By Jennifer Farnsworth
Geico’s new Central Avenue location in Albany came at the perfect time for insurance agent Rick Schrade.
The relocation may not seem like a major change, but Schrade said the new space has allowed him to open up in a safe way that is pandemic ready. The office reopened in late June.
“The new space has really given us the capability to create something that is safe for our employees and for our customers,” he said.
The agency moved in late spring. When the coronavirus pandemic hit they immediately got to work, making sure to meet health and safety precautions that were being asked of them, according to Schrade.
“We’re now fully open and ready for people to come in and shop for a policy that works for them,” he said.
In response to the coronavirus, Schrade said some of the safety precautions include contactless photo inspections, daily temperature checks for employees, frequent hand washing and disinfecting surfaces on a regular basis. The new lobby includes ceiling-to-floor plexiglass.
“We really invested into ensuring that the health and safety of our office was our top priority. The new 5,000 square foot location has really been a bright spot for us. The space allows us to be socially distant, have cubicles for our employees, and really be spaced out in a safe way,” said Schrade.
He said the pandemic has had a financial impact on not only his office, but insurance nationwide. While people are looking to find ways to save money within personal and family budgets, saving on insurance is something many people seem to overlook.
“People forget to shop for insurance and it is a strange trend we can’t quite figure out. Shopping for insurance can save consumers a considerable amount of money, “ said Schrade.
The financial impacts on the auto industry has also spilled into the insurance sector. Schrade said production in the auto industry came to a halt and inventory was low at local dealerships.
“It is starting to slowly pick up, but when people stop car shopping that is felt on our end. I have been through 9/11, the financial crisis in 2008, but we have never seen anything like this,” said Schrade.
He said their office is sensitive to the financial hardships felt by many customers. Geico offered a discount to policyholders in early spring, just one of the things he said he likes about working for the company.
“We understand the financial hardships that are being felt by many of our customers and we are able to sit down and see what we can work out. We’re still in a growth mode and hope to be back to where we need to be a year from now. Overall, we will be okay and we know we are one of the lucky ones,” said Schrade.
Geico is located at 1761 Central Avenue and online at www.geico.com/insurance-agents/new-york/albany/rick-schrade.
