|
Field of Vision
from the editor
Happy Birthday,
AGRR!
by Penny Stacey
For a child, a tenth birthday is a pretty big deal. I remember my own
quite clearly, and am betting you do as well. Suddenly, you feel like
you’re a big shot (until you get older and realize how very young you
were).
Well, ten years for a publication is no different, and we appreciate your
time in celebrating with us with this special issue. Within these pages,
you’ll see many looks at the last ten years—the people who’ve impacted
the industry, the events that have rocked the world of auto glass and
some innovations that have changed the way we work. (The third of these
is available as a special bonus on our website, www.agrrmag.com.)
As I was working on the stories for much of these sections, I had the
privilege of reading many old issues (most of which I’d worked on originally)
and refreshing my memory on some of the people and events of yore.
I was amazed, though, that while so much has changed, much really is still
exactly the same. Unfortunately, many of the industry’s problems especially
are the same, too. Still, ten years later, even following the now-infamous
20/20 exposé, the industry still is trying to gain recognition
from the public that proper windshield installations really are important.
And, the cost-versus-quality issue is one that might not ever go away.
And, despite the 2005 NAGS re-balancing, many still feel list-pricing
is detrimental to their businesses.
But, I’m still hopeful about the next ten. Why? Because, despite all of
these continuing issues, if you look at the progress the industry has
made in what really is just short ten years, you’ll see many revolutions
have occurred.
Both the repair and replacement industries now have ANSI standards to
which they can turn for safe and proper techniques. And those in the replacement
industry have the option of not only registering that they follow the
AGRSS Standard, but also are able to have that validated through a third-party
review. I don’t know about you, but ten years ago, I never would have
dreamt that such a program would come to fruition.
And what about technology? Could we ever have imagined 10 years ago that
we’d someday be able to not only see e-mail on our cell phones (I didn’t
even carry a cell phone 10 years ago) but that we could also access point-of-sale
software, get directions and more?
So, while a lot of issues are the same, much really has changed, and hopefully
for the better. I hope you’ll enjoy this look at the past ten years as
much as we enjoyed putting it together. Thanks for reading, and for helping
to make AGRR, the only magazine in the world devoted exclusively to auto
glass, what it is today. We look forward to continuing to serve you, our
readers. And, as I always, I look forward to hearing from you. Please
e-mail me at pstacey@glass.com
with your thoughts on the industry’s future.
Penny Stacey is the editor of AGRR magazine/glassBYTEs.comTM.
AGRR
© Copyright 2010 Key Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
No reproduction of any type without expressed written permission.
|
