You Accidentally Bought a Vacuum Shop... Now What?

[telektoret]

Is there a rehabilitation program for self-endangerment situations like this?

At least I think I can turn it into a full service appliance store

This is coming at you from Morgantown, Pennsylvania...

 

[gottahaveahoove]

I'm very familiar with that area

How do you "accidentally" but a store? Were you forced out of somewhere else?
Best of luck. Perhaps you'll breathe new life into the place.. Make it your own.

 

[rodknock95]

AWESOME!!!!!!!

 

[huskyvacs]

Congrats! If there is anyone on here that knows more about how to run a vacuum shop, it would be dysonman1. He could probably get you started off on the right foot and help you out with what to do and how to manage it.

 

[telektoret]

I took on more than 100 vacuums and more than 10,000 parts. Mostly Eluxes, but everything under the sun.

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

Help liquidate and grow customer base start online sales. I'd build a website that has checkout process built in. I'd even sale some on eBay to draw business to web site.
I'm not sure what angle your approach will be. Do alot of demographic research. Ook at what successful vacuum shops in area do to stay in business. Good luck pretty sweet opportunitiy.
Oh do a business plan. If you want loans from banks this is crucial.
Get computerized inventory.
Les
Les

 

[dandagreer]

Awesome

Total bucket list item for me. I live in a small town in Tennessee that last its only vac shop a couple years ago. Would love to open one again for our community!

 

[dysonman1]

Congratulations.

We are fellow vacuum cleaner business owners. Mine opens on May 1. Steel city has been a wonderful supplier. My go to line is Electrolux. They are made in America, are well-made, and everyone’s grandmother had one. If you ever need any help at all, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I opened my own vacuum cleaner shop when I was 23 years old, I sold it 10 years ago to my best friend who still has it, If you put the vacuum cleaner first, and the money second, you’ll be successful. If you put the money first, and the vacuums second, you will not be. People love honesty more than anything else, so just tell your customers the truth. If it is a shark, throw it back in the water. Anything else, let’s see if we can fix it. I have a feeling you will do great.

 

[texaskirbyguy]

Congratulations!!

This can easily happen to a competitive group of males as we just cannot be outdone!
Friend one buys a Dustbuster and brags about it.
Friend two buys a Dyson stick vac and brags about it.
Friend three buys a Kirby home care system and brags about it.
Friend four gets a central vac system and really brags about it.
You buy a vacuum shop and brag about it over all of them! )

All joking aside, I wish you the best of luck in your new profession!
Do a great job, troubleshoot and not shotgun, keep costs competitive, and do the jobs right and thorough to avoid comebacks. Best of all, keep a friendly attitude, even when it is difficult. This makes all the difference.

Perhaps start a youtube channel where you document repairs on customer units to help DIYers, show your customers what you did and why, and to show them and potential customers how well you do your work. I know of a few places who do just this and they have more work than they can handle. These are places I would do business with if I lived nearby.

Keep us posted on how this ramps up!

 

[human]

Seems like a happy accident! I hope your new business venture turns out to be everything you wish it to be. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[madman]

Congrats!

I'm also a business owner. I hope you've owned some kind of business before...

 

[vacuumdevil]

Congratulations ! Feel free to hit me up if you want any advice from a long-term industry veteran!

 

[lesinutah]

Hey

You don't need to own a business or be a veteran business owner necessarily. I could open a business and make it successful. I do have customer service experience ran a self service section grossing over $10 million a year. I also learned a lot from a couple really good teachers in school.
But I may be bright on ideas where as you know do's and don'ts far better than I.
Plus there is more than one way to skin a cat and another persons way might be your way.
I'm jealous.
Les

 

[gottahaveahoove]

You can do it. It takes work, but......................

I opened 2 businesses: A dance studio and a talent (scholarship) competition. After a LOT of planning, they were successful. It's been said that it takes about a year to see a profit. I was very fortunate to see that happen after 6 months. They were small profits, but, the accountants were pleased. AND, I didn't have to borrow any money from anyone to get them opened. I was indebted to NO ONE.
Best of luck on your endeavor.

 

[ultralux88]

I’ve been a collector my whole life, and in the vacuum business now for about half of that (since I was old enough to work), and I just started a central vacuum cleaner install and service business of my own. As much as many of us collectors love the old parts, you are going to want to sell those off ASAP, so you have room for parts and such for the kinds of machines the buying public has. If you’re new store has a reputation for Electrolux, all the better! It’s a good quality, high end machine that people will generally prefer to either repair and service or replace with a new one of the same brand. I recommend getting getting into central vacuums as well, lots of good products these days, and the internet can’t cut you out of it, as the system has to be installed and serviced in the house and by a technician.

If you work hard at it, you can definitely have a life long career out of a store like this! Good luck!