Industry News

ESSCO announces 14th annual catalog update

The ESSCO catalog was first shipped to independent vacuum dealers in 1993. It was revolutionary at the time because it was the most ambitious and comprehensive vacuum cleaner catalog ever produced. At that time the ESSCO catalog was 600 pages and literally had nearly every vacuum being manufactured. Fast forward to 2007 and the ESSCO catalog is now more than 1,000 pages and www.essco.net contains more than 2,000 schematics on vacuum cleaners.

One of the main reasons behind the sheer number of models available from manufacturers is the variety of mass merchant chains that work on very small margins and high sales volume to survive. The shelf life of a vacuum cleaner is much shorter now than ever before because margins shrink so fast at retail that retailers demand new models as often as every six months. In addition, large retail chains often demand unique model numbers to be sold only at their stores as protection against price slashing. The end result is a confusing tangle of manufacturers and model numbers. Independent dealers thrive on providing parts and consumables for all varieties of vacuum cleaners and that is why the ESSCO catalog and Web site are so valuable and have become the industry standard resource.

The ESSCO catalog and Web site compliment each other very well. Each manufacturer’s section is basically a timeline of models from earliest to latest because of the 14 annual updates. The Web site is able to be updated daily or even hourly to accommodate new vacuum cleaner models. The catalog can be shown to customers to help identify a part. The Web site allows dealers to then look up price and availability in real time before they quote their customer. Finally the dealer can then add the item to an online order to be compiled and sent at the dealer’s leisure.

Both the ESSCO catalog and Web access are available to all independent vacuum dealers. Simply call 1-800-321-2664 and you can receive a catalog and get access to the Web site at any time. Helpful ESSCO representatives are always ready to answer parts questions or to help navigate the huge vacuum cleaner database on the Web. Simply call ESSCO toll-free during normal business hours. The Web site www.essco.net is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for your convenience. Call today!

The 14th annual ESSCO update is free and will be shipped with orders to current ESSCO customers beginning June 1, 2007.

ESSCO 14th annual catalog update includes:

• Bissell: Cleanview 2 Bagless model 3576, Proheat 2x Powersteamer 8900, 9200, 9300, 9400 series.
• Eureka: Athena upright model 2981BVZ, Mighty Mite 2 model 3670.
• Hoover: WindTunnel 2 bagged and bagless models, upright Steam Vac Dual V All Terrain F7400 series.
• Rexair: All E2 model variations.
• Royal: Ultra Vision Turbo Bagless model 087800, Vision Wideglide, Envision models 086700, 086700w, 086710.
• Equipment: New equipment from Fuller Brush, Pullman Holt and Euroflex.

Sections of the ESSCO catalog being totally replaced in 2007: Built In, Filters and Equipment.

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, June 2007