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The Great American Lock Comes to Telford
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THE LOCKSMITH INDUSTRY IS a global one so it is no surprise that events such as the MLA Expo and our own LOCKEX attract visitors not just from all across the United Kingdom but also from overseas .
At this year ’ s MLA Expo , we were glad to make the acquaintance of Washington ( USA ) -based William Clare Jackson II who was on a walking tour in Britain with his wife and took the opportunity of calling in at Telford .
BC ( as he likes to be known ) got started in the locksmith business six and a half years ago when a local locksmith retired and BC bought his business , keeping the original name – The Great American Lock company , which he is proud to retain .
The business is located in Whatcom County , Washington State , United States . Everson and the nearby city of Nooksack lie near the foothills of the Cascade mountains in Northwest Washington .
“ The previous owner had run the business for 35 years and had built up an excellent reputation and substantial goodwill – so I had a good start ,” he explained . “ Looking back , maybe it would have been fun to have started earlier in this
‘ Customer service is paramount to us . Let ’ s face it , people need to trust their locksmith implicitly and they know that they can do just that with the Great American Lock .’ career , but I am content it turned out this way ,” he said .
TRAINING FROM MANY SOURCES
“ I received my initial training from the owner of the locksmith shop I purchased , which was obviously very useful , as well as from online locksmith courses , periodicals , books , locksmith forums ( which is where I found out about the MLA Expo ), trade show classes , and from hands-on work .
“ What I like most about this work is meeting different people and helping them – it was my desire to serve others in some way that led me to this business and it means I can give something back for the great , many blessings I have received from God .
“ Being a member of locksmith and trade associations is valuable to me for several reasons .
“ Firstly , I meet experienced professionals who seem genuinely happy to pass on their invaluable locksmithing wisdom .
“ Secondly , I see what ’ s on the horizon of exciting new technology , and can ask questions of the manufacturers or their representatives , getting an insight into the latest developments .
“ Thirdly , I can also see what is already out there that could possibly solve any of the problems and dilemmas my customers might have .
“ I find that belonging to various locksmithing organizations and reading locksmithing journals , periodicals and forums all really make it quite easy to keep up on the latest developments in the industry .
BC and his wife enjoyed their visit to Britain and hope to make a return visit one day .
‘ When people have a lock or security problem , they don ’ t want to wait around - they need help fast ’
A TRIED & TESTED LOCKSMITH & AUTO LOCKSMITH SERVICE
BC ’ s Great American Lock is today the area ’ s premier automotive , residential and commercial locksmith , providing comprehensive lock and key services to customers – with a 24 / 7 emergency service and free estimates - and a total commitment to providing outstanding , reliable and efficient service every time .
Experts are available 24 / 7 to assist with lockout issues and other lock and key emergencies , meaning no-one has to endure an anxious wait to get the help they need .
“ When people have a lock or other security problem , they don ’ t want to wait around – they need help fast – and from a proficient , tried and tested company ,” say BC .
“ Customer service is paramount to us . Let ’ s face it , people need to trust their locksmith implicitly and they know that they can do just that with the Great American Lock .
“ Our rates are competitive , we provide free estimates and we ’ re always happy to answer questions about our locksmith services .
Automotive locksmith services include lockout , new keys and key extraction .
Perhaps more unusually , the business also works with safes , offering sales , repairs and much more in that specialised area .
Great American Lock is a member of several leading professional associations including : Keypro , learstar Security Network , Locksmith Community and the NWLA – Northwest Locksmith Association .
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | JAN / FEB 2018 Sponsored by Lockex 2018 - Security & Fire Safety