Father-son duo Randy (right) and Todd (left) stand in front of their conference room, which has been fitted with custom-printed decorative film.

As a well-established family-owned and operated business, Sun Control of Minnesota might be satisfied to stick with the status quo. But the company, established more than four decades ago, has expanded from its core window film/sun control business to also include exciting graphics, signage and exterior light repair—essentially giving its customers everything they could want or need.

Randy Jensen, who started in the window film industry 42 years ago, purchased the company (formerly Sun Control of Northern Minnesota) from its original owners in 1985. Previously, Randy worked for a gentleman in Rochester, Minnesota, who was the first dealer that the venerable 3M company set up in the window film business. Randy’s job was to travel the country and set up other dealers. The relationship with 3M has continued, as Sun Control of Minnesota is a certified 3M dealer and was recently named 3M National Window Film Dealer of the year. As Randy notes, “We have chosen to partner with 3M because we know its materials are the absolute best in the industry.”

Evolving to Meet Industry Needs

Over the years, Randy has built the business from two employees and an answering service out of a mini warehouse storage building to its current state with 24 full-time employees boasting over 200 combined years of experience. And while window filming is still the heart of the company, Randy has made sure that they’ve evolved with the times, now doing graphics, printing, decorative works and signage. They even have a brick and mortar building, which is somewhat unusual in this industry but, as Randy explains, “We like people to be able to come to our building, especially general contractors and architects and designers, so they really see what we do. We can do mockups and talk over projects.”

The company has expertly built on the main window film business as a certified 3M applicator. Randy shares, “What we do in-house is take a window film or a vinyl and we print graphics on it, which differentiates us from other window film suppliers. Most people have to go somewhere else to have someone do that work. But we do it all in- house; we’re a one-stop shop.”

Randy sees this shift toward the decorative film market as one of the key trends in the industry and is proud to be on the forefront, giving clients a truly customized experience. He says, “People used to do sandblasted glass or etched glass, which can be an expensive process—plus it’s permanent. So, if a tenant moves into a space with all different types of etched glass, they wouldn’t want someone else’s logo. The film is great because you can put it up and five years later if a tenant moves out, you can just take it down and put something else up.”

Unique Decorative Services

Plus, with today’s computer technology, everything is “so far advanced you just push a button and you have graphics on your window or your wall, so it’s pretty unique,” Randy adds. The company can also print on canvas, letter up trucks, you name it. Randy quips, “The name “Sun Control” doesn’t really capture all the things we do, but it’s kind of hard to change your name after 40- something years.”

Dedicated to Solving Window Woes

Randy explains that it’s the team’s passion to do high-quality installations and have the highest quality customer service. They strive to make it easy for people to do business with them. He says, “Maybe it’s the fact that we have live people on the phone versus an answering machine, or that we have a building instead of working out of the house. The Sun Control of Minnesota team is dedicated to helping solve people’s window woes, whether it’s too much heat, too much glare or decorative sign needs.”

From solar control film, safety film, graphic film or even signage, Sun Control of Minnesota wants to be the number one contractor source in the region. Randy concludes, “Our expert knowledge, experience and products give us the capabilities to bring any of your design ideas to life and is why our customers have continued to come back throughout the years.”