Home Appliance Sales and Service has just created the ultimate appliance shopping experience

By Bill Yurgen

With a very knowledgeable and tech-savvy sales staff that strictly adheres to a no-pressure sales approach, it would seem Home Appliance Sales and Services’ new Avon showroom and design center is sure to be the go-to destination when area consumers and builders need appliances.

Couple that with the broadest possible range of brands and pricing appealing to virtually anyone shopping for a new appliance, and you have a formula for what is sure to be a smashing success.

Last month, I attended the grand opening of the new Home Appliance Avon showroom and design center. I’ve been to a number of these types of affairs over the years, and I have to say that this one was about as well attended as they get. I arrived early and the showroom was even busier than I expected. On my way inside, I stop to admire how attractive the facility’s exterior is, but I was unprepared for what awaited inside.

Awash in Superlatives
Words and phrases like “Amazing!” “Wow!” “You just have to see this over here!” and “OMG!” seemed to permeate the air every time I turned a corner. I must hand it to Beth and Brian Grayson, who own Home Appliance, and to the members of their design team and construction crew, who collectively brought the vision of the new store to life.

Bidding the crowd a fond adieu, I took a raincheck on further investigation until I could stop by when things were a little less hectic and concentrate on touring this high-fashion, high-tech store and all that it has to offer. I’m so glad I did.

Box Store vs. Showroom & Design Center
For many, the words “showroom” and “design center” bring to mind exclusivity and high prices, with just a pinch of intimidation thrown in. Those folks may well think they will feel more at home at one of the box stores, and those folks might be right—if they like fewer choices or paying more and getting less.

When I was building my home, I thought much the same when my builder sent me to several “showrooms.” Then I realized that there were choices way beyond the limited ones that the chain stores offer. Have you ever noticed the home improvement box stores don’t like to sell you the same brands? It’s because they don’t want you cross shopping.

Home Appliance Sales and Service sells all the brands that those other stores sell, like Samsung, LG, GE, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, and more, plus an extremely broad range of high-end luxury appliances (Thermadore, Sub-Zero, Wolf, GE Monogram, etc.) and appliances from companies that choose to only be distributed by independent dealers (like Speed Queen), which are solely dedicated to the appliance business. That way, you can comparison shop in one place as much as you’d like.

Exclusive for Everyone
Taking it a step further, Home Appliance has combined these normally separate market channels under one roof, and built 24 vignettes and multiple demonstration kitchens where consumers can be inspired by fashion-forward home design and compare features the various brands offer.

Jim Morocco, sales manager for the company says it best,

“Not everyone wants a $10,000, 48”, high-performance range with every bell and whistle imaginable, but we have them—as well as ranges that begin as low as $600 for those who have other priorities. Of course, we offer a wide selection of virtually every range in between. And a very expensive but well worth it refrigeration unit may not be in everyone’s budget, so we have refrigerators as low as $639 every day—and even less when on sale. What we do offer everyone is the opportunity to be well informed when making purchasing decisions.”

What’s New?
The highlight of any grand opening is to see what’s new. Home Appliance does not disappoint. How about a brand named Beko, which is among the most popular brands in Europe? There is a Beko oven on display that appears dark like any dark stainless appliance, except the door is made from carbon fiber—like a Ferrari dashboard—to make it light weight and extremely durable.

Another something new is the GE Café ensemble on display.

The new matte white is featured with bronze handles. It appears distinctive and upscale belying its quite reasonable pricing. Spend some time browsing, and I’m sure you will find something new to you that delights you, too.

Competing Against the Big Guys
Originally, the big box retailers moved into an area with mass buying power and pushed the far smaller locally owned businesses out with deep price cutting, only to raise their prices as their competition shrunk.

Today, surviving companies like Home Appliance are members of large buying groups that challenge the buying power of the box stores to offer you not only as good a price, but more often a better price. And the locally owned and operated Home Appliance exclusively repairs, delivers and installs what it sells. When was the last time you went to a big box store to have your 10-year-old washer repaired?

It also begs the question, do you really want to buy an appliance based on the advice of a person who transferred from lawn and garden to the appliance department three weeks ago, or would you rather rely on a professional with years of experience in the business?

Home Appliance Sales and Service of Avon is located at 1180 Jaycox Rd. in Avon. Visit them at YourHomeAppliance.com or call them at 440-517-1888. Hours are Monday & Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.