NEW Glass Doctor Website and Blog

Check out our new Glass Doctor website and blog!

Glass Doctor Partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities

Glass Doctor is proud to announce that it is supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) and their efforts to help families with children in hospitals across the United States and Canada.

The partnership is part of an initiative by five service brand concepts in The Dwyer Group® (Aire Serv®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric® and Mr. Rooter®) to provide a helping hand to Ronald McDonald House locations and the families that rely on them for support during stressful times.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is a non-profit corporation separate from the McDonald’s Corporation that creates, funds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. RMHC provides houses that are a “home away from home” for families with children being cared for at the most prestigious children’s hospitals in the world.

"Glass Doctor is a natural fit for RMHC because Glass Doctor franchises can provide in-kind services like window repair and replacement to Ronald McDonald houses in their areas," said David Kozlowski of Glass Doctor of Southeastern Wisconsin.

Glass Doctor franchises will also help support RMHC through fundraising efforts, volunteer activities and advocacy.

Auto Glass Certification Training Earns Stamp of Approval

Glass Doctor is one of a kind. It is now the first retail glass company to offer the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS) registered training program.

Glass Doctor University (GDU) prepares new Glass Doctor franchises to be registered for AGRSS, as well as certified for adhesives application by DOW and SIKA. Now, this is available to all auto glass shop owners.

To be able to provide this training program, Glass Doctor had to meet four AGRSS training form qualifications. These include retention systems, mechanical training, glass replacement, installation standards and procedures and AGR safety issues.

“We are proud to be one of the first glass retailers to have a registered program, it establishes our credibility, and commitment to AGRSS standards,” said Vice President of Franchise Relations and Training Dan Mock.

GDU provides a four day training program in Waco, Texas conducted by the nation’s top industry leaders. GDU Technical Manager Frank Levesque (pictured), an industry veteran with 40 years of experience, is the lead instructor. He’ll be joined by Denny Noreikas and Dale Malcolm of DOW, along with Blake Brandt and Carl Tompkins of SIKA.

For more information about these classes, or to register for the next class call Glass Doctor corporate headquarters at (800) 490–7051.

Foggy Windows No More, Thanks to Glass Doctor

As if all the record snowfall weren’t bad enough this winter, having an Insulated Glass (IG) window fog up can run up your electric bill. The fog in the window means the seal has failed, so the window is not insulating properly and your heat is literally going right out the window.

Trudy Capel of Hiram, Ohio, shares her story about how Glass Doctor saved her IG windows and her energy bills:

Around Thanksgiving, we started looking around our home and planning out what we wanted to do to decorate home for Christmas. We noticed that as the colder weather approached, our front living room windows did not look so good anymore. They were all fogged up and had so much moisture between the panels that you couldn't even see out them. So we opened up the yellow pages and called Glass Doctor of Cleveland to come give us a quote on replacing the glass. We also called two other places.

Tammy showed up at our place in just a couple days and gave us a quote to replace the glass on all four front windows, plus four more we found that needed replaced around the house. She was very professional and thorough. She even showed us how our windows had tilt in accessibility for easier cleaning. We didn't even know that. We had two other window companies give us a quote and they were not as impressive, plus they were more expensive. The decision was easy - Glass Doctor.

So we ordered our windows, which arrived and were installed the day after we put up our Christmas tree. The installer was just as professional as Tammy. He installed all the new glass in our eight windows in just a couple of hours. My husband wasn't even late for work. When I arrived home from work later that day, I was so excited to be able to see the lights of my Christmas tree glistening thru my new front windows, just in time for the holidays. Thanks Glass Doctor.

Thank you, Trudy, for sharing your story with us. Trudy’s story is the winner in our Reflections e-mail newsletter “Help Santa” contest. She will receive a $50 gift card to Applebee’s in appreciation. To sign up for Reflections, go to http://www.glassdoctor.com/e-news.htm

Care Packages for Troops Earn Glass Doctor of Riverside County, CA the Most Creative Program Season of Sharing Award

Glass Doctor of Southwest Riverside County in Murrieta, Calif., owned by Laurel Miller, is the winner of the Most Creative Program category of the company’s “Season of Sharing” campaign.

Team members from Glass Doctor of Southwest Riverside County collected items for care packages for U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan. The packages were sent overseas in time for Christmas through a partnership with Assist Our Troops. Coordinated by Jan Bates, Karen Pollock and Karen Wales, Murrieta-based Realtors, Assist Our Troops sent enough care packages for more than 500 men and women serving in the Marine Corps.

