Tint World Makes Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 Ranking for 13th Consecutive Year

BOCA RATON, FL (1.29.26) – Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™, was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first and most comprehensive franchise ranking. For 47 years, The Franchise 500® has been recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, and placement in the ranking has been a highly sought-after honor within the franchise industry. In the 2026 Franchise 500®, Tint World earned the #1 ranking in the Window Tinting category and ranked #206 overall—climbing 24 spots from last year. This achievement showcases the brand’s outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, operational and marketing support, and brand power.

“Being ranked for the 13th consecutive year in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® is an incredible honor, especially being recognized as #1 in our category,” said Charles Bonfiglio, Founder and CEO of Tint World. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without the dedication of our franchise owners, the trust of our customers, and the strong relationships we’ve built along the way. This accomplishment reflects the strength of our model, the passion behind our brand, and our continued commitment to supporting our franchisees as we grow.”

In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 47-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. Each franchise is thoroughly evaluated and given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. The 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.

“For 47 years, the Franchise 500 has been the gold standard for identifying franchise excellence. This year’s ranking proves that the best brands don’t just survive changing markets; they thrive in them,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur magazine’s editor in chief. “These 500 companies represent some of the most reliable pathways to business ownership in America, each one vetted through our rigorous analysis of what actually drives franchisee success.”

Over its 47 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for prospective franchisees. Tint World’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

Tint World® has consistently been recognized among the top automotive styling franchise brands, with a reputation for high-quality service, multiple revenue streams, and a systems-driven business model that supports long-term franchisee success.

To view Tint World in the full ranking, visit http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2026 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands January 13th. For more information on Tint World® and available franchise opportunities, please visit www.tintworld.com/franchise-opportunities.

Team Nutz Had A Very Strong Showing At The 65th Annual World Of Wheels In Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, PA (01.28.26) – Team Nutz, a very proactive 12volt retailer in the Pittsburg area, had a very strong showing at the 65th Annual World of Wheels at the David Lawerence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh January 23-25. This year Team Nutz had an even larger footprint than at the 64th Annual World Of Wheels. The massive snow event across the US prompted the last day, Sunday, to be cancelled. Team Nutz has been on the World of Wheels event in Pittsburg since 2003.

Attendees were welcomed to the very large Team Nutz booth to see a large selection of demos and displays.
The Fuel Required booth was also packed throughout the event.

The Team Nutz 70’ x 90’ booth was filled with demo vehicles, tents, product displays, live installations and importantly attendees. Several demo vehicles were experienced by attendees in the passenger seat non-stop every hour of the event.

Also new this year was a sister company Fuel Required with a very large space that spotlighted 20 classic vehicles plus a dozen more Team Nutz demo vehicles. This year a booth was set up spotlighting Women Of The Show Car World. Nina Nuttall’s decked out Jeep with ‘I’m Trash’ on the license plate was in the special booth.

Attendees are lined up to scan QR Codes, pick up swag and a Team Nutz T-shirt.
Nina Nuttall’s ‘I’m Trash’ Jeep in Women of the Show Car World booth.

Ed Nuttall, for Team Nutz, stated, “The attendance this year was reported to approach 20,000 and members of the crowd were really interested automotive enthusiasts. We had literally over 10,000 customized swag items including pens, stickers, screw drivers and lanyards to hand out to attendees. To drive engagement this year we printed custom QR Codes on handouts, graphics on banners and more to connect consumers with our website and DIY-Store along with Instagram, Facebook and Google platforms. We have tracked hundreds of QR Code scans and we gave out 600 custom Team Nutz T Shirts. Already we are blasting out responses and a load of social media posts highlighting action from Team Nutz from the event.

After completing his presentation to the 1600 high school students, Ed Nuttall pictured in the aisle, held up his phone as all of the students yelled “TEAM NUTZ”!!
This entry welcomed all to the Fuel Reuired area on the show floor.

Continuing, Nuttall relayed “On Friday morning area high school high students were bussed to the Convention Center. We met with 1600 high school students in an upstairs meeting room before the World Of Wheels opened where we highlighted our automotive upgrades they could check out in our booth plus potential career opportunities in the automotive industry.”

