Kim Larios winces when she hears talk about a “throwaway society,” when it’s just as easy to dispose of such things as vacuum cleaners to buy anew.
“Why spend $100 for a new vacuum when all you need is a single part to fix your old one?” Larios asked rhetorically. “There are too many things you think you have to throw away, when it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Larios and husband Mike have taken that philosophy to heart in opening Iola Vacuum and Repair, behind B & B Country Cafe at 1219 N. State St.
The Larioses opened the vacuum sales and repair shop in December and already have generated business through word-of-mouth and strategic advertising.
“We’ve gotten quite a few visitors just from B & B,” Mike Larios said. The Larioses also own the restaurant.
Iola Vacuum offers a wide selection of new and refurbished vacuums, such as Kirby, Panasonic and Riccar models; accessories such as bags and belts; and other cleaning supplies. They also have for sale shampoo machines and FloorMate brand cleaners that vacuum, wash and dry hard floor surfaces.
Plans also are in the works to begin renting out industrial carpet shampoo machines as well.
The store is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and can be reached at 365-7425.
THE IMPETUS for the vacuum shop came about innocently enough.
“We were yapping,” Kim Larios said with a laugh. “Just thinking about doing something like this.”
Handling the vacuum repair will be Joe Rogers, who worked on vacuums in Woodward, Okla., for about six years. Rogers is fiance to Patricia Bender, the
Larioses’ daughter.
“We thought of a way to make this a family business,” Mike Larios said. “We’ll handle the sales. He’ll do the repairs.”
Customers also are welcome to bring in their old models for possible trade-ins, Mike Larios said.
“It’s a tough economy, and some people may not be able to afford a new vacuum,” Kim Larios said.
