Autobahn’s Focused Industry Training (FIT) Program is taking aspiring paint protection film (PPF) professionals to the next level with the launch of new classes led by industry veteran Randy Humphries.
This June 11–13, Randy will lead a class of five students through an intensive, hands-on PPF crash course at Tint Works in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
“If I’m able to help installers better their lives, I’m all about it,” Randy says. “It makes me happy to show these installers how to improve their skills and broaden their horizons in what they offer their customers. With PPF, they’re opening their doors to new income opportunities, which can lead to better lives.”
The Power of ‘Aha’ Moments
Randy’s three-day PPF course will guide installers through surface prep and film handling, plotter setup and hand-cutting techniques, bulk installs with precision edges, and application methods for hoods, bumpers, and mirrors.
“The only way you’ll learn is with film in your hands—that’s it,” Randy says. “During training, they’ll have those ‘aha’ moments where they start understanding how to work with and read the PPF. My goal is to give these guys the confidence to believe in themselves and in their work, even in a short amount of time. As long as they improve daily, they’ll go far.”
Under-Promise. Over-Deliver
Setting customer expectations before a PPF installation is crucial, and Randy plans to explain exactly how to do so.
“From the moment you take the customer’s keys, you should be inspecting the car,” he says. “Set expectations from the start. Always under-promise and always over-deliver. The worst thing you can do is tell the customer the installation will be flawless.”
During training, Randy will also break down which flaws are acceptable, and which aren’t.
“You have to know what to look for,” he says. “That was my hurdle with PPF. I’d see one small speck in the hood and re-do the whole thing—I was throwing money in the trash. Even if a customer offers a million dollars for perfection, you still have to say no. Because it’s not possible. Be confident, not cocky. If you overpromise, it’ll come back to smack you in the face.”
Finding Footing in Failure
Like life, learning PPF is a journey of ups and downs. Rock bottoms and cliff-top celebrations. Randy knows this better than most.
“I went to jail, and I thought my life was over,” Randy shares. “But a counselor sat with me and told me, ‘You’re young—you’ve got a long way to go.’ I don’t ever want to fail. I push myself every day. But there’s no success without failure—that doesn’t exist. You can mess up in life—and in PPF—and still make it. You’re going to mess up in both. The question is: how are you going to respond?”
In many ways, successful PPF projects and customer relationships have provided Randy with a sense of fulfillment he never had prior.
“I take a lot of pride in what I do,” he says. “There’s no better feeling than when you knock it out of the park with a customer and you can see it on their face. I was beaten, battered, and bruised as a kid, and I never got any compliments growing up. Seeing my customers and peers enjoy my work … it’s a good feeling.”
Click here to explore upcoming FIT classes.