“All at Team Nutz and our partners certainly put a lot into pulling off this event. Our staff of 15 worked for over 3 days to set up our booths. We put our company and products in front a very large crowd reported to have topped 20,000. Literally thousands will go home with some swag with our name on it too….many memories too. I think the World Of Wheels will once again drive business going forward. We look forward to more big events at the David Lawrence Convention Center in the coming years” Nuttall concluded.

Visit teamnutztechnology.com for more.

Nacho Offroad Lighting Welcomes Bryatt Fischer as Key Account Manager

MESA, AZ (01.28.26) – Nacho Offroad Lighting, an innovator in high-performance lighting solutions for the off-road industry, driven by ARB, is excited to announce the appointment of Bryatt Fischer as Key Account Manager. In this pivotal role, Bryatt will be responsible for managing strategic partnerships and driving growth across the expanding Nacho Offroad Lighting client portfolio.

Brian Hosford, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Nacho Offroad Lighting, stated, “Bryatt’s comprehensive understanding of our target markets and proven track record of expanding brands into new channels are precisely what is required as we continue our growth trajectory. We are confident he will achieve an immediate impact and enhance our relationships across all of our current and prospective customers.”

Bryatt Fischer brings a wealth of experience to the team, with a strong background in marketing, business development, and account management within the automotive and off-road sectors. Before joining Nacho Offroad Lighting, Bryatt held pivotal positions at JL Audio, where he was instrumental in developing the brand to significantly increase sales across all channels, fostered powersports OEM partnerships, and managed strategic business opportunities. His demonstrated expertise in the off-road sector and established success in cultivating enduring partnerships render him an invaluable asset to the Nacho Offroad Lighting team.

“Nacho has all the ingredients to win long-term in off-road lighting: serious performance, a product-first culture, and the kind of backing that helps partners scale with confidence,” said Bryatt Fischer, Key Account Manager at Nacho Offroad Lighting. “My focus is simple: earn mindshare with our key accounts by making it easier to spec, sell, and support Nacho in the real world, through tighter dealer relationships, better enablement, and a strong feedback loop from the field into product and go-to-market. I’m excited to be part of Nacho’s growth and look forward to strengthening the company’s key account relationships.”

Visit nachooffroadtechnology.com for more.

Feel the Difference in Your Sound Through Colossus

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (01.28.26) – Feel the difference in your audio game through an upgraded speaker sound stage within Colossus Classic speaker innovation. Colossus Classic speakers bring out deeper details of your sound while maintaining the core of higher quality playback – undistorted music. Transform audio levels to BIGGER sound with COLOSSUS!

Delivering highs that are more defined and consistent mids throughout every song, your music will feel new, fueled through Colossus Classic speaker technology. A lightweight blue woven fiber cone enables every Colossus Classic speaker to have a fast midrange response, for a cleaner and more precise soundstage of listening.

To learn more, click here.

PowerBass On Site At The Monster Energy SuperCrossA2 In Anaheim

ANAHEIM, CA (1.27.26) – PowerBass was on site at the AMA SuperCross event at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Saturday January 24th in the Privateer Paddock Booth. Erik Harbour, along with Juan Quintana and PowerBass models Jordan, Amanda and Serra were set up in the large booth that attracted a lot of traffic at the family friendly event. PowerBass sponsored the Privateer Paddock area and had a display set up underneath the large tent.

Action on the track at Angel Stadium kept the crowd cheering.

The Monster Energy AMA SuperCross Round A2 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim took place in front of a sold out crowd. The consumer event was on the grounds adjacent to the stadium where many people also enjoyed the vendor booths. Attendance at SuperCross events across the country continues to grow.

In the Privateer Paddock booth, PowerBass had a lot of products on display.
The PowerBass XL-PS200 Bluetooth speaker pods are natural for bikes.
PowerBass models Jordan, Amanda and Serra headed out with some more swag for attendees.

Erik Harbour, PowerBass VP, related “We were back at the event in Angel Stadium again this year for the two evets and the turnout was terrific at both events.. We want to do as much as we can this year to maximize PowerBass’s presence at these events that provides so many branding opportunities for us.”

Continuing “The PowerBass Bluetooth product category was a huge hit as PowerBass did live Instagram posts to find winners for product giveaways in the booth during the day. Attendees were checking out the e-bike giveaway and the XL-PS200 Bluetooth speaker pods as well entering to wins prizes. Scanning the QR Code was another way to win prizes. The winners wore their PowerBass lanyards with big smiles walking around the event. We had tunes rockin’ in the booth too.”

