News Glass Doctor

Jeannine Beasley collects pillow cases. At first, collecting pillow cases seems like an odd hobby, but for Jeannine, it’s a calling to help others.

Last Christmas, Jeannine, who is an employee at Glass Doctor of Central Carolina located in Dunn, N.C., asked fellow church member and U.S. service member Rhonda Henderson, who was serving in Kuwait, what she could send to help troops.

Henderson told her pillow cases. The hospitals in Kuwait are stocked with sheets and blankets, but no pillow cases for wounded soldiers.

So Jeannine started Operation Pillow Talk, a community effort to collect pillow cases with inspirational bible verses and quotes written by children and adults on them for wounded U.S. soldiers.

“If I had my head on a pillow case with all these uplifting words from communities back home, I’d feel inspired,” Beasley said.

It started as an effort within her own church, but Beasley took it to her boss, Glass Doctor franchise owner and veteran Jim Johnson, who encouraged her to bring pillowcases to customers and use the shop as a drop-off point.

“Jeannine told me about the pillow case project, and I thought it was such a great idea that I offered to pay shipping on the pillow cases collected at our office,” Johnson said.

As Beasley continued her efforts, local businesses began offering to serve as drop-off points, as well as pay for shipping the items collected at their business. She’s even been asked to speak at local churches and schools about the collection.

“When you see the pictures and notes children write, it makes you smile, and you know it’ll make the soldiers smile too,” Beasley said.

One of the best parts, she says, is that it’s a cost-efficient way to help soldiers, with pillow case two-packs being sold for less than five dollars.

“It’s a small price with a big impact,” she said.

Anyone interested in donating pillow cases can contact Jeannine at (910) 892-0441. If you’re in the Dunn, N.C. area, you can drop your pillowcase off at the shop, located at 1209 North Ellis Avenue. If you would like to donate, but aren’t in the area, there are still opportunities to give.

“It’s something we’re hoping will spread state-to-state,” she said. “I want it to go global. I want the soldiers to have pillowcases from every state in the U.S.”

Glass Doctor parent company The Dwyer Group^® is proud to support veterans. The company founded VetFran, an International Franchise Association (IFA) strategic initiative, founded in 1991 by The Dwyer Group founder Don Dwyer, Sr., to support veterans returning from the Gulf War transition to the civilian economy. As part of the initiative, The Dwyer Group is proud to offer a 25 percent discount on the initial base territory purchase and special vendor incentives for those who qualify.

Glass Doctor has also been named a 2012 Military Friendly Franchise^® by G.I. Jobs Magazine. This is the second consecutive year Glass Doctor has been on the list.

Glass Doctor of Central Carolina employees send the first pillow case package. From left to right: Donna Lee, Jeannine Beasley and Linda Hicks.

Glass Doctor has been named a 2012 Military Friendly Franchise^® by G.I. Jobs Magazine. The company is ranked in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide for benefits to veterans.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a Military Friendly Franchise again,” Glass Doctor President Mark Liston said.

The glass services company honors military veterans all year round by offering service members a discount of 25 percent off the franchise fee, allowing veterans to use their training and operational skills in a new civilian career.

“The Military Friendly Franchises^® list was created three years ago out of demand from military veterans, many of whom want to start or own their own business but are unclear where to begin,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs.  “Being selected as a Military Friendly Franchise places Glass Doctor in this elite group, and is testimony to Glass Doctor’s world class programs and policies that support military veterans interested franchise opportunities.”

Glass Doctor is also a member of IFA’s VetFran strategic iniative, which includes more than 400 IFA franchisor member companies offering financial incentives, training and mentoring to veterans interested in small business ownership and/or a career path in franchising. VetFran was founded by the IFA in 1991 in an effort led by The Dwyer Group^® founder Don Dwyer, Sr., to support veterans returning from the Gulf War transition to the civilian economy.

Glass Doctor technician installs replacement window.

Lori Heitkko has a lot on her plate. The Heitkkos, from Amasa, Mich., have been staying at Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee for the last 42 days while her grandchild gets medical attention. With so much to deal with, every day problems like car issues become even more taxing.

After seeing Lori go outside and put a tarp over his 1995 Ford Ranger’s broken window every day for months, something needed to be done. An anonymous person called Glass Doctor of S.E. Wisconsin to see how much a new window would cost.

“When I got the call to see if I’d be able to do the work, I immediately wanted to lend a hand,” Glass Doctor of S.E. Wisconsin franchise owner and fellow Michigan native David Kozlowski said. “I offered to donate the window and labor. I’m honored to help in any way I can.”

