Ace Glass Company
June 24, 2009
You won’t find many companies here in the Midlands where three generations of a family are actively involved in running the business. But for the Price family who own and operate the Ace Glass Company, delivering a quality product and service has long been a family affair.
Running four locations keeps us all busy, but we love it, says Price. Our goal is to provide a quality product for our customers and to build on a culture of customer service that was established by my father.
Fred Sr. is 85 years old, but is still actively involved in the company, Fred Jr. is President and owner, son Trey came on board in 2002 to grow the commercial side of the business, and Lauren handles the marketing. She is one of the first smiling faces you will meet as you enter the store at Two Notch and Parklane.
I guess we’re a poster child for local family-based businesses, says Price Jr. And sure, that comes with its ups and downs, but working with family is a privilege that few will ever experience. I never pushed my children into joining the business. They knew the opportunity was there if they wanted it, and they also knew that the expectations would be high if they did decide to come on board.
As someone who spent all the summers of his youth at his father’s shop and as a graduate of the Citadel, Fred Jr. knows a thing or two about the value of hard work and the importance of instilling a strong work ethic in all of his employees. The expectations for his children are simple: don’t expect to be treated any differently from the 45 other employees.
He bought the business from his father in 1983 with a vision to expand Ace Glass’s locations in the Midlands and the company now also has retail locations in Irmo, Lexington and on Greystone Boulevard. You will see Ace Glass trucks and their colorful logo anywhere in town where glass is involved. Whether you need glass for your new store front, your new church, whether it’s for tabletops or new mirrors, or for any automotive, commercial or residential glass
installation, think ACE Glass.
They can also customize your glass needs to whatever you want. We have a machine that can cut, sand and bevel your glass or mirror order to whatever size and shape you need, say Fred Jr.
As one of the first graduates of Hammond School, Price has deeps roots in Columbia. He eventually went on to serve as Chairman of the Board at Hammond when Trey and Lauren were in school there, and has maintained a solid tradition of giving back to the community where the family has done business for the past four decades.
