Dunagan’s Vacuum Superstore

Family business opens doors to new location

A new independent vacuum store recently opened in North Augusta, SC. Now open for business is Dunagan’s Vacuum Superstore & Allergy Relief Center at 1768 Knox Avenue.

Does Dunagan’s sound familiar to you?

It should if you are from South Carolina because it is actually the second store in the state to open using the family name Dunagan.

The first to open back in 1975 was Dunagan’s Sewing & Vacuum Center in Aiken, SC. Donald W. Dunagan founded the business 32 years ago. Now semi-retired, Donald leaves the running of the business to his sons, Karl and Scott.

Karl manages the 4,000-square-foot store in Aiken, and Scott manages the new, 3,000-square-foot store in North Augusta.

At 26, Scott is the younger of the two sons. He said his father actually tried to discourage him from going into the vacuum business after college.

Explaining why, Scott said, “That’s because it was hard work. There’s a lot of responsibility in running a store. Dad grew the business during a time when you did everything you could to get people’s business.”

Scott wasn’t easily discouraged; however. He took business skills learned through college and combined it with hands-on learning from his days working in Dunagan’s “fix-it-up” shop (before it became the store it is today). Using those skills, Scott decided to plant his feet more firmly into the vacuum business and accept the position of manager for the new family store. The management position became official on April 28, 2007, when the new store celebrated its grand opening.

Recalling the event, Scott said, “The grand opening was great. We had a good turn out and a lot of drawings for free giveaways. And we had the local radio station here giving away tickets to a concert. So, everything went really well.”

Customers visiting the new Dunagan’s location have a variety of product lines from which to choose. The store carries Riccar vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, and central vacuums, Beam central vacuums, Miele and IQAir air purifiers, and Hoover, Dyson and Eureka Sanitaire products.

Scott said he knows everything about all the different models and is able to teach himself how each vacuum works.

He also added, “I also know the products I’m competing against.”

On selling, Scott insists he doesn’t “stress-out about making a sale.”

He said, “We’re kinda like ‘good ole boys.’ I don’t push the customers. I just quit talkin’ and listen. If people listen to their customers, they’ll make their sales.”

Scott’s familiarity with air purifiers stems from his previous experience selling them in the main store. Due to a growing concern about asthma and reactions to allergens, Scott said customers began asking about “cutting down on dust from a vacuum.” So in 2000, Dunagan’s (the Aiken store) added air purifiers to the product line up.

“Doctors are recommending them more often for allergy relief,” noted Scott. “We have a particle scanner running in the store so customers can see how many unseen particles are in the air -- parts per million and parts per billion. It’s a real eye-opener.”

In addition to product know-how, Scott said he’s also learned business tips from his father -- tips such as the “do’s and don’ts” of dealing with customers.

“Business-wise, Dad’s advice has always been to go out of your way to help customers and they will remember you forever,” said Scott. “And, it’s so important to be nice because we all know if you make a person happy, they might tell a few people but if you upset them, they will tell EVERYONE they can find!”

Heeding his father’s advice is paying off, and Scott said he’ll continue to learn and grow so he can someday have the chance to own the business himself. Scott now thrives on the challenges of making the business grow.

“I want to be the best at what I do,” he said. “Everywhere I go I pass out business cards and tell everyone about our new opening. I get a lot of people who have heard about our new store, and they are glad we are here. And what is fun sometimes is while I’m talking to one person, a couple other people will overhear our conversation and they’ll jump in and ask questions. The conversations all help the business and that is great. Ideally, I would like to see a third location that’s twice as big as both of our present stores.”

Both Scott and Karl are proud of their dad, and how he started and grew Dunagan’s.

And Donald in turn is very proud of his sons and their initiative.

Donald said, “I have watched this business grow from when I was a Hoover rep. to my first store opening in 1975 that sold mostly rebuilt vacuums to 2007 where we sell very few rebuilt vacuums and a lot of very high-end vacuums. When I started I never thought I would see what has become of this business. I am very proud of my sons and what they have made of my stores.”

Visit Dunagan’s online at www.dunagans.com
E-mail: dunagans@bellsouth.net

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, July 2007