1980s - Advance Enters the World of Advertising

As the fax machine emerged in the ’80s, Advance’s growing reputation for customer service placed the company in the fast lane and Advance decided it was time to invest in some advertising.

Playing on Alan and Lois’ mantra that day or night, when a customer needed them, they’d be there, Advance launched the “They Need Me” campaign. The series of spots featured Alan and Lois coming to the call of a customer at seemingly inopportune times stating that they “would rather lose sleep than lose a customer.”

The spots were a hit. As a result, business continued to boom and in 1986, Advance moved to its current headquarters, a then 24,000 square foot building at 10755 York Road in Cockeysville. Advance was now 72 employees strong. With a solid foundation in the Baltimore marketplace, and increasing demand from Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Advance opened a second location in Annapolis in 1988.