With new technology comes new vehicle safety measures, and we’re really liking this one. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requiring all new light vehicles — that’s cars, SUVs, trucks and vans to the layman — to be equipped with rear backup cameras starting May 1, 2018. Safety First This is exciting news for parents and anyone else who cares about children’s safety, as rear backup cameras have been shown to significantly reduce the rate of tragic backup accidents, especially involving children who may not be tall enough to be visible in rearview mirrors alone. In fact, this new law is expected to save anywhere from 50 to 70 lives per year, most of them children and seniors. The NHTSA reports that each year there are ... read more

While texting and driving is a relatively new phenomenon, many of us already know how dangerous it can be. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the average driver will take his or her eyes off the road for about five seconds while reading or answering a text message. At 55 miles per hour, that’s enough to drive the length of a football field. A lot can happen in that span of time, which is why, in America, nearly 450,000 people are injured or killed each year as a result of distracted-driving accidents. Inexperienced drivers under age 20 are the most at-risk, with over 16 percent of fatal crashes among this group being caused by distracted driving. At Alta Mere, we know th ... read more

Greg DeFever is one of Alta Mere’s most successful and longest tenured franchisees, having owned his store in Lubbock for the past 22 years. Greg’s 23-year-old twin sons, Carson and Cody, have worked at the Alta Mere store the last four years. Carson works there on a full-time basis, while Cody works there part-time while also attending Texas Tech. What did you do before opening an Alta Mere store? I have a degree in finance and accounting, and worked as a tax accountant for four years. That background prepared me for the administrative side of the business and balancing the finances of the company. What drew you to Alta Mere as an attractive franchise opportunity? In my initial meetings with franchisees representatives, I was impressed by their energy, organization and vision they had for the company. I liked the products Alta Mere offered and coul ... read more

Interested in Franchising? Greg Goodman, Alta Mere, shares his experience. A special podcast interview with Greg Goodman, Alta Mere Franchise Owner in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Greg is a top-producing franchise owner from the Moran Family of Brands system and he shares his insight into the franchising world. Take a listen HERE. Discussion areas includes: Benefits of having a franchise business Doubts of starting a business Helpful tips for the “entrepreneurial way” – “Just do it” mentality Entrepreneurial journey – importance of culture Learning curves: how to manage money Influence of gut-feelings vs. business decisions Secrets to success Non-franchise vs. franchise – Greg’s personal 30+ years’ experience Personal development, leadership, motivation ... read more

Alta Mere offers a few tips to keep everyone safe on Halloween. Halloween is the epitome of a holiday made for kids. Dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating and gathering candy – these are the things kids look forward to all year. But with all those children running around in the dark, Halloween can get dangerous. In some neighborhoods, parents drive their kids from house to house and there are other cars that are on the roads in residential areas. To keep others safe, this is a great time to look into some products that will help you focus on the road and pedestrians around you. Here are some features you can find at your local Alta Mere that will keep you and the neighborhood kids safe and happy! Headlight restoration | If you have trouble seeing what’s in front of your car at night, you should consid ... read more

Congratulations to all new drivers! With your freshly-printed license, you’re ready to zip off to all of the destinations that are now within your reach! But we at Alta Mere hope you’ll take a moment to consider what could make your first few trips safer. Mile for mile, new drivers are three times more likely to get into a wreck than experienced drivers. We want you to be safe, so consider outfitting your car with one or more of these accessories to help you curb hazardous behavior and get where you need to be with your car in one piece! Back-up Camera. It can be hard to get used to the size of your vehicle, and if you struggle to back up in the direction you want or to see everything behind you, a back-up camera could help! It allows you to see everything the body of your car bl ... read more

Keep Your Home Cool with Window Film. If you’re anything like us, the intense heat of the long summer is starting to wear you down. You might want to crank the air conditioning as high as it can go, but that would hit your wallet and the environment hard. Luckily, SmartView Window Solutions has the solution to this conflict – with window film, you can finally have the cool home or office you want, without the high energy bills that send your monthly budget out the window! Experts recommend that window film be applied to exterior windows to save money on energy. According to the United States Department of Energy, window film can reduce energy use by as much as 30 to 50 percent. Window film is much cheaper than replacing your windows or window frames, and it can make an incredible difference in the amount of energy you use cooling and heating your hom ... read more

July is National Ultraviolet Safety Awareness Month Enjoying the warm weather and sun is one of the best parts of the summer, but it has its own dangers. July is National Ultraviolet Safety Awareness Month, and Alta Mere has some tools to keep you and your family safe this summer. Ultraviolet (UV) light is responsible for much of the cases of skin cancer in the United States due to prolonged exposure to sunlight. According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, 85 percent of melanomas and 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancer cases are associated with exposure to UV radiation. You can even be exposed to UV rays through the windows of your car or home. In addition to wearing sunscreen every day, you can protect your skin by using window film to shield you from UV rays. In addition to reducing glar ... read more

We’re Celebrating National Window Film Day April 30 is National Window Film Day. We’re pretty excited because one of our signature services is customized automotive window tinting installation. In fact, we can offer different tinting options to suit your preferences and custom cut the window film to fit the size and shape of any vehicle window. Even our President Peter Baldine is excited. In his words: “National Window Film Day is a perfect time to educate the public on the many benefits of window tinting for our cars, homes or offices. Our professionals at Alta Mere and SmartView can install window tint to fit any customer’s needs while keeping people cooler, protecting against UV rays and saving money in the long run.” Not sure what the benefits of custom window tinting are? Read on to find out. Heat reduction. Window tint can block up to 80 percent of the sun’s heat ... read more

Why You Need Window Film Before Summer Now that spring, (and April showers!), are officially here, we’re starting to look forward to summer. But with all the wonderful activities the season and fun in the sun bring, there are a few downsides, too. Mainly, there are all those harmful UV rays. That’s where window film comes in to protect you, your vehicle and your home. How can window tinting do all that? How window film protects your car: Reduce the heat in your vehicle. We all know the struggle of trying to cool down your car on a blazing hot summer day. When you can’t get your car cool, you’re in for an uncomfortable ride. Window tint has been proven to greatly reduce interior surface temperatures to keep you cool and comfortable. Protects interior components. Window tint reduces UV rays that can fade and crack leather seats and d ... read more