The next VDTA/SDTA Convention & Show will be in
New Orleans, LA
February 27 - 29, 2012
at the Ernest Morial Convention Center

Introducing The Sweep-Away

Another Innovative Product from Galaxie!

For the past 45 years, Galaxie Central Vacuum Systems in Lawrence, MA, has manufactured, installed and serviced their own central vacuum system. This industry leader has over 150,000 units installed in the New England area and over 170,000 units worldwide. Additionally, the company offers all the accessories that you can think of for central vacuum systems.

Today, Galaxie is excited to announce they have developed another new product called the “Sweep-Away Cabinet Vac.” This unit is a fully self contained vacuum cleaner that functions as an automatic dustpan and a central vacuum. The Sweep-Away mounts easily into most kitchen and bathroom cabinets and is mounted under a space saving powder coated metal shelf. Simply screw the metal shelf to the floor and wall of the cabinet and plug it in!

According to Joe O’Neill, national sales manager for Galaxie, the Sweep-Away was developed because Galaxie saw a need to have a self contained automatic dustpan. Explaining, O’Neill said, “We had displayed the vacpan with our central vac equipment at home shows and had been asked over and over if the vacpan could be purchased separately without purchasing the entire central vacuum system. The key was to have a unit that was compact and did not take up room in the cabinet. Our space saving shelf was the ticket -- any room the unit takes up on the bottom of the cabinet is given back on the top with the shelf.”

As Galaxie developed the product, they also expanded on its functions. It can now be used as an automatic dustpan by itself or it can be used as a compact central vacuum for smaller residences or both. This versatility is actually the Sweep-Away’s best selling feature because it allows anybody who is interested in having a vacpan in their kitchen to have one whether they have a central vac or not. It can also be used to clean the entire kitchen by using the vacuum port on the unit. A full size central vac hose can be used to clean beyond the kitchen, or the zip hose can be used for quick and easy clean ups.

“Installation is quite easy and can be done by the homeowner in about one hour,” O’Neill said. “Plus, maintenance is simple -- the one gallon, disposable filter bag empties right in the front. And, best of all, it is fairly inexpensive. Our Sweep-Away Value Pak which consists of the unit along with a 30’ crushproof hose, complete cleaning set, zip hose, and collapsible broom retails for $399.”

Dealers will love adding this product to their mix because, according to O’Neill, it fills a void that has existed for quite sometime in the central vacuum business.

“There are countless applications for this product, be it in condos, kitchens, baths, boats, and RVs. In today’s economy, having a diversified product line is a must,” O’Neill said. “We are seeing many developers that are leaving our central vac out of developments, but are installing Sweep-Away because of its attractive price, while still offering features that the customer wants.”

The Sweep-Away was been marketed to the kitchen and bath industry first and has received overwhelming success. Kitchen and bath designers, cabinet installers, contractors and architects have all expressed great interest in the Sweep-Away.

O’Neill added, “Since the product was spotlighted on the CBS Early Morning Show, we have sold hundreds to the retail public.”

This hot new product has also grabbed the attention of many other media outlets. It debuted at the National Kitchen and Bath Show in Las Vegas, NV, and was selected as one of the top five new innovative products, out of 900 exhibitors. It was chosen to be included in the HGTV’s 2007 Kitchen and Bath Special, shown nationally 11 times. The Sweep-Away was written about in The Family Handyman Magazine in October of 2007 and spotlighted in the Design Journal Magazine in 2008. It has also aired nationally on the Fine Living Show and resides on HGTV’s Garden Web site.

President of CVC Inc. Bill DePippo said that developing new products that continue to improve the vacuum and central vacuum industry is always exciting, and it’s been especially rewarding bringing the Sweep-Away product to market since it has so many applications.

“The constant comments such as What a great idea! -- I wish I would have thought of that! -- This is the best product I have seen at the show! are very exciting,” DePippo said. “It’s also great getting so much positive feedback from customers who are using the product every day.”

If you would like to team with Galaxie and offer this great, new product in your store, contact Joe O’Neill (joeo@galaxie-vac.com) or Bill DePippo (billd@galaxie-vac.com) and inquire about becoming a Sweep-Away dealer or a dealer for Galaxie Central Vacuum. O’Neill and DePippo work from headquarters in Lawrence, MA, and can also be reached at 1-800-238-2294, extension 29 for O’Neill or extension 15 for DePippo.

You can watch a video demonstration of the Sweep-Away at www.sweepawaycabinetvac.com.

About Galaxie Central Vacuum
Galaxie Central Vacuum was established in 1964 distributing another brand of central vacuum. As the distributor, the focus was on developing the local market which consisted of displaying the product at area home shows and creating relationships with local builders and developers to convince them that central vacuum was a good idea. As the business grew, a decision was made to start manufacturing their own central vacuum . So In the early 1970’s the company began manufacturing its own brand of central vacuum called Galaxie. Over the years, the Galaxie brand of central vacuum became well known in New England. In the mid 1990’s, with the emergence of the Internet, they were able to further expand their distribution nationally and internationally. 

Today Galaxie continues to enjoy doing business locally with their retail operations, which over the years has consisted of delivering quality and professionalism to both the builder and the end user. Their knowledge of the central vacuum business and the business model they have created locally has proven to be an invaluable resource for their dealers and their success.

Reprinted from Central Vac Professional, February 2009