Tom Ashley - Niceville, Florida

In 2001 Tom Ashley was in charge of a shop for a major glass services company, but he wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to own his own business so that he, his family and his employees would reap the rewards of their success. Tom looked at the Glass Doctor franchise system and saw what he was missing professionally. He credits his personal and professional achievements to the support he gets from the Glass Doctor business systems.

What made the start-up of your Glass Doctor franchise successful?
We started with four full-time employees and one part-time employee. We had to hit the ground running. I couldn’t afford to wait for the phone to ring. The Glass Doctor system gave me a framework so that I knew our customers would be taken care of. I could focus on working on the business, not in the business.

What challenges did you face when you started your business?
I was fortunate to have experience in both auto glass and flat glass. My weakness was in sales and marketing, I didn’t know how to capture new business. Glass Doctor showed me ways to go get the business and keep it. Another weakness was recruiting and retaining quality employees. With the Glass Doctor system I learned ways to make my shop the best place to work.

What other benefits have you seen as a Glass Doctor franchise owner?
After two-and-a-half years we relocated to a new shop. That investment helped a lot to expand our capability. I would not have taken that risk without the confidence I had in the Glass Doctor marketing and sales system.

You’ve been a leader among Glass Doctor franchise owners. What does it take to be a leader in the glass industry?
Leaders have to go out and get the business. You find the competition’s weakness and try to stay a step ahead. I also try to live by a set of values. I think leaders are honest and take care of the customer. People use us because they have confidence in Glass Doctor and our service system; they don’t have to worry. I just try to handle things as I would expect them to be handled for me. Think, “How would you want to be treated?” We can tell people, but they have to see it.

What advice do you have for business owners in our industry?
I’ve done well and received some awards, but I don’t feel better than the person sitting next to me. I think anyone can do it if they are willing to change, put in the effort and to take advantage of the opportunities Glass Doctor offers. Don’t reinvent the wheel. Just keep moving forward and take care of your team.

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