For more see powerbassusa.com.

Firstech Canada Appoints Phil Maczuga – Director of Brand and Supply Chain

SASKATOON, SK (01.27.26) – Firstech Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Maczuga as Director of
Brand and Supply Chain, effective January 26, 2026. This appointment supports the company’s continued growth and reinforces its commitment to delivering strong operational and brand support to partners across Canada.

“Phil is a proven leader with a deep understanding of both brand strategy and supply chain operations,” said Bryan Sack, President of Firstech Canada. “Having worked together previously, I am confident in his ability to contribute meaningful insight and execution as we continue to evolve as an organization.”

Phil Maczuga

Phil brings extensive experience in strategic planning, supply chain management, and operational alignment. His background will play an important role in supporting Firstech Canada’s long-term objectives, enhancing efficiency, and strengthening consistency across the organization.

Commenting on his appointment, Phil Maczuga stated, “Firstech Canada continues to demonstrate strong leadership within the industry through innovation and a clear partner-focused approach. I am excited to join the team and contribute to its continued
growth while supporting the company’s partners nationwide.”

In his role, Phil will be responsible for aligning brand initiatives with supply chain strategy to support scalability and sustained growth.

Phil can be reached at 204-230-1983 or pmaczuga@myfirstech.ca

Visit myfirstech.ca for more.

Drive Discus Power with DA2 from Maxxsonics

LIBERTYVILLE, IL (01.27.26) – Engineered for accurate, clean sound and optimized power delivery, DA2 amplifiers elevate your customer’s entire MB Quart audio experience. With top-mounted controls for quick and easy tuning, the DA2 series delivers legendary Discus power and precision in a sleek, compact design that’s perfect for tight installations.

Every single model in the Discus DA2 amplifier line features Class-D amplification for efficient, clean output, rugged construction to handle Marine and Powersports environments, and top-mounted controls that make tuning a breeze — even in tighter or compact spaces.

Feel the difference in power today with DA2 innovation!

To learn more, click here.

N&H Electronics Hits The Road With Dealer Stops On The Gulf Coast

HATTIESBURG MS (01.26.26) – N&H Electronics is a very proactive distributor that works closely with dealers in their territory. Team members make trips on the road delivering products and connecting with dealers along the Gulf coast.

Tuesday and Wednesday last week Scott Rogers and Michael Femino each made a trip to make deliveries and connect with  dealers. Scott Rogers headed west out of Hattiesburg and made dealer stops in South Louisiana. Mike Femino headed east and made stops along the Gulf Coast. At all of the those stops, in addition to delivering orders, there were discussions about working with the dealers to connect with consumers to drive traffic into their stores.

The N&H van and loaded trailer ready to hit the road.

Scott’s stops were at Tony’s Auto Salon in Metarie and RD Audio Slidell Louisiana. At Tony’s Scott met with LB, Nguyan Thanh, who related that N&H has been a key business partner for years and all at N&H are always engaged to to support his business. dB DBX amps and installation products were included in the products delivered.

At RD Audio in Slidell Scott spent time with Rodney Naquin and delivered a dB Drive order. RD Audio sells car audio, window tinting, security and upholstery in the New Orleans suburb and works with N&H for many products.

Mike Femino made stops at Mobile Techniques in Wiggins and and Wise Choice Audio in Ocean Springs Mississippi. At Mobile Techniques Mike spent time with Chad and delivered the order including KICKER Speakers. The well designed car audio display really draws attention in the Mobile Techniques showroom.

In Wise Choice Audio in Ocean Springs Mike spent time with Greg Wise Jr. The order delivered included PowerBass products. Scott Rogers is celebrating 36 years at N&H and related Wise Choice Audio was a strong dealer when he joined N&H.

Rogers and Femino relayed that each spot there were conversations that dealers need to put their store’s message in front of their community on social media and spotlight hot vehicles out front of their stores. Sitting behind the counter waiting for customers to come in is not working. The in-store listening experience along with professional installation are not available on the web.

