Clear on Quality

In just three years, the new leadership team at Regency Windows has made dramatic improvements in the company. Here’s how that translates into quality windows with style, better quality installations, and suprisingly lower prices.

By: Ken McEntee
Date: 02/24/2009
You’ve probably heard of safety glass.

At Regency Windows, they practice glass safety.

Since taking over as president of the company in 2005, Dave Gordon and his leadership team have made safety a top priority.

Among improvements made in product line, customer service, installation quality and a customer satisfaction rating that most consumer companies could only wish they had, Regency’s installation crews and managers have dramatically improved the company safety record as well.

And it’s paying off.

According to company records, in 2005 Regency charted numerous days when employees missed workdays or were restricted in their duties due to injuries. Last year, Dave boasts, the company’s workers lost only four days due to injuries and had zero restricted workdays.

“We’re especially proud of that record,” Dave says. “I think it says a lot about the kind of company we are. If you are disciplined about safety, it carries over into other parts of the business as well. It carries over into professionalism and the way we care for a customer’s home. It shows commitment to quality, attention to detail and—most of all—a commitment to people. More than anything else, we are a people company.  When a company cares about people, it’s a sign of a good reputable company.”

“Regency’s oft-televised promise of former owner and spokesman Mikey Magden to “save you a lotttaaa of money” is truer than ever today, due to the company’s massive volume purchasing power. But now their sterling safety record ensures costs remain low and the installations are among the highest quality in the industry.”

Regency—which offers vinyl siding and kitchen refacing along with its signature selection of replacement windows and doors—now features high-quality brands like Pella and Jeld-Wen. But shoddy installation could compromise the advantages of those quality products.

“We were awarded the 2006 Dealer of the Year for Excellence in Installation—not just locally, but nationally—for Window and Door Magazine, the leading trade magazine in the industry,” Dave says. “The reason we received that honor was because of our quality of installation. Installation makes a big difference. If the window is crooked or not installed properly, it may not operate properly. It could be drafty or cause problems down the road that you don’t notice right away.”

Each Regency crew is certified by InstallationMasters, a program developed by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, which ensures installation excellence. To get the certification, installers must complete in-depth training and pass a test.

“Additionally, many of our installers also get broader certifications, like Certified Lead Carpenter certification from the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI),” Dave explains. “That means they are intensely trained not only as window installers, but as carpenters.”

Regency recognizes a commitment to quality and customer service with end of the year service awards for team members.

Dave says it has paid off through customer satisfaction.

“We survey our customers and the most important question we look at is whether they would recommend us to somebody else,” he says. “It’s a yes or no question that we call their ‘willingness to recommend.’” In 2007 the company enjoyed an enviable, better than 93 percent who said yes. In 2008, it improved even more, that went up to 93.4 percent.

For quality and energy efficiency, Dave says, it’s hard to beat Pella and Gorell windows. Both have earned the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year distinction and both have achieved sustained excellence from Energy Star—Gorell five times in a row and Pella twice.

Plus, Dave insists, Regency offers one of the best warranties in the industry. For example,  Gorell windows, frames, glass and moving parts carry lifetime warranties that can be transferred to second homeowners.

“Our Gorell lines have a lifetime transferrable warranty,” Dave says. “We warranty parts and labor on Gorell products for everything, including accidental glass breakage. If the lawnmower propels something through your window, we’ll replace it.”

Regency also offers replacement windows for commercial buildings and apartments.

Because of the volatility in energy prices, Dave says it’s a good idea to make your home as energy-efficient as possible. Replacement windows are a great place to start.

“First Energy Corp., the parent company of Ohio Edison and The Illuminating Company, has put in a request for massive increases in electric rates,” he notes.

He adds that the federal government, through the Energy Tax Incentives Act, is offering tax credits of 30%, up to $1,500 of the project cost for energy-efficient improvements to existing homes in 2009. “We can help customers understand the tax incentives and the products that are eligible and provide the back-up paperwork for their files,” Dave says.

To help homeowners fight the rising costs of energy even more, Regency last year introduced its affiliate, HomeEnergyMD. A Home Energy Physical can diagnose where your home is losing expensive heating and cooling dollars.

In order to beat the spring rush, Dave suggests calling Regency now.

“This is our off-season and you will be able to get some great deals,” he says. “Before spring arrives.”
Regency is offering an attractive financing program, such as loans to bridge the gap until you get your income tax refund. “We also have short-term financing available,” Dave says.

You can schedule a free estimate from Regency by calling 866-645-3957. You also may also visit Regency at www.regencywindow.com.

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The House that Mikey Built

“Mikey Magden built on his father’s legacy and we’ve supercharged it,” says Dave Gordon, the president of Northeast Ohio’s popular Regency Windows.

Founded in 1971 as a carpet and tile store, Twinsburg-based Regency has sold and installed more than 500,000 windows in Northern Ohio for more than 40,000 customers. The recently retired Mikey Magden, who took over the business from his father, the company’s founder, de-emphasized flooring and focused on maintenance-free vinyl replacement windows, popularizing the slogan “Mikey’s going to save you a lotttaaa money.”
The company later began to install vinyl siding and kitchen cabinet refacing.

“We’ve added fiberglass, wood and aluminum-clad wood windows in standard and custom sizes, “ Dave says.
“We have a variety of price points. No matter what the project is, we have a window for it.”

Regency also features higher quality brands like Pella, Gorell and Jeld-Wen, and in 2006 was named “Dealer of the Year for Excellence in Installation” by Window and Door Magazine, the leading industry trade magazine.

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