From a Backyard Shed to One of Brisbane Northside’s Longest-Running Businesses

When I was growing up, Mum and Dad ran a real estate business on Brisbane’s Northside. I never really enjoyed school and wanted to get out into the real world as soon as I could. By Grade 10, I knew I would be happier doing something hands-on, so I left to begin an Electrical, Fitter and Turner apprenticeship.

Around that time, I met my wife, Tanya. We had plenty of friends in common and seemed to keep ending up in the same places. We married and started a family in our early twenties, and from fairly early on, we both felt strongly about building a business of our own.

Our first adventure was in retail. As we both like cars, we opened a shop in Stafford selling car-related products and accessories. It went well for a couple of years, but then the giant retailers began appearing everywhere. Their buying power allowed them to source and sell products far more cheaply than a small independent shop ever could.

Eventually, we had to accept that we couldn’t compete. Closing the shop was hard, particularly with a young family to support, but it didn’t put us off running a business. We just needed to find something that relied more on skill, workmanship and service—things the bigger retailers couldn’t easily undercut.

So, in 1996, Tanya and I started a window tinting business.

Our first workshop was out the back of my dad’s real estate office. Like most small businesses, the early days involved learning as we went, working long hours and taking each job as it came. Every customer mattered, and much of the business grew through repeat work and recommendations from people around the local area.

Over time, we moved beyond the shed and established Tint Mart Strathpine in a dedicated workshop. What began with car window tinting gradually grew to include tinting for homes, offices and commercial properties, along with vehicle protection services.

I’m passionate about technology and try to keep up with the latest precision computer-cutting equipment, but the basic idea behind the business hasn’t really changed: take the time to understand what the customer needs, recommend the right product and do the job properly.

Strathpine and Brisbane’s Northside have changed enormously since we first opened. We’ve watched new developments appear, families grow and customers return with the next generation. We have seen lots of babies grow and become car owners themselves! Through all those changes, Tint Mart has remained a family-owned local business.