IGA Unveils Jobs 4 You: New Internet-Based Marketing Program for Independent Glass Shop Owners

The Independent Glass Association (IGA), a national trade association, has announced the creation of a new program it says will help auto glass shops compete on the Internet using a national directory format website with search engine enhancement.

According to the IGA, the Jobs4You Program directory website, www.AutoGlassRepair.US.com, allows independent auto glass shops can compete against the large networks to secure leads and new customers and includes latest search technologies. The directory format of the website will present the consumer with a rotating list of participating shops and a secondary list of all glass shops in their town.

The IGA describes the program as working like the yellow pages. Consumers looking on the Internet for an auto glass company in a geographic market will see a shop listed and can contact that shop directly in one of three ways: on the telephone, using the traditional directory method; emailing the shop immediately by clicking on a 'contact this shop' button; or, if the shop participates in the eDirectGlass program, the consumer can click on a 'get a quote from this shop' button to submit information about their job directly to the shop's computer or hand-held field unit.

The IGA points out that this is a popular method of 'shopping' to find the right vendor and is being used for many products and services on the Internet. The set up gives the consumer a choice and the glass shop can control their own prices, the association says.

"Over time, this program will prove to be the best thing to happen to the auto glass industry in a long time - for two important reasons," says Dave Zoldowski, president of the IGA.

"The first challenge for the shop owner is to reach the consumer before the consumer talks to a Third Party Administrator or their insurer, otherwise, they get steered. This program puts the consumer directly in touch with the shop first-so the shop can educate the consumer before they call the TPA. Secondly, this program does not drive down price like the networks and every other Internet site. Our challenge was to design a program that put control of price where it belongs-with the glass shop, not the Internet company or the network," Zoldowski points out.

"We are going operational with the basics in place - meaning that this program will evolve," said Marc Anderson, executive director of the IGA.

To assist both the consumer and the independent shop even more, IGA has partnered with eDirectGlass to offer participants the option of going totally electronic. This will let the customer fill in a form about their vehicle and other needed information on line and transmit it to the participating glass shop of their choice. The basic plan offered by eDirectGlass is free, but a NAGS license is required.

"eDirectGlass is excited to be a partner in the launch of this new and innovative program. As more consumers turn to the Internet to fulfill automotive glass repair and replacement needs, the timing and positioning of this program couldn't be better," said Gary Hart, eDirectGlass president and chief executive officer.

"eDirectGlass will provide program participants with a free eDirectGlass account allowing them to receive leads and schedule jobs in real-time. In addition, program participants can also take full advantage of eDirectGlass features such as free network invoicing (EDI), VIN decoding, document and image management, and more," Hart added.

Forty percent of all consumers now use the Internet to shop for goods and services and that will only increase. As consumers shift away from yellow pages and to the Internet, the auto glass shops must shift their marketing dollars away from yellow pages and to the Internet.

"We're confident this program will produce more jobs for less money than yellow pages." says Zoldowski.

The program will launch next week.

The Independent Glass Association is the national trade association working to level the playing field to help independent glass shops prosper and grow. IGA has contracted with New Auto eCommerce, Inc., a for-profit company based in Michigan, to provide this service to IGA as an Affinity Program, meaning a portion of the revenue goes to IGA. The IGA Board anticipates using revenue from the program to resume its anti-steering activity. New Auto eCommerce, Inc., is owned by AutoOne, Inc. of which Dave Zoldowski, IGA Board president, is part owner, along with Marc Anderson, and Jay Bale, the website designer.

The IGA says glass shops will save thousands of dollars a year over what they would pay for Internet marketing as a single advertiser, as the cost includes paid Google, Yahoo, and MSN ads.

IGA members will pay $50/month for their first city and $10/month for each additional city. Non-members will pay $85/month for their first city and $17/month for each additional city.

The IGA has two special introductory offers:

1) The first two hundred (200) non-member shops to join the IGA, get two months free.

2) The first two hundred (200) shops (member or non-member) who sign up and pay for four months service, gets the fifth and sixth months free.

To get two months free, log on to www.AutoGlassRepair.US.com and use the Coupon Code "promotion."

For more information about the program, contact: Karen Anderson, program director at 1-866-930-3313.