“Each month I collect donations from members of our community, including local businesses and my friends and affiliates,” Wales said. “I also use my own funds to purchase items from local garage sales, which Laurel Miller allows me to store and ship from her warehouse, along with all the donations I collect throughout the month. Next I hold a monthly auction at EXIT Twin Advantage Realty, my office in Murrieta, selling these items and raising funds.”

For a complete list of items needed for Assist Our Troops go to www.assistourtroops.com or call Laurel Miller at (951) 541-0611 or Jan Bates at (760) 723-4375.

Glass Doctor of Montrose, CO Wins Per Capita Territory Division in Season of Sharing Campaign

Glass Doctor of Montrose, CO, owned by Curtis Lyon, won the Most Items Collected per Capita Territory in the company’s annual “Season of Sharing” national campaign.

In just its first year to participate in the Season of Sharing campaign, Glass Doctor of Montrose collected more than 300 items for the Sharing Ministries Food Bank to win the Per Capita category. This category rewards franchises that collect the most non-perishable food items per capita population in their territories.

Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire Collects Meals for 925 Families

Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire, based in Hesperia, Calif., is the overall winner of the company’s national Season of Sharing campaign for the second year in a row.

Owned by Matt Nicklaus, Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire partnered with the Salvation Army and Desert Manna to collect enough food for 1,250 boxed meals, which were distributed to 925 families. In addition, Glass Doctor of the Inland Empire helped 225 children with new toys for Christmas.

Conducted Nov. – Dec. 2009, the Glass Doctor Season of Sharing campaign encouraged the more than 170 Glass Doctor franchises in the U.S. and Canada to collect and donate non-perishable food items to local food banks and non-profit organizations. Watch our blog for two more winners to be announced soon.

Glass Doctor Franchises Earn Angie's List Super Service Awards

Three Glass Doctor franchises earned the esteemed Angie’s List 2009 Super Service Award. The franchises belong to group of fewer than five percent of companies registered with Angie’s List that met the award requirements.

The Super Service Award is given to companies that have a consistently high level of customer service according to Angie’s List, which is the nation’s leading provider of consumer ratings on local service companies. Thousands of members of the website share their ratings and reviews of local companies in more than 500 categories. All three Glass Doctor franchise winners maintained a total and overall grade of “A;” have received a minimum number of reports; are not in the Angie’s List “Penalty Box” and did not have an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau.

The Glass Doctor franchises honored by Angie’s List include:

Glass Doctor of Charlotte, owned by Ed Sieber, located at 608 Mathews Mint Rd., Suite B, Charlotte, N.C. Sieber is the reigning Glass Doctor Franchisee of the Year.

Glass Doctor of Ramsey, owned by George Strauch, located at 75 Orchard St., Ramsey, N.J.

Glass Doctor of North Texas, owned by Larry Patterson, located at 2001 Midway Dr., Carrollton, Texas.

“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing the best customer service,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List. Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2009 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

More than 50 Glass Doctor locations were eligible to receive the Super Service award by being rated and reviewed by Angie’s List subscribers. To find the ratings or rate a new Glass Doctor location, go to www.angieslist.com.

Glass Doctor Moves Up on Franchise 500 List 2010 Edition

Glass Doctor moved up to No. 240 on the “Franchise 500” list, as published in the January 2010 issue of Entrepreneur magazine. The company was ranked No. 277 in 2009 and No. 312 in 2008.

In addition, Entrepreneur added Glass Doctor to its list of America’s Top Global Franchises at No. 179. Glass Doctor expanded into Canada last year with the opening of five new franchises. This year the company expects to add 10 more Canadian franchises. Eight new Glass Doctor locations in Canada and the U.S. are expected to open in the next six months.

More than 175 Glass Doctor franchisees serve the residential, automotive and commercial glass repair and replacement markets at more than 300 locations. From windows to windshields to storefronts, Glass Doctor can handle any glass need. Glass Doctor also offers custom glass services, such as tub and shower enclosures, entry door glass and mirrors.

Franchise territories are still available in major U.S. markets, including Dayton, Ohio; Duluth, Minn.; Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; and Wichita, Kan. Open Canadian markets include Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

Glass Doctor of the Ozarks first franchise to open in 2010

The Glass Doctor of the Ozarks franchise owned by Coy Pepper is now open and ready to “fix your panes!” Pepper (center), Inside Sales Representative Lucinda Ellison, and Glass Service Technician Danny Spain offer mobile residential, automotive, and commercial glass services to Branson, Nixa and other communities in Christian and Taney Counties. The shop is open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 24-hour emergency service is available.

“We’re pleased to be a part of Glass Doctor, we know it will help us start our business off well,” Pepper said. “From windows to windshields to storefronts, we’ll take care of any glass repair or replacement needs.”