“At N&H we realize how important it is to work closely with, and to support, our dealers. Our vendors know how important it is to support brick and mortar retailers in this web-based and AI driven world. Stay tuned for more about our 2026 Dealer Show” Ricky Gibson related.

For more visit nandhelectronics.com

IASCA To Host The 2026 Sound Quality Championship At AXPONA 2027

EAST WENTACHEE, (01.26.26) – The International Auto Sound Challenge Association (IASCA) announced it will host the 2026 Sound Quality Championship at AXPONA in April 2027 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center. Building on a successful sound quality event at AXPONA in 2025, IASCA identified the show’s venue, audience, and infrastructure as an ideal environment for a premier championship-level competition.

IASCA SQ cars will be on display and available for demos.

“AXPONA is an exciting event for spectators and our competition members,” said Travis Chin, president of IASCA. “With over 11,000 spectators, AXPONA is a great opportunity to showcase the best competition sound quality vehicles to other audio enthusiasts from around the world.”

The AXPONA Car Audio Showcase.

IASCA Sound Quality vehicles will be on display and available for demonstrations throughout the three-day event in the Hi-Fi Car Audio Showcase. AXPONA will also feature hundreds of high-fidelity listening rooms, thousands of products in the Expo Hall, the Ear Gear Experience, the Car Audio Showcase, live performances, educational seminars, and cutting-edge audio demonstrations.

Cutting-edge audio installations are available for the Ear Gear Experience.

“AXPONA is all about celebrating innovation and exceptional audio experiences, and IASCA’s Sound Quality Championship aligns perfectly with that mission. We’re excited to expand this collaboration and give both IASCA competitors and AXPONA attendees an unforgettable showcase in 2027,” said Liz Smith, Event Director, AXPONA.

AXPONA 2026 is scheduled for April 10–12, 2026 and the IASCA 2026 Sound Quality Championship at AXPONA is slated for April 9–11, 2027. IASCA’s SPL Championship is tentatively planned for fall 2026, with additional details on the event format and season-long points accumulation toward championship invitations to be announced at a later date.

For more see iasca.com.

Metra Electronics Brings Expert Training to Las Vegas KnowledgeFest

HOLLY HILL, FL (01.26.26)Metra Electronics is heading to Las Vegas, Nevada to host training sessions at KnowledgeFest, February 3-5 at the Paris Hotel. Metra will showcase their latest aftermarket installation products at booth #401. A fully customized Ford Lightning featuring Heise LED, Metra, and VIBE Audio products will also be showcased at the booth. Metra’s training sessions will cover new products launched at the 2025 SEMA Show, including all-in-one premium vehicle-specific audio kits with VIBE speakers, Metra’s next-generation radio platform, PROSCENIUM, new and updated dash kits, Heise LED vehicle accent lighting, and much more!

Training sessions include:

“Metra’s 2026 New Products Overview” on February 3rd at 1:30 PM

This session offers an overview of Metra’s 2026 product lineup, highlighting new and updated dash kits, speaker adapters, harnesses, and integration solutions. Attendees will explore the latest Install Bay accessories, iBeam camera enhancements, Heise Lighting innovations, Vibe Audio speakers and plug-and-play kits, Axxess category expansions, the new AXRSC category, and recent updates to the Metra Online website.

“Metra & Vibe Audio Kits” on February 3rd at 2:45 PM & February 4th at 5:30 PM

This session highlights Metra and Vibe Audio’s vehicle-specific audio solutions, featuring new direct-replacement speaker kits for BMW, Mercedes, and Tesla. It also explores plug-and-play audio kits for select trucks and SUVs, and provides an overview of RTA-based tuning concepts used with Axxess DSP and Vibe DSP amplifiers.

“PROSCENIUM: The Car Radio, Re-Imagined” on February 4th at 4:15 PM & February 5th at 10 AM

This session introduces PROSCENIUM, Metra’s next-generation radio platform. Topics include OEM-quality materials, dual screen sizes, compatibility with Metra 95-style dash kits, built-in programmable interfaces, custom GUI design, wireless and wired CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM readiness, and vehicle CAN system communication.

Metra’s customers can register for the KnowledgeFest event at no cost using Metra’s VIP code, available by request from their sales representative. Once registered for the event, attendees will also need to register online at KnowledgeFest.com for each training session they will attend.