Nybakke Vacuum celebrates 75 years

Since Nybakke Vacuum Shop has a good reputation for its quality vacuums, the next logical step was to offer customers the same high quality dishwasher.

“They want that same trust with an appliance,” said Terry Nybakke, who owns the business with his brother, David Nybakke.

Within the past decade, the brothers have added Miele kitchen and laundry appliances to their vacuum shop. The business also sells portable heaters and air purifiers and installs central vacuum systems.

“It’s a niche item we thought we could expand into and offer to the community. We need to find more and more products, different niches, to offer to stay in business,” David said.

It’s worked so far.

Nybakke Vacuum Shop, 814 IAA Drive in Bloomington, celebrates 75 years in business this year. Nybakke wants to have the most technologically advanced vacuums on the market and the company stands by its products.

“It has our name attached to it. They’re buying Nybakke as much as they’re buying the product,” Terry said.

While they’re proud of their success, David, 53, and Terry, 51, also have their eyes on the future.

“As much as we’re 75 years old, we have the fourth generation working here, so we’re young at the same time,” Terry said.

Terry’s daughter, Megan Nybakke, 21, and David’s son, Mark Nybakke, 25, have grown into their roles in the family business.

Mark installs central vacuum systems in homes, a task he’s done for about five years. But he also can remember dusting displays at the business’ old location on Front Street in Bloomington.

“I’ve done stuff forever,” he said.

He’d like to learn more about what goes on at the retail location since he’s out most of the time.

Megan could teach her cousin a thing or two about vacuum sales.

“My job is to tell why our vacuums are better,” Megan said.

The average person replaces a vacuum every 2½ years, but Nybakke’s vacuums have an average lifetime of 10 to 15 years, she said. They can cost from $180 to $1,200, compared to the average $200 to $250 vacuum at a regular retailer, but a Nybakke vacuum will be cheaper in the long run, she said.

Nybakke carries six brands of vacuums, including the top-of-the line Brilliance by Riccar. It has two motors instead of one, metal components instead of plastic and a tandem air system, all reasons why it is one of the most powerful vacuums on the market, Megan said.

In addition to sales, Megan also can show guys a woman can repair a vacuum cleaner.

“Since I’ve done it so long, its second nature,” she said.

Megan looks up to her dad as a good role model and would like to follow in his footsteps and take over the shop someday.

“He’s got so much pressure and so much responsibility, but he always gets it done,” Megan said.

Nybakke’s 75 years
History: Ben and Gladys Nybakke started Kirby Co. in the downstairs of their home, 1404 N. Main St., Bloomington, in 1932. They changed the name to Nybakke Vacuum Shop around the start of World War II. In the mid-1950s, the business moved to 219 E. Front St., and later 229 E. Front St. Their son, Bernie, took over in 1967. His sons, David and Terry Nybakke, joined the business in the mid-1970s and moved the shop to its current location, 814 IAA Drive, Bloomington, in 1993.

All in the Family: Mark Nybakke and Megan Nybakke are fourth-generation employees.

Services: Include vacuum sales and repairs, central vacuum systems, and Miele kitchen and laundry appliances.

Reprinted with permission of The Pantagraph. Article by Michele Koetters

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, June 2007