Many of Tyrone’s residents are likely familiar with Billie Jo Friday and her insurance agency, along with the myriad of fundraising efforts that she holds to help benefit the community. However, some might have noticed that her office building has undergone a number of changes in recent months. Most notably, it has a new name.
What was once Farmers Insurance has now become Erie Insurance. The change was made official exactly two weeks ago today, on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
“We’ve switched over to Erie, which, in turn, gives me the opportunity to become an independent agent,” Friday said of the change. “Which then gives me the opportunity to better serve my customers by giving them multiple options.”
While Erie will be her primary, Friday explained that now has the freedom to work with other insurance companies, as well.
“Erie is known in the insurance industry as ‘the competition,’” she said. “So, typically, if somebody walks in with an Erie Insurance policy, their rates are unbeatable. However, they also give me a broader appetite for commercial insurance.
“Farmers was great. I can’t speak ill of them in any way. They gave me my start,” Friday stated. “However, their appetite was really strict. So, there were a lot of people that I would’ve loved to have helped, but I wasn’t able to because [Farmers’] commercial appetite wasn’t as broad as Erie’s. And when you’re given an opportunity to spread your wings like that, it’s hard to pass it up.”
Friday also remarked on the quality of Erie Insurance’s startup program.
“Their support has been wonderful throughout the whole process,” she said. “It’s been nice to have a company that I can call and they’ll answer my questions right away.”
She added that, despite now working with a different insurance company, her approach to her customers will remain the same.
“Really, the only thing that’s changed around here is the name on the outside of the door,” Friday said.
By switching to Erie Insurance, Friday explained, she is now free to take on clients that her previous company might have been hesitant to work with.
“They’re reluctant to do older buildings,” she said. “Obviously, in this area, the majority of them are older buildings. Their appetite is also very small when it comes to any riskier businesses or out-of-the-ordinary businesses—institutional ones, like day cares, wineries, distilleries, hair salons, auto repair garages, or anything involving manufacturing. Before, I couldn’t take them on because Farmers didn’t have an appetite for them.
“All of those things—a lot of the businesses that we have in Tyrone—I wasn’t able to help them before. But with Erie, I will,” Friday said. “There are more things that I’ll be able to do now that I wasn’t able to do before. I’m looking forward to being able to serve the community more.”