Glass Doctor of S.E. Wisconsin donated and installed a new driver’s side window 1 p.m. Thursday at the Ronald McDonald House located at 8948 Watertown Plank Road.

“They’ve been here over a month, and it’s been cold and rainy here,” Ronald McDonald House in Milwaukee President  Lynda Kohler said. “It’s great that Glass Doctor can help make the Heitkkos stay a little easier.”

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. For more information about how you can give back to Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit www.rmhc.org.

The Glass Doctor^® SMARTECH™ Olympics has yielded its second technician to compete at the 7^th Annual Pilkington Clear Advantage Auto Glass Technician Olympics at Auto Glass Week™. The technician, from Millersburg, Ohio, earned the same score as the first competitor to move on, from Charlotte, N.C.

“These two technicians are testaments to our Code of Values™ and our dedication to workmanship and service,” Glass Doctor Vice President of Franchise Relations & Training Douglas Dotson said. “I have no doubt they will be great representatives for Glass Doctor in Louisville.”

The Glass Doctor Olympic semi-final competition was held Saturday, May 5 in Cleveland.

 “Glass Doctor technicians are proud of their work, and now, through the SMARTECH™ Olympics and at Auto Glass Week™, they can show the industry what Glass Doctor delivers to customers every day,” Dotson said.

For more information about Glass Doctor, visit www.glassdoctor.com.

By definition, patio furniture stays outside on the patio. That doesn’t mean it should look like it’s “under the weather” — worn down, faded, stained and moldy. Don’t let keeping your table and chairs ready for guests be the dark cloud hovering over your party plans. Get your furniture ready for your summer barbeque with new seat cushions, a new table top or a fresh coat of paint.

Pillows & Cushions

When shopping for seat cushions, make sure the material is resistant to humidity and fading. Acrylic, canvas and spun polyester are more weather-resistant fabrics. Look for light, quick-drying seat padding to prevent molding.

If you’re sewing-savvy, or have a friend who is, add a zipper to the seam of the pillow cover. A hidden zipper gives you the versatility to change fabrics. Consider making a set of seat covers for each season, so you can have a soft pastel in the spring, a bright pattern in the summer and warm hues in the fall and winter months. As an added bonus, the next time a guest drips barbeque sauce on the seat, just throw the cover into the washing machine!

After you make the seat covers, save the extra material to make tablecloths or place mats. With a few scraps, cut half-inch strips to use as ribbons to tie around vases, candles or napkins.

Table Tops

Another easy change that can improve the look of your table is a new table top. You can build a wooden table top that fits over the existing table, then paint or stain the wood. For further protection and a more finished look, place a custom-cut glass table top over the wood. Glass table tops are easier to clean than many wood and metal table tops. Glass Doctor^® can custom measure and cut safety glass for patio table tops with or without umbrella holes.

Paint

Applying a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to revitalize your furniture. Spray paint is easy to apply, dries fast and comes in a wide variety of colors. You can find outdoor spray paint made for wood, metal or plastic at your local home improvement store.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with colors and patterns! Let the architecture or interior design of your home inspire you. Your inspiration can be a wall color, a piece of art or even a quilt pattern. For example, if you love the paisley design on your couch, paint a similar paisley design on the chairs and tables on your base coat.

With a dedicated work weekend, you can enjoy the sunlight and clear blue sky on your picture perfect patio for years to come. You’ll never want to entertain inside again.

The Glass Doctor^® SMARTECH™ Olympics has yielded its first technician to compete at the 7^th Annual Pilkington Clear Advantage Auto Glass Technician Olympics at Auto Glass Week™. The technician, from Charlotte, N.C., earned the highest score compared to the two prior semi-final competitions in Sacramento and Dallas.

“Glass Doctor technicians are proud of their work, and now, through the SMARTECH™ Olympics and at Auto Glass Week™, they can show the industry what Glass Doctor delivers to customers every day,” Glass Doctor Vice President of Franchise Relations & Training Douglas Dotson said.

The Glass Doctor Olympic semi-final competition was held Saturday, April 14 in Atlanta, Ga. The two technicians with the best scores overall will compete at Auto Glass Week™ in September.

“If you watched Undercover Boss with The Dwyer Group^® CEO Dina Dwyer-Owens, you’ve heard about our Code of Values™ and our dedication to workmanship and service,” Dotson said. “We can’t wait to showcase those values and our training in Louisville.”

The last SMARTECH™ semifinal event will be held in Cleveland May 5.  For more information about Glass Doctor, visit www.glassdoctor.com.

