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Interview with Frontpoint's Founders
First things first, how did you all meet?
Chris: Aaron and I met at Georgetown, and we all came together through Goldman (Sachs). Aaron and I worked at a student-run credit union at Georgetown, and we both worked there for all four years in school; keeping in touch after I moved up to New York. I worked in a group at Goldman that invested in other companies, which included looking at investing in an alarm company in 2005. That led us to Peter, who eventually worked with me on that first deal.
Was that when you decided you wanted to get into the home security business?
Peter: In a nutshell, the idea came out of all the work we had done in looking at what was out there – not to put words in your mouth. Chris: [Laughs] It was definitely a big group effort! Peter and I started talking about ideas, while Aaron and I had talked about doing something entrepreneurial for years.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2006 when we all got together in Peter’s backyard in Connecticut and literally pulled out some cocktail napkins and started drawing out what the business would be. We took about six months to work out the details, but it was sometime in November-December, when we realized we either had to make a decision – either we quit our jobs and go start it, or we had to stop spending nights and weekends working on a business plan for a company that we were never going to start.
Turning your idea from a hobby into a business?
Chris: Exactly. In fact, that’s one of my favorite quotes from Peter. Around March 2007, he was talking to one of his industry contacts who noted how remarkably well put together the plans were, and Peter said, ‘Yes, this is not a hobby.’ [Laughter]
When you finally entered the home security marketplace, what were you trying to achieve?
Aaron: We were trying to take a fresh approach to provide a product that was at the leading edge of the industry. And from day one it was about providing the best, the most over-the-top service you could imagine. It was reimagining service through an alarm company. We thought there was a pretty big gap and a lot to be desired from a customer service and service offering perspective, versus what our competitors were doing.
There’s no longer a debate – FrontPoint is awesome. And it’s one of the primary reasons why the company stands out amongst its competition, and is regarded as one of the top home security companies in the country.Was ‘over-the-top’ service always part of the original business plan?
Aaron: High-touch customer service was the central element of the business plan. It was always about deciding and doing things that would be best for the customer and not necessarily the best for the bottom line. It was this vision of – if you take care of the customer – and the employee – then things will work out.
There are several types of home security systems to choose from, including monitored systems, unmonitored systems, wireless systems, and DIY systems. Monitored systems involve a monthly fee for professional monitoring, while unmonitored systems rely on alarms to scare off intruders. Wireless systems offer flexibility in installation, and DIY systems can be easily set up by homeowners.
When shopping for a home security system, consider features such as motion sensors, door and window sensors, security cameras, smart home integration, and mobile app control. Motion sensors detect movement in your home, while door and window sensors alert you to any unauthorized entry. Security cameras provide visual surveillance, and smart home integration allows you to control your system remotely.
Professional monitoring is a key feature of many home security systems, as it provides round-the-clock monitoring of your home for any security breaches. In the event of an emergency, the monitoring center can contact authorities on your behalf. While professional monitoring comes at an additional cost, it offers peace of mind knowing that your home is being monitored by experts.
In addition to the upfront cost of purchasing a home security system, there may be additional costs such as monthly monitoring fees, installation fees, and equipment fees. It's important to consider these costs when budgeting for a home security system. Some companies offer affordable packages that include equipment and installation at no extra cost.
When choosing a home security system, look for one that is user-friendly and easy to operate. Consider systems with intuitive interfaces, mobile app control, and clear instructions for installation and use. Test the system before finalizing your purchase to ensure that it meets your needs and is easy for everyone in your household to use.
Frontpoint meets all of these requirements with ease and has a team there to guide you every step of the way. Driven by not only connection with their core founders, Frontpoint is at the cutting edge of technology for your home security system needs.
Let’s talk about the FrontPoint employee experience. We just wrapped up Core Values Week, an event dedicated to reinforcing specific company values to all employees. What inspired you to make “Build Trust, Dream Big, Be Awesome.” the FrontPoint Core Values and a central theme to the company’s culture?
Chris: We knew we wanted to start a business that would end up feeling as much like a family as it did like a fun place to come to work every day. So, in the beginning FrontPoint didn’t have formal core values, but the essence of what they were have been evident from the very first day. Officially, the Core Values came into existence in 2010, but really they embodied everything we had done since 2007.
Peter: When we actually sat down as a Senior Group to codify the Core Values, it was amazingly unanimous. We all wrote down what they think they should be and we were all shocked at the time at how similar everybody’s list were. To me, it really showed that we were already living and embodying those concepts.
Chris: I think really the only real debate we had was whether we could use the word ‘awesome’ in a core value [laughter]. But finally we decided that part of what we like about FrontPoint is that it’s a little edgy. We have this casual-professionalism with big aspects of fun in it, and we just thought that ‘awesome’ really showcased who and what we were.