Upon purchasing the franchise, Pepper attended the most in-depth training in the glass services industry, a 10-day training course on the latest glass repair technology, customer service techniques and marketing methods held at the Glass Doctor University Training Center in Waco, Texas.

The Glass Doctor of the Ozarks shop is located at 1609 N. Hwy. CC in Nixa. For more information or to request service call (417) 714-4801.

How to Safely Remove Ice from Windshields

Glass Doctor has a better way to safely remove ice from windshields and auto glass. Gradually heat the glass from the inside while scraping and brushing ice from the outside.

1. Check to make sure no ice or snow is obstructing the vehicle’s tailpipe. If it is covered, the ice or snow must be removed to prevent the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning inside the vehicle.
2. If the car door is frozen shut with ice, pour cold water to gradually melt the ice and use a plastic ice scraper to carefully chip a crack in the ice around the door seal and the lock. Do not try to “unseal” the door by using a hair dryer, cigarette lighter, ice pick, screwdriver, propane torch or portable heater.
3. Start the vehicle and use the defroster setting to warm the glass. Wait at least five minutes for the car to start to warm up.
4. Use a plastic ice scraper and a soft plastic bristle brush or broom to clear the ice. A squeegee also helps.

There are de-icing products on the market that may shorten the time it takes to melt the ice, but they have mixed results. The most important thing is to plan some extra time to remove the ice before traveling. Glass Doctor can fix the glass if it breaks, but can’t fix people if they get hurt.

Ice Removal Myth #1 - Boiling Water

Myth: Pour hot water on the windshield and/or auto glass to melt the ice. Make sure to cover the ice completely.

Reality: It's not just the ice that's frozen, the glass is frozen as well. When an extreme temperature change happens, the glass shatters. The same thing can happen if you start your car, wait a couple minutes for it to warm up, and then turn the defroster on high heat full blast. The interior side of the glass is frozen too. This is especially true if there is already a chip in the windshield glass. That chip will run into a crack fast.

For all you science geeks, you probably know that glass is a unique state of matter, it is called a "liquid solid." That means even though it looks solid, it still has some properties of a liquid, especially expanding and contracting with the air temperature. Glass also has no insulating properties - it lets heat and cold pass right through. That's why your home can get condensation, because a single-pane window will have the same outside temperature on the inside. That cold temperature of the glass can take water vapor out of the indoor air and turn it into condensation on the glass. Double-pane insulated windows prevent condensation and save energy costs.

So you got a 2-for-1 deal today - you learned why windshields crack due to temperature changes and why single-pane windows produce condensation. As a full-service glass shop, Glass Doctor can help fix both of those panes.

Custom Shower Enclosure Makes Great Christmas Present

Travis and Nita Putnam of Woodbridge, VA sent us a nice letter after their custom shower enclosure was installed:

My wife and I would like you to know that you have some of the best staff we've ever dealt with during any of our home improvement projects working at your Glass Doctor of Fredericksburg, VA, location. Owner Scott Brinn and technician "Skeeter" were very courteous and helpful throughout the process of installing our new glass shower. Technician Steve Kendall however, went above and beyond what I would expect from any service provider.

Steve originally came out to the house as an install contractor through a large home improvement company. We were completely unsatisfied with the product we received. Rather than leaving us to fight our own refund battle with the home improvement store, Steve went out of his way to document why the product we received could not be installed properly and took up our fight for us with the store. Nearly unheard of, with Steve's help, we received a full refund of the special order product, and the associated removal and installation fees. Within 24 hours, Steve had drawn up precise plans and given us a price estimate on the shower we had originally envisioned.

Steve, along with the help of Scott and Skeeter accomplished what every customer hopes and dreams of: Finding a company who says what they're going to do, and actually does what they said they would. The Glass Doctor of Fredericksburg team beat time estimates both on delivery and installation, and made the process easy for us, by listening and accommodating our special requests. I sleep during the day and work at night, and the Glass Doctor team went out of their way to accommodate my unusual sleep pattern.

By far, out of any of the home improvement projects we have undertaken, Glass Doctor has been the easiest and most enjoyable company to work with. We will definitely be calling Glass Doctor for future projects and recommending them to others. Thanks for the great new shower!

Glass Doctor Parent Company Earns Best Workplace Award

The Dwyer Group, parent company of Glass Doctor, is one of 75 companies to be honored among the Best Companies to Work for in Texas, and will be featured in the February 2010 issue of Texas Monthly. This is the third consecutive year The Dwyer Group has been honored.

The survey and awards program recognizes and honors the best employers in Texas, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. Companies were judged on their benefits, leadership programs, corporate culture, interviews with company employees and more. The ranking is sponsored by the Texas Association of Business (TAC), the Texas State Council of the Society of Human Resource Management (TSC-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group.