The few weeks ago, the Dallas-Fort Worth area saw tornadoes and hail storms leave a path of destruction across North Texas. The Glass Doctor of North Texas shop is still swamped with the clean-up and response. Now, this past weekend, an outbreak of tornadoes devastated the Mid-West. At Glass Doctor, there isn’t much we can do to help you prepare for the storms, but we recognize storm preparation is vital.  Make sure you are prepared for a storm outbreak with information from the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC). Click here for informational tools from the CDC on how to prepare and respond to natural disasters and severe weather.

Once the storm has past, the dust has settled, and you and your family are safe, give us a call to board-up your windows and replace your auto glass at 1-877-467-2006.

April is National Car Care Month. Before you get behind the wheel, remember car maintenance isn’t just under the hood. 

A cracked windshield is a safety risk. It can impair the driver’s vision and put passengers at risk. Not to mention, most automotive safety experts rank the windshield as the third most important safety component in today’s vehicles, behind seatbelts and airbags. Laws require seatbelt use and prevent tampering with airbags, but there are no laws about windshield replacements.

Consumers should ask these four questions before a replacement windshield installation:

1. Will the old adhesive be removed from the vehicle frame? If the adhesive isn’t removed down to the adhesive manufacturer’s recommended level, the fit may not be tight and the new adhesive won’t bond correctly.

1. Will the technician wear gloves to keep from contaminating the glass? If oil and dirt get on the edges, the new adhesive (called urethane) may not bond correctly.

1. Will the new urethane adhesive stand up to the high deployment pressure of airbags? The best available manufacturer equivalent urethane adhesive should be used, not butyl tape. Ask for adhesive made by Dow, Sika or the original car maker’s adhesive supplier.

1. How long does the urethane adhesive need to set until the vehicle can be driven? Every urethane has a “safe drive-away time.”

The Auto Glass Safety Council™ (AGSC), formerly AGRSS®, promotes safe auto glass industry standards, which an auto glass technician should follow.

Glass Doctor voluntarily supports the standard glass replacement procedures approved by AGSC, and Glass Doctor shops offer original equipment manufactured (OEM) windshields. Only OEM glass can provide the quality necessary to ensure a proper fit, which greatly reduces the safety risks.

For more information, visit www.glassdoctor.com.

This month, and every month, be car care aware and stay safe. For more information on how you can be Car Care Aware, visit www.carcare.org.

HOW TO: Find a Quality Windshield Replacement and Glass Repair Shop

April 1-7, 2012 is National Window Safety Week in the U.S. Fires and falls of all kinds are among the leading causes of injury and death in young children. In fact, new research published in the journal Pediatrics finds nearly 5,200 kids in the U.S. are treated in an emergency department each year after falling from a window. That’s 14 kids a day.

Even a fall from a single story can be dangerous. Locks for all kinds of windows and doors (including sliding glass doors) can be purchased at your local hardware store. The locks prevent kids from opening the doors and windows, thereby preventing falls and other dangerous situations. Window stops, which are screwed into the window frame and block the window from sliding open too much, are another option. Keep in mind, window screens do not prevent falls, so locks or stops are needed to ensure fall prevention.

While you should prevent  falls from windows, it’s important to realize that in a fire, a window can save a child’s life. Windows can serve as emergency escape routes. Remember that security bars, grilles and grates not only keep intruders out, they can also lock you in. Make sure yours open easily from the inside and are not blocked by furniture or other objects.  Knowing how to open and use a window in an emergency is as important as preventing falls out of windows.

For more information about the National Safety Council and National Window Safety Week, visit www.nsc.org.

The Glass Doctor of North Texas franchise, owned by Larry Patterson, is operating in emergency mode after tornadoes and severe weather ripped through the Dallas-Fort Worth area yesterday afternoon. The shop has extended operating hours and is running at full capacity with window board-ups and glass replacements.

The day after the storm, the shop saw a 300% increase in business because of the hail storms, affecting mostly auto glass.  The shop remained open during the storm, and will continue to help the community.

“We will be busy for quite a while,” Patterson said. ”There was extensive damage around DFW airport, Irving, and Coppell. Most of the damage we are seeing is auto glass. Sunroofs, windshields and back glasses.”

Patterson said there hasn’t been much property glass damage reported.

“We have seen very little damage to property glass from the hail,” he said. ”Many of the buildings with glass damage were in tornado areas. They don’t need glass because they don’t have roofs and walls.”

Glass Doctor of North Texas is located at 2001 Midway, Suite  121 in Carrollton. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the shop at (972) 271-6800 or visit www.glassrepairDallasTX.com.