Vac shop opportunity

[blackheart]

I told the owner i'd pass along the listing in case we had someone ambitious enough to take over the business.

It started off as a Kirby distributor later taking the name University Vacuums it's been in business for, I'm told, about 40 years. They deal in Simplicity, Miele, Carpet pro, and a few other brands through Essco and Steel City namely Proteam and Numatic. They're also a Kirby service center.

I think he's also open to an operator or a buy over time type of situation if I remember right.

Anyhow, thanks for looking.

https://www.bizbuysell.com/Business...FICUyZnJldGFpbC1idXNpbmVzc2VzLWZvci1zYWxlJTJm

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

He is not asking much. He doesn't own the building. If he did some demographics on area would help him sale. Percent of sales from vacuums, percent from tune ups. Inventory if it's owned or put in store and dealers pay as you sale.
How much he does on marketing and where. How effective is marketing. How quick turn around I from parts distributers. What's average markup. What is overhead.
Basically it detailed business plan.
If I were to buy a vacuum shop and I would love to buy one. You have to research alot. VAcuum shops don't have long shelf life. They successful ones usually do sewing machines other household items like maybe a central vac distributer.
I learned in college from awesome professor do research and be prepared or the 40 years could be gone in a year.
Lesk

 

[tolivac]

Some on could take this up-but add a sewing machine sales and repairs.This could be stronger than the Vacuums!Jukie,Pfaff,and Bernina are good dealer sewing brands.As more folks go to cheap disposable plastivacs,the vacuum sales will slide at dealers.But sewing machine users will buy a quality brand machine and want someone to repair and maintain it after the purchase.

 

[blackheart]

Other

Yeah the builing is rented, the last building was owned but the roof was falling apart (flat roof) terrible water leaks and I think the repair bill was estimated in the 100k range maybe more. The new location is nicer IMO

They might still be a Beam dealer, due to not having an installer they've not done much with central vacs. I know they've currently got a simplicity unit on the floor for when people come in seeking replacement units. I heard Beam called them recently for something confirming that they were still a dealership but with beam being sold recently they may have changed.

It's kind of the same situation with sewing machines too. No one knew anything about them so they got dropped. I think Elna or Necchi were the brands carried at some point.

There was also Austin Air purifiers but there was so little interest in them they ended up getting dropped.

 

[panasonicvac]

If you're going to own a store, you got to do more than just selling vacuums if you want to stay in business. Alot of dealers including the one that I work for does sewing machines. There's one store that I know not only sell or repair vacuums but they also deal with household appliances, power tools, etc. And there's one place I know that sells and deals with hot tubs, exercise, water treatments, massage chairs, and even vacuums.

 

[gregvacs28]

It's probably more efficient to have shops that handle a variety as apposed to those that specialize in only vacuums (or any appliance).

Still there was a time when people could operate small shops that are the size of an efficiency apartment in "downtown" areas, and apparently make a living fixing only vacuums, or sewing machines, or small appliances.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

Hey


There was a time.  Cheap plastic vacs and vacuum shops have inventory they can't liquidate.  You had to have Vacuums laying around and buy to display.  I'm not sure you have to buy vacuums if you are authorized dealer.  I believe it's like consignment.   People are educated by commercials.  Dyson are the greatest.  Vacuum shops even set up as I mentioned you can't stay afloat.


I think vacuum shop online store big enough to buy large volumes at deep discounts only way you could keep shop open and open I mean run out of garage do all bookeeping etc yourself.  


Like Panasonic vac mentioned seeing machines.  I erased last post.  Utah I'm guessing but I'd say 5x amount of sewing machine shops to vacuum shops.  Sewing shops open stay open vacuum shops rarely open even rarer stay open.


Mormons have six wife's fifty kids but kidding aside every morning family sews alot. 


They like to hunt and fish too.  


They also love desiel trucks.  It's not sterotyping it's the truth.  


Cater to your demographics. Just don't open barber .shop.


I wonder if you went to a college or trade school fixed seeing machines lawn equipment small electronics if you could get a class have them come in and teach how to fix different items.  You might get minmo from government tax write offs free labor.  Just a thought.


Les


 

 

[dysonman1]

I bought an existing Rainbow Service Center (only servicing Rainbows) almost 30 years ago. A vac shop is worth the cost of the inventory and fixtures. The "goodwill" generated by X number of years in business has no monetary value as you cannot buy the past. The shop was (and IS) located in a small town about a hour from St. Louis. The first day, I added Simplicity vacuums, Eureka (Sanitaire), as well as reconditioned machines. And, kept it also as an authorized Rainbow service center. I paid slightly less than $10,000 for everything. I sold the business to one of my best friends 8 years ago, and it's still in business. When I sold it, I had a customer approximately every ten minutes. Evan is doing just as well, and has added Central Vacs (which is the way of the future for vac shops). Vac shops today CAN do well and make great money - but it takes a real 'go getter' of an owner to make anything work in this business - it helps if he's not only a vacuum collector, but also a vacuum rebuilder.

 

[lesinutah]

Dyson man

It is inspirational seeing vacuum shops still running well.  Central vacs are the future.  I'm not sure but getting parterspart with dealer and installer.  If you approach credit card similar to tire shops having financial setup another revenue for the business.  I believe central vacs and cordless will only get better.  Once technology advances technician might be needed in like electric motors in cars require certified technician.  I believe wireless vacuums will be big.


Les