Clinton’s Lancaster Agency celebrates 70th anniversary

Although 2014 was the 70th anniversary for Lancaster Agency, Inc. in Clinton, the Lancaster family connection with the village goes all the way back to 1870 when J.D. Lancaster’s great grandfather opened a hotel. The family business expanded to include a livery and later a Ford dealership.His grandfather’s friendship with Henry Ford led to the opening of one of the first Michigan Ford dealerships in Michigan. “Then they would sell car insurance as well in the 1930s,” Lancaster said about the family’s first experience with insurance.By the 1960s, the Lancaster family sold the Ford franchise, but kept the insurance part of the business. According to Lancaster, the family purchased a book of property insurance from State Savings Bank, which expanded the insurance opportunities.“We moved into our current building in 1960,” said Lancaster. “The business was run by my Aunt Lois and my father, George. It’s been a family-run business since then. My son is the fifth generation in the family to work downtown.”The business continues to be successful, 70 years later. “We run our business with integrity, and we run it honestly,” Lancaster said. “We stress the importance of customer service. We take care of our customers, and grow from the referrals made by our customers.”Lancaster is proud that many customers of the original Ford dealership continue to purchase insurance from Lancaster Agency.Technology, Lancaster believes, has changed the basis of buying insurance, often making the interaction between customer and insurance provider almost anonymous. “We try to keep things as personal as we can,” said Lancaster. “The change in technology is almost unfathomable. He added that the Lancaster Agency is always working to make any changes in the insurance business positive ones. Lancaster expects to see more and more agents traveling to their customers.Office hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The agency has adapted their personal schedules to meet more customer needs.As for the product offered by Lancaster Agency, the company does not represent one insurance company. “We’re an independent agent, so we represent different companies,” Lancaster said. “We find the best fit for each of our customers. Claims and changes are done through us. We spend most of our time providing service to our customers.”Lancaster believes the biggest advantage to working with a local insurance agency as opposed to an online provider, is knowing the insurance agent has a clear understanding of insurance laws and regulations.Lancaster’s wife, Joyce, is the marketing director for the company, and works to help the public and the agency learn about the history of the company. Of the couple’s four children, currently only the oldest son, Jimmy, works for the agency. All four of the children have been featured in local advertising campaigns in the past.Although Lancaster is not in the original dealership building, it is only a couple of doors down from the office. “I’m proud of the fact my great grandparent was in business less than a block away,” said Lancaster.A customer appreciate open house is planned for January. There will be a drawing for prizes. For more information, call Lancaster Agency, Inc. at 456.4675 or visit the office at 144 W. Michigan Ave. in Clinton.