Business Spotlight: Window World Indianapolis

WINDOW WORLD INDIANAPOLIS 1229 Country Club Road Indianapolis 317-209-0008 windowworldindianapolis.com

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

Window World is headquartered in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina and is America’s largest replacement window and exterior remodeling company, with more than 200 locally-owned offices nationwide. Founded in 1995, the company sells and installs windows, siding and other exterior products, with a total of 19 million windows sold to date.

In 2000, Jeff Pittenger was living in Louisville doing sub-contracting work, including windows and siding, when one day he saw a man putting up a Window World sign in the area. He asked the fellow if he needed someone to install windows and the next thing he knew he was selling them.

“Once I ventured into that aspect of the business, I never picked up a hammer again,” says Jeff, who recruited his stepfather, Ken Shake, to come out of retirement to join the team. Ken retired from the Naval Surface Warfare Station Louisville as a supervisor over Welding, Fiberglass, Pipe Fitting and Fabrication. He was involved in all types of the development and repair for the navy weapon systems. According to Jeff, Ken “couldn’t sit still” post-retirement so Window World was a great transition.

In 2005, an opportunity arose for them to open a Window World store in Indianapolis. Jeff didn’t have the resources to purchase the franchise on his own so he asked his stepdad for help. Ken was all in and so he and his wife, Sally, along with Jeff and his wife, Leslie, moved to Indiana. Window World, which specializes in windows, siding, doors, and more, quickly became a family affair as Jeff ’s wife, Leslie, and mom, Sally began managing the office.

They also later opened stores in Muncie, Columbus, Terre Haute and Lafayette. Today their daughter, Stephanie, runs the Lafayette location, Jeff ’s son, Brandon, runs the Terre Haute store, and Jeff ’s aunt and uncle, Tom & Lilian Fawbush, are co-owners of the Columbus store. As for the Indy location, a husband-and-wife team, Scott and Andi Holloway, manage the install department.

“Scott has been with us since 2005,” says Leslie, noting that he started out as an installer, then became a salesman and then into management. “We are a close-knit, family-oriented business that’s nationally known but locally owned.”

They pride themselves on supplying homeowners with the best windows, siding and doors at the best price.

“We offer free consultations with no pressure and transparent pricing,” Jeff says.

“No ‘buy one, get one free’ tricks or ‘you have to sign today’ fake discounts. Our mission is to offer only the finest quality products with distinction and integrity and to do so at the lowest possible price. Quite simply, we offer

the best for less.”

Window World is an environmentally friendly company. By reducing one’s carbon footprint, less power is used, thereby saving the customer money.

“We like to say we are a green company that saves you green,” Jeff says.

Through the years, the company has evolved immensely.

“Everything is different now, starting with advertising,” Jeff says. “Back in the day, we did nothing but newspaper ads. I remember we used to laugh and say that we’d never do radio, television and billboard ads. Now we do all of that, and about 40% of our jobs are referrals and repeat customers.”

They have also embraced the joy of giving back to the community they love and the nonprofits they believe in such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which treats children with cancer and researches cures for young patients with life-threatening diseases. Since 2008, the Window World company has raised and donated more than $11M to St. Jude and was named corporate partner of the year for 2010.

They also support Riley Hospital for Children and the Veterans Airlift Command, which provides free air transportation to post 9/11 combat

wounded and their families for medical and other purposes.

“We’re big into racing so for the past nine years we have sponsored John Andretti and his son, Jarett, in the Daytona 500, Indy 500 and Sprint Car & GT-4 Racing,” Leslie says. In addition, Window World sponsors John’s Race for Riley Annual Progressive Dinner, which is a night of fundraising that includes a silent and live auction.

“The first year John Andretti started the Race for Riley, roughly $3,000 was raised. Last year, it was around $360,000 so it’s come a long way,” Jeff says. “You can’t explain how different it is for kids who go to a hospital with people who are so beautifully trained to care for a sick child. Our grandson was first in a hospital in Terre Haute before getting transferred to Riley and it was a night-andday difference in the care he received.”

Customers constantly tell Jeff and Leslie how much they appreciate the care and professionalism they exhibit regularly. Check them out on the Better Business Bureau website.

“So many companies refuse to even come out and talk to you or give a quote unless both decision-makers are home, but we don’t operate like that,” Leslie says. “If only the husband or wife is there, we will still go out and provide a free estimate. We’re not high-pressure because we give good pricing upfront.”

They also offer the industry’s strongest limited lifetime warranty and all of their products are energy-star approved.

“If you break a window, we’ll replace it at no charge as long as the original purchaser still lives there,” Leslie says.

Window World and its products have earned the Good Housekeeping Seal for 11 consecutive years.

“We are one of only two window companies to earn this award,” Leslie says.

Window World received the J.D. Power Award for ranking highest in the 2019 Windows and Patio Doors Satisfaction Study.

“We have ranked highest in overall customer satisfaction among window and patio door companies for five out of the past seven years,” Leslie says.

In addition, Window World received the best rating for the price customers paid for windows and installation.

“I remember going to meetings at our corporate office and seeing the banner on the wall that said, ‘60,000 windows sold nationally’ and those were big numbers,” Jeff says. “Hard to believe we’re at 19 million.” The whole family loves their careers at Window World, but they also are thrilled to keep the business in the family and someday pass the torch on to the next generation. Family members are already used to being in the business, whether that’s helping out in the warehouse or simply looking adorable for an ad.

“Our grandkids are in a lot of television commercials and billboard ads in Terre Haute and people are always saying, ‘Those kids are so cute!’” Leslie says.

Window World’s mission is to give its customers a quality product at a reasonable price, with excellent service in a timely manner. Their goals are to provide their employees with a safe working environment to meet their professional career goals and help achieve Window World’s objectives.

Window World is located at 1229 Country Club Road, Indianapolis, IN 46234. For more information about Window World, call 317-209-0008, email jeffp@ windowworldindianapolis.com or visit them online at windowworldindianapolis.com.

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