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In celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, owner Kevin Hunter and his staff at Windows, Doors & More credit the store's continued success to its customers more than 23,000 of them in the northeast Indiana area.
Since 1983, residents in and around the Fort Wayne area have come to recognize Windows, Doors & More (WDM) through advertising, customer appreciation, promotions and community projects such as Habitat for Humanity. The most important recognition, however, comes from word-of-mouth referrals from current homeowners who have had work done by WDM. In spite of its high visibility and success, the business has stayed true to its commitment of keeping the customer as its first and foremost priority.
"Our policies of no telemarketing, consistent pricing and pressure-free business dealings have been very well received," Hunter says.
Originally, Windows, Doors & More began as a retail outlet for its parent company, Home Guard Industries, a steel security/storm door manufacturer, also located in Fort Wayne. Public demand caused Joseph Barbieri Sr. and son Brian
to start Olde Towne Ornamental Iron out of the Home Guard manufacturing facilities. In 1991, they moved the retail store to the corner of Williams and Calhoun Streets in Fort Wayne. Customers enjoyed easy access to the showroom where they could carefully compare the security doors, schedule installation and view the business' other products such as window guards, lawn furniture and mailboxes.
In 1987, under the direction of Joe Barbieri Jr., Home Guard added the production of a vinyl replacement window line. Olde Towne was the only local home improvement company to offer installation of windows, entry doors and security doors that were locally manufactured. Another addition to Home Guard at that time was a sales rep named Kevin Hunter, who would later become WDM's majority owner.
By 1995, the Barbieris decided to change the company's name to better illustrate what their business was all about; it was then that the name Windows, Doors & More entered the Fort Wayne marketplace, proudly stating what customers could expect when they visited the store. Windows, Doors & More also acquired a new location to match its new name, and opened the doors at its current location at Northcrest Shopping Center on Coliseum Boulevard.
In 1999 after 10 years in...