What if Commercial Vacuums Were Sold in Big-Box Stores?

[bagintheback]

What do you predict would happen if Hoover began to sell Guradsmans at big-box stores, like Target or Wal-Mart? Same question for the Sanitaires. How would the consumers reaction? Would they sell well? Would there be any unique marketing campaign necessary?

From what I've read, Wal-Mart basically dictates what manufactures produce, and such well built machines could probably never be sold there. However, Wal-Mart is selling some pretty expensive models in their stores already, such as Dyson and some high-end consumer Hoovers, so a Guardsman at around $200 is not insane.

 

[stricklybojack]

One is..

Sam's Cub has this yellow Hoover, mentioned on this website from time to time, & other commercial Hoovers as well. That having been said i get your point & don't understand why Target & Walmart don't also have a selection. My guess is, like most things these retailers sell, they stick with the most popular models & the general public has no idea how cool commercial vacs are ;-)

http://www.samsclub.com/sams/hoover-commercial-bagless-upright-vacuum/prod4600200.ip?navAction=push

 

[ilikeoddvacuums]

commercials at sams club

i have seen eureka commercial vacs and sanitaires at sams club

 

[tylerawells]

[COLOR=#000080; font-family: book antiqua,palatino; font-size: medium]I was in my local Sam's Club yesterday, and they had about 5 commercial vacs, along with a few Dyson's and a Shark. One of the Dyson's was really strange, it looked like someone had taken the regular Dyson and shrunk it down into a stick vac. [/COLOR]

 

[tolivac]

Several years ago Sams Club carried Royal metal commercial uprights under the "Dirt Devil" name-kicking myself for not buying one.This was just before TTI took over Royal.

 

[sebo_fan]

Years ago Tesco in the UK used to sell SEBO commercial uprights - the BS 36 and 46 commercials in particular - but they don't seem to be stocked there anymore and it seems that the Karcher company uprights have also stopped selling online there, too. This seems to be because of a lack of customer demand.

Whilst it might be a good idea for collectors to have the opportunity to buy commercial vacuums at big box stores, general buyers want a combination upright as opposed to just the traditional upright, and could be turned off by the cost price of commercial uprights alone against the mass brand cheaper Chinese made offerings. Its a good idea, but unless big box franchise stores are prepared to lose some money on the basis that most commercial uprights tend to cost more and offer less features, they're not likely to bring in a series of different brands and products - and also for the fact that they may not sell as much as the cheaper domestic versions.