next morning, I submitted my lease application and got accepted. I pulled an entire month’s worth of emergency money out of the bank to sign the lease.”
A New Chapter
Escobedo received the keys to his new shop on November 15, 2023, just two weeks after contemplating bankruptcy.
“The new shop needed major work,” Escobedo says. “I pulled any money I had left in the bank and went to work. We had to knock down all of the walls.”
Escobedo and his wife, Jishel, finished remodeling the building on December 9, 2023.
“As soon as I updated my business’s address on Google, things shifted,” Escobedo adds. “I wasn’t even fully organized when the phone started ringing. I literally cried of happiness.”
Rebranded and Recharged
Rebranding as Elite Shield Autospa and Tint on the West side of Palmdale, Calif., Escobedo is four months into a new journey.
“With the new location, I started from scratch,” says Escobedo, an Autobahn and Edge dealer. “I wanted to come up with a name that represented premium quality—a name that describes everything I do. Window tint, paint protection film (PPF), and ceramic coatings make up an automotive shield.”
Escobedo’s new location includes 1,000 square-feet of installation space.
“I happened to make the move at the slowest time of the year,” Escobedo says. “I figured that if I could survive the slow season, then I will thrive during the busy season.”
He adds, “Everyone has a story. Social media only shows us the highlights. Sometimes, we don’t see the struggle that people went through to get to where they are today.”
During the transition, Escobedo relied heavily on the support of his fellow Autobahn/Edge dealers as well as his Territory Manager, Billy ‘Frickin’ Murray.
“Billy’s support has meant a lot to me,” he says.