Savs Window Tints, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (415) 523-5742 or savstints@gmail.com.
Chris Candia wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with window tinting before he decided to make it his livelihood, but as he delved deeper into the intricacies of the trade, he knew he had found his niche. “In 2012, I was working in the detail service center of a BMW dealership in San Francisco, and I noticed they had a window tinter and got intrigued about the process,” he remembers. “In the past, I had used whatever window film they sell at places like O’Reilly’s and AutoZone, but I knew that wasn’t the real stuff, so I did some research and found a school in El Cajon that offered window tinting training. After a year of working at the dealership, I took some vacation time and flew to San Diego to take the class. When I came back, I put in my notice and started my own business.”
Chris started Savs Window Tints out of his Honda, but it wasn’t long before he was successful enough to upgrade to a service van and, eventually, two brick-and-mortar facilities in San Leandro and San Francisco. Today, he says his favorite part of his job is the actual process of applying tint to his customers’ vehicles. “It’s like therapy to me—when I’m in there preparing a car and making all the precision cuts, it’s very relaxing. I just like doing quality work for people and making sure everything is nice and clean.”
A lifelong resident of the Bay Area, Chris was born and raised in San Francisco and currently lives in Castro Valley with his fiancée and their four children. He says life in the East Bay is favorable for raising a family, but his heart remains across the bridge. “My grandparents and father still live in San Francisco, so if I had a choice I would still be there. But we have a nice home with a backyard in Castro Valley and my kids go to a good school, so it’s worth the tradeoff. San Francisco is my spot, though—especially when it comes to finding the best burritos and tacos.”
Outside of work, Chris devotes most of his free time to his family. “My kids are full of energy, so we like taking them to parks, going on camping trips, and visiting places like Disneyland and Half Moon Bay,” he says. “My daughter Dahlia’s birthday is in October, so we like going to Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay during the Halloween season and letting the kids run around in the pumpkin patches.”
When it comes to a personal or professional philosophy, Chris believes in the importance of embracing the struggle. “Every day has obstacles and challenges, but you just have to look at things positively and trust they’re going to lead to better outcomes,” he offers. “Even losses can turn into something positive, so you have to stick with it.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The San Francisco 49ers.
Q: What’s your favorite movie genre?
A: I like a little bit of everything, but my favorites are probably comedy and drama.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: 5A5 Steak Lounge in San Francisco.
Q: If you could drive any car, what would it be?
A: A 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle.
Q: What’s your favorite holiday?
A: Christmas—everybody is together and I like watching my kids open their gifts.