The guys standing on the windows sell a lot of them and raise a lot of money for St. Jude Hospital

By Andy Furman
NKyTribune reporter

It’s all over TV. And, there’s several billboards in/around-town.

That guy, standing on a window next to Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive lineman, Orlando Brown.

Admit it – you were wondering, who was that guy? And why is he standing on a window?

Have no fear – we have all the answers for you, right here.

The man – John Oslica, and since 1983 he’s the man in charge – the President, if you will – of Window World, 1840 Airport Exchange.

What about Orlando Brown? Hold it – we’ll get there.

Osclica does have a bit of a football background. “I was All-Conference at JFK High School in St. Louis,” he told the Northern Kentucky Tribune , the other day in his Erlanger office. (Don’t bother checking – the school is closed).

And he played collegiate football at Culver-Stockton College, Canton, Mo. and later, officiated the game at the high school and college levels.

“When I graduated college, I started working in the banking business,” the native of St. Louis said, “And a buddy of mine got me involved in home improvement.”

Specifically – the window business.

In fact, Oslica says, “We get to help people with one of the most important investments of their life – their home.”

So, for 40 years, John Oslica has been, looking through the glass.

“I’m privileged to help families with their projects,” he adds, “Be it doors, windows or siding.”

Oslica started with Window World in Louisville and took over the Northern Kentucky operation in 2009. The challenge, he says is quite easy – “Competition.” He claims his Window World offers the best pricing in town – but there’s a catch. “We just don’t advertise as much as some other outlets – we can’t, that’s why we keep our costs low to consumers.”

He considers his Window World a high-end company, with low-end pricing. As for business, he claims 50 percent is repeat and/or referral – and that’s annually.

So where does Orlando Brown enter the picture?

“He (Brown) was doing a weekly segment on Channel 12 (WKRC TV),” Oslica said, “And his representatives asked if I’d like to sponsor his segment.”

Oslica said Brown’s agent told him, his client was interested in doing commercials in the community. But, he never told his client that he’d be standing on windows. “That bit was a last-
minute situation,” Oslica laughed. “Yes, I wondered if it would hold us.”

The combined weight of the two gents, according to the boss – around 620 pounds – with Brown tipping the scale at around 360.

But there’s more to standing on windows and doing commercials for John Oslica and Window World.

Window World Cares, their national foundation, started in 2008 to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Over $17 million has been raised in those 16 years.

And some $600,000 has been raised locally by Oslica’s Window World.

“We didn’t want a golf tournament, so 11 years ago we started, Laughter is the Best Medicine,” he said. “It’s a comedy show, with a dinner,” he said. For $150 one gets an open bar, dinner and a show. With the money going to St. Jude’s.

The event was held recently – at The Newport Syndicate – the site for every one of the events. “This year, we’re probably going to clear around $137,000. That is quite a jump from the early years when we hoped to raise around $25,000.”

Window World started with a small roadside stand in Wilmington, N.C. with an office in 1995. Leon Whitworth founded it.

Today, that small roadside stand has now grown into almost 23 Window World offices in forty-six states.

“We’re now one of the largest home improvement companies in
America,” Oslica said.

And just like the company itself – Oslica’s roadside office in Erlanger has grown – and so has his Laughter is the Best Medicine for charity, with the help of a 360-pound man who just happens to play for the Cincinnati Bengals.

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