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player ready...Business: Grand Appliance and TV
Address: 1356 N. Route 59, Naperville
Phone/website: 630-416-1500, www.grandappliance.com
Store manager: Megan Funk, 44, of Shorewood
Years in business: 13 in Naperville
What does your business do? “We sell kitchen appliances, TVs, refrigerators, stoves, microwave ovens, dishwashers, freezers, dehumidifiers, washers, dryers,” Funk said.
What’s the background? “We started in Waukegan on Grand Avenue in 1930. … We have 28 locations now. Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa. The fourth-generation of the Reckling family took over this past year. We’re a big company big on family.”
What’s in the future? “We are peeking at new areas to expand.”
What makes this company a success? “The core, being family members. We’re part of a large buying team called BrandSource. They focus on specific brands, deals we can get on products. Rebates. … We’re one of many companies across the country that buy together. It makes us as strong as the big box stores.”
Why should people buy appliances here? “We go to trainings across the country with vendors. Learn their products. Cook on their products. … We know what we are selling.”
What should customers know? “Generally, when a new product is launching with a brand, they’re already working on the next new product that will come years down the road.”
Any new features? “Air fry technology built into stoves instead of having an air fryer on your countertop. … This is not super new. Steam functionality in your washer and dryer for quick refreshing, sanitizing or deep cleaning. It’s popular.”
What’s popular? “With refrigerators, French doors. You’re getting more internal width room.”
What’s hot? “Stainless steel is still number one. … Some of the more premium brands, you can get custom colors. … Bluestar, you can walk into any paint store, grab whatever color you want, say you want it for your stove or refrigerator, and they’ll make it for you.”
How many brands do you sell? “We carry most major brands. We don’t have room to display every single product that’s out there, but we can get almost anything you can think of.”
What about prices? “It depends on the brand. You can buy a new stove for $600 or you can pay $21,000 for a Bluestar. It’s $250 for each brass knob.”
What happens when someone walks in? “We ask questions. Have they done any research? Have they looked online? Have they gone to any competitors to see what’s out there? Sometimes, people have a general idea. Sometimes, they don’t. … We don’t pounce on people.”
Why do you enjoy your job? “Part of it is the environment I work for. Again, this company is very big on family. I have a family. I run this location, my husband (Justin Funk) runs the Downers Grove location, and my brother-in-law (Jeff Serr) runs the Orland Park location. … And we’re not the only ones (with relatives working for Grand).”
Do you meet your husband at Grand? “No. We met at my previous (appliance) company. We’ve been married 14 years, together 19.”
What times are big for buying appliances? “November because of Black Friday. Now it’s Black November. You’ve got Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Black November, your four big advertised appliance sale times.”
Is there a slow time? “Right now. ‘Hey, I’ll buy my mom a refrigerator (for Christmas)’ is not too common, although a customer came in (Dec. 20) and put $1,000 down on their family member’s order. That was their surprise Christmas present. That was so nice.”
Any negatives? “No. they don’t overwork us. The previous company, I worked 55 hours a week. They’re very fair with hours here, with your personal time, vacation time.”
How did the pandemic impact your business? “It made us so incredibly busy. … Everybody was stuck in their homes. They were either using their products and realizing they didn’t like them or they were breaking them. We were (deemed) essential. We stayed open the whole time. Our industry went through the roof. … We had major product delays. People had to order a year in advance. … Builders told people building a new home, ‘The very first thing you do is buy your appliances before you break ground.'”
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Any favorite stories? “We have events here with clients and builders. Roll out the red carpet. … We have the Grand Foundation that does a lot with communities. Backpacks for kids in need. … To date, our donations are up to $500,000.”
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Do a lot of research on what type of business you want to start. See what the competition is. See if you fit.”
If you know of a business you’d like to see to profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at [email protected].
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.