A lot has changed in the awning industry since I first "discovered" retractable awnings more than two decades ago, but, surprisingly, not much has changed for me.
When I began my small enterprise, the business phone number terminated in my home. It still does.
I became a retailer/installer of this novel and quite amazing product as a dealer for a fledgling manufacturer. The manufacturer grew to become a large national and international player, and I grew into a comfortably small area here on the north shore of Long Island. Not much has changed for me and I like it just fine this way.
When I started this business, my then-young daughter would often answer the phone and sometimes even "help" me with installations. I decided that I would run my business in such a way as to ensure that my daughter would only hear my customers speaking highly of her father, never the opposite. I still run the business that same way. Not much has changed for me. That also applies to my logo, which my daughter drew a long time ago. It has remained unchanged since that day...never "cleaned up" or updated. It is exactly as she first drew it on the back of a used envelope.
I'm your neighbor in Sea Cliff no matter where you live on the North Shore. It's a small area and I'm your neighbor. I can expect to eventually see you again in a store, at a social or charitable function, or even sitting at the next table in a local restaurant. We will be friends when that happens and we will be glad to see each other.
It has been said that business is just a good excuse to make new friends. I believe that to be true and so I will offer you quality products, quality installations, quality service, and NO shortcuts. I will install your product myself to make sure it's done the right way, my way.
We will be friends.
Not much has changed for me.
-- Steve Allen