Dina Dwyer-Owens, chairwoman and CEO of The Dwyer Group, called it a fitting achievement as she announced the award at the company's 15th annual Founder’s Day on Oct. 30.

“There’s no better way to share this news than on Founder’s Day when we embrace the dream of the late Don Dwyer who established our company,” Dwyer-Owens said. “His mission was to help all of those he touched to lead happier, more successful lives. And this award is proof that we continue to champion that same idea by creating a great workplace that truly values its people.”

The Dwyer Group associates celebrated the news by participating in Founder’s Day events at the Hog Creek Ice House in Waco, including an obstacle course, tug-of-war, games, charitable gifts, crafts, and a motivational seminar by Dwyer-Owens called “Managing the Balancing Act: How to feel fulfilled in your personal and professional lives.”

“We would not be the strong company we are today without our Code of Values and our belief that we are only as good as the people who represent us,” Dwyer-Owens added. “We work very hard at what we do, but we also make sure that we’re having fun in the process.”

Franchise Times Ranks Glass Doctor on Top Franchise Systems List

Glass Doctor is ranked No. 243 on the Franchise Times Top Franchise Systems list.

Franchise Times bases its selections on annual sales in 2008. Last year Glass Doctor reported $140 million in sales with 163 franchise units in the United States and two in Canada.

Glass Doctor expects to finish the fourth quarter of 2009 strong by adding seven U.S. franchises and four Canadian franchise locations. This year 14 new locations have opened across North America.

Established in 1962 in Seattle, Glass Doctor started franchising in 1977 with a shop in Atlanta. Today there are more than 175 Glass Doctor franchise owners.

Glass Doctor is seeking qualified franchise owners in major markets across the U.S. and Canada, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Francisco and Toronto.

Open mid-size markets include Dayton, Ohio; Duluth, Minn.; Eugene, Ore.; McAllen, Texas; Nashville, Tenn.; and Wichita, Kan.

Financial assistance is available to new franchise owners, especially military veterans through The Dwyer Group VetFran program. For more information about Glass Doctor franchise opportunities, call 1-800-280-9858 or visit The Dwyer Group Web site at

www.leadingtheserviceindustry.com.

Glass Doctor Installs Unique Outdoor Stained Glass Panel

The first Glass Doctor franchise in Canada, Glass Doctor of Kawartha Lakes, ON, recently completed a one-of-a-kind outdoor stained glass signage job. The glass service technicians put clear glass on both sides of the stained glass units, designed and constructed the framing, dug the post holes, cemented the posts and then installed the art work.

Glass Doctor Franchisee of the Year featured in USGNN videocast

USGNN magazine featured Ed Sieber of Glass Doctor of Charlotte in its video report of the GlassBuild America trade show in Atlanta last week. Ed talked about how the recession has affected his window replacement business and how Glass Doctor is working hard from the shop level to the corporate level to recover.

Custom Glass Shower Enclosure Idea in Seattle Solves Space Problem

Glass Doctor of King & Pierce Counties near Seattle, WA created a glass shower enclosure with a custom header design that completely changes the bathroom. The header is suspended one inch above the glass surface, giving the heavy glass extra stability. Notice the edge of the tub has become a seat to take advantage of extra space.

With the extra space the new shower enclosure has multiple shower heads. It also connects to the sink countertop. The shower enclosure in the photo below is from a different bathroom, but with the same "floating" custom header design.

If you are interested in more shower enclosure designs, check out the Glass Doctor shower enclosure virtual showroom where you can look and different designs and match the header colors to the bathroom wall colors.

Glass Doctor Rookie of the Year Franchise Profile

Three years ago, David Kozlowski was tired. He was tired of corporate life and he was tired of moving his family every two years. He thought if he could find the right franchise system, he could start his own business and stay in one place for a while. In June 2007 David bought a stagnant 14-year-old Glass Doctor shop in Milwaukee, Wis., and turned it into a full-service glass machine. It earned him the 2008 Glass Doctor Rookie of the Year Award. Little did David know that staying put can actually move someone in unexpected ways.

Custom Glass Shower Rooms?

Glass Doctor loves glass shower enclosures. They’re a great way to improve the whole look of a bathroom without a complete renovation. Some glass shower enclosures are more challenging than others, though. Here’s a custom glass shower enclosure by Stephen Beavers and his team at Glass Doctor of Greers Ferry, AR, that became something more.

“This one was a challenge for us that eventually came out beautiful and we have used it for bragging rights ever since,” Stephen said. “The unit is a steam room with a partial glass ceiling. We fabricated the ceiling ourselves. I think it works great, I’ve never gotten to use it but I haven ‘t had a complaint saying otherwise.”