It’s a rather seasonal topic to be writing about independence around this time of year. But, as my area was too poor to put on fireworks displays this year, I began to reflect on the importance of independent business is to this country and how we as Americans must continue to strive to maintain our entrepreneurial spirit.
Many of our Founding Fathers who lived in the northern colonies were educated tradesmen. Ben Franklin apprenticed out as a printer. Paul Revere was a silversmith. John Hancock made his money as a blockage runner. The Minute Men of Concord were made up of farmers and guildsmen from the town. In fact, this country and its quest for independence was fueled by English immigrants who railed against taxes and laws that were imposed upon them by a British aristocracy living and ruling a few thousand miles away with a dangerous sea voyage as the only method of passage and communication
Much has changed in North America since that July of 1776. I doubt even the most visionary of our Founders saw the amount of growth and the change that development would bring. In many ways, we as a country have been blessed to survive the tumultuous transformations politics and technology has created upon the populace.
Our very own industry of auto glass replacement and repair is a shining example of every quality that America espouses. First of all, the craft is a byproduct of technological advances that took place over a hundred years after this country was founded. For the most part the backbone of this industry consists of small localized outlets that dot the American landscape. It is a highly democratic mercantile business in the fact that anyone can start one up with success or failure dependent upon its creator. While that “easy entry” can and does cause all sorts of problems for the industry as a whole, it still provides proof that one can gain an economic foothold and more without needing an overwhelming amount of capital or social status.
Glass installation and repair shops come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. We know that there are around 15,000 auto glass installations shops across America. Of those, the majority of shops are small single-point operations employing five or fewer persons. Sole proprietors make up the backbone of this industry, yet we are being systematically bypassed as this industry matures.
If owners complain about the possibilities of government regulation being imposed upon their own, they should be far more concerned with the influence of large multi-national companies whose policies and practices have far more effect upon a firm than any existing state or federal agency has. At the same time, there has been a growing marketing effort by large corporations to the public of selling size as some sort of safety net against local companies. Some have used the use of national warranties and in-house training to suggest a higher form of professionalism. At other times, companies have used their integrated manufacturing facilities to provide pricing advantages to force their way into local markets. Due to size and their ability to spread out risk, they can sustain operational losses in some areas while they weaken existing competition.
In theory, each shop has its own business and pricing models. One would think that is a basic freedom of any business. In truth, we are told daily what is “fair and reasonable” is by others. We have hurt ourselves as well. It also seems, in many cases, too many stores are reactive and not proactive when it comes to setting prices and making a profit. How many shops look to find the lowest priced glass and supplies and use those products to woo customers? No doubt, every business has that sort of liberty. I would like to remind those owners who choose that path that it opens up the door to another freedom, the freedom to fail.
Our greatest asset and strength is our proximity to the community. First of all, we are already members. We should be far more aware of changing local conditions than any chain store could be. We certainly should care more. What has become more of a looming concern is the growing influence of corporations on state and federal legislative bodies. The political effect of a consistent lobbying effort at a national level by insurers and their preferred vendors, using one example, has dampened local voices. That should be a clarion call for many shop owners to unite and defend the sapping of our ability to independently conduct business.
However, with freedom comes responsibility. The best way not to have regulations imposed upon the industry is to make the maximum effort in providing a high-quality product installed using the best practices available. Our customers deserve a few freedoms of their own, like not having to worry about their vehicle’s structural integrity.
Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I find the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.” Time hasn’t changed that aphorism.
