September 27, 2013
Laguna Hills, Calif.-based Solar Art Window Film has acquired Stop the Sun, a privately held company headquartered in Escondido, Ca. Stop the Sun has an active customer base which includes residential, commercial and various city agency accounts. According to Solar Art, Stop the Sun is one of the oldest and largest 3M window film dealers in Southern California.
“The acquisition of Stop the Sun allows us to expand our reach into San Diego,” says Matthew Darienzo, CEO of Solar Art. “Stop the Sun’s customer base and solutions portfolio makes this a natural addition as we continue to grow our business.”
Solar Art was ranked on the 2012 and 2013 Inc. 5,000 lists, resulting from internal growth and prior acquisitions, says Darienzo. The company was ranked 1,974 in 2012, moving up to 1,747 in 2013.
“The initial [Inc. 5,000] ranking was for the [2011] acquisition, but as we go forward it’s for internal growth,” Darienzo adds.
According to the company website, Darienzo acquired a Tint Plus in 2000 in OrangeCounty as his first window film company. He later became the CEO of Solar Art in 2009, and acquired 3M dealer Sun-Tech Window Film in Reseda, Calif., in 2011, which now operates under the Solar Art name. The Stop the Sun acquisition marks his fourth shop addition.
Darienzo says he thinks this move will help Solar Art make the 2014 list as well.
“Solar Art is always looking for ways to expand and grow the company,” he adds. “We feel that this acquisition, as well as others, will help our company’s growth, thus being ranked again for 2014.”