December is here, and although the first official day of winter is still a few weeks away some auto glass businesses are preparing for what some find as the “slow season.” AGRR magazine/glassBYTEs.com reached out to a number of U.S. readers to learn if business changes for them during the winter months.
Korey Gobin, Delta Kits sales manager, said Delta Kits highlights the benefits of windshield repair and replacement to its customers in the winter season. “We tend to educate and explain that windshield repair is not only a fair weather affair,” Gobin said. “If equipped correctly, fall and winter can be busy times for windshield repair businesses,” he explained as roadway debris can impact a vehicle’s glass regardless of the season.
Dell Skluzak, owner of PipeKnife Company, promotes the products his company is equipped with that are geared for cold weather, and sees the winter as a peak time.
“We are unique in that several of our products can work well in cold-weather, and in fact we find November to March to be our busy season,” Skluzak said.
Skluzak’s company has introduced several new products this year that allow industry materials to stay warm.
“Some of our items include a heated wrap that goes around a 10 ounce tube of urethane to keep it warm and a heated carrying case that can hold an entire case of urethane keeping it warm and insulated,” said Skluzak. “I’ve noticed that the market for our aftermarket defroster grid kits has exploded as we have target marketed our unique kits for defrosting underneath the wipers for Class 8 trucks and defrosters for back glass in camper shells for pickup trucks.”
For industry business located in the South, winter might look and feel like late fall in the North, as some conditions, like frost and icy windshields aren’t as common. Dan Knowlton, CEO and president of K&K Glass located in Florida, said his company doesn’t have to compete with harsh temperatures, but also finds that his business increases.
“Living and operating within the state of Florida has its rewards and benefits,” said Knowlton. “We don’t combat snowy or icy weather conditions as other providers in the northern states and Canada do. During the winter season, we have an influx of customers due to tourism and the snow birds trekking south.”
Will your business prepare for the winter season by focusing on customer education or changing how you market? Tell us how you prepare in the comment section below.
