Company History - Broco Glass Group
How The Company Grew
BRO - CO is an acronym for "Brothers Company" aptly named after its two founding brothers Fred and Merle Beck. The brothers, grew up in a family of 7 children in the Lower Mainland, where they participated in sports and learned the importance of team work. Their love for cars and auto servicing was nurtured by their father who was an autobody technician for the BC Department of Highways.
Both Fred and Merle were very successful as athletes early in their lives. Fred starred as a competitive soccer and rugby player while Merle rose to become the Canadian Soccer Skills Champion at the age of 14. In fact Merle placed 6th in the world at an international skills competition in Buenos Airies, at World Cup Soccer Game in 1978. Both brothers graduated from North Surrey Senior Secondary High School.
The Early Years
As Merle was touring the world playing soccer, Fred started working part-time in the newly established auto glass industry in 1978. Before specialty auto service shops opened, all work was done by autobody service companies. They handled everything.
Fred Beck recognized that as the Lower Mainland grew there would be huge market potential for quality auto glass service shops who specialized in customer service. Fred became a partner in an auto glass company in Victoria in 1979 and, shortly after Merle graduated from high school, the brothers started working together in 1983.
They opened their first store as a two man operation on the Fraser Highway and 160 Street in Surrey, their old neighborhood. Fred was the installer and Merle was on the street selling, pulling customers in to their new shop. They worked hard and got the business off the ground -- installing up to 18 windshields a day!
Time to Grow
As customer demand grew, it was time to expand and Broco Auto Glass opened its second location in 1985 in Coquitlam on Tupper. To build a loyal customer base and go beyond just replacing windshields, the brothers set a new standard for the industry. They added and interior shampoo, scotch guard, wiper blades and washer fluid with every replaced windshield. They had identified a service niche and business flourished.
In 1987 their third shop opened in the Newton area of Surrey and the brothers added a full line of auto upholstery services to each location. The next year followed with the opening of Broco Auto Glass in New Westminister, and with customer demand another store opened in Vancouver on Kingsway in 1989. The name "Broco" had become recognized as "the store" for service, quality and dependability.
Between 1992 and 1997 Fred and Merle opened two to three shops each year, with their first franchise store opening in Langley. Today, Broco Auto Glass has met consumer demand with 16 locations in BC: 13 in the Lower Mainland, 2 on Vancouver Island and one in Kamloops.
Broco Dares to be Different
In 1990 Broco recognized that technology was sweeping every industry, and that information and knowledge were the keys to future growth and success. Over a three month period Fred and Merle worked with software developers to create an infrastructure for their business that is now the standard for the industry. Everyday Broco uses cutting edge technology and quality auto manufacturers' approved materials. Every three months staff training includes the latest OEM manufacturers' requirements.
Broco has always been a leader. We were the first with Saturday openings and, in 1993, Broco was approached by the British Columbia Auto Association and became the FIRST accredited auto glass service shop in BC. Broco was the only shop in the province of BC to deliver the high service and ethical standards expected by the 750,000 members of the BCAA. Other Companies had tried to meet these rigid standards, but Broco was the first to meet them and be approved by the BCAA. Broco maintained that exclusive position for five years and set new standards for the industry and had set themselves apart from their competitors.
Today Fred Beck is a senior member of the Automotive Retail Association (ARA) and sits on the liaison committee with the ARA and ICBC for pricing and policy. Over the years Broco has had direct input in setting policy for the auto glass industry and has set standards that must be met to fulfill technical obligations on all auto glass replacements.
On going Marketing
Broco is the recognized name for auto glass -- a position that was created by on going strategic marketing. Over the years Broco Auto Glass has been seen on television, heard on radio, in print and has grown throughout the Greater Vancouver area as a strong community supporter.
Broco's first television commercial broadcast on KVOS TV featured Fred, Merle and Merle's one year old son Michael. Broco Auto Glass is a company built by strong family ties that started with two members, and now includes full time and part time staff and associates of 64 dedicated people. Each year the annual Broco Family BBQ brings together all our staff, associates and their families for a full day of summer fun. The first Broco Company BBQ in 1983 had 5 in attendance This summer's attendance…250 people aged from 2 months to 75!