Safelite AutoGlass celebrates 70 years by looking to the future
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Since 1947, Safelite AutoGlass® has been providing vehicle glass repair and replacement services all over the country. What began as one shop in a junkyard, has grown into a nationwide service brand with more than 9,200 MobileGlassShopsTM, reaching the vast majority of the U.S. population in under 48 hours. But Safelite is more than that. Today, Safelite is all about purpose – to make a difference and bring unexpected happiness to people’s everyday lives while aspiring to be the greatest, most trusted and admired service brand.
“Sure, we celebrate our anniversary and acknowledge this 70-year milestone, but we are focused on the future,” said President and CEO Tom Feeney. “Our strategy hasn’t changed. We must continue to change the rules of the game by being bold and taking a fresh approach to our business.”
As a company, success started long ago with the commitment to becoming a national company providing service only in the United States. As technology improved, Safelite began offering mobile service and building the Safelite brand. To diversify and offer more than just auto glass, Safelite Solutions was born. Safelite Group, the parent of Safelite AutoGlass, Safelite Solutions and Service AutoGlass, is focused on people first, providing an excellent customer experience, continuing to grow and diversify the business, and making sure there are processes to support the success.
“Our leaders and our people drive our performance. Ten years ago, we transformed our culture to become People Powered and Customer Driven,” Feeney said. “That means investing in talented associates who go above and beyond for our customers and each other.”
The future is bright for Safelite, as we continue to grow organically in the vehicle glass repair and replacement industry, we are continually making it easier for our customers to do business with us. That means thinking ahead of customer needs when it comes to technology, including a just-launched Alexa skill, mobile tools so customers know when their technician will arrive, and more. Auto glass repair and replacement isn’t all we are looking to innovate, our Safelite Solutions business is growing too by offering expanded claims management services for our current and future insurance clients.
So what’s in store for the next 70 years? Reprioritizing as necessary, without changing direction away from our purpose and vision. Today its auto glass, tomorrow who knows …?
About Safelite AutoGlass®
Safelite AutoGlass® is the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services with more than 9,200 MobileGlassShops™ and company stores in all 50 states. Last year, more than 5.4 million customers chose Safelite for its 24/7 national contact centers, advanced online scheduling, superior repair and replacement systems, and the industry’s only nationwide lifetime guarantee. Founded in 1947, the Columbus, Ohio-based company employs nearly 14,000 people across the United States. For more information, visit Safelite.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Editors’ Note: Additional photographs and interviews available upon request.