When Appliances Unlimited owner Amanda Forrest announced the closing of her Kewanee business this spring, she probably never expected a new opportunity to present itself so quickly.
Forrest, who purchased the Kewanee business Appliances Unlimited 19 years ago, was invited to meet with the team of Village Home Stores in Geneseo to discuss a job offer and transition.
“It was agreed that another small business would be a great fit for her and her customer base,” Elizabeth Round, the marketing and content manager for Village Home Stores, stated in a news release.
“Amanda can still source quality kitchen and laundry appliances for her Kewanee-area customers at a competitive price while offering a great customer experience,” the release read.
Forrest will also be available for customers who prefer to shop from home online with added assistance via the phone or the Village Home Stores website text/web chat feature.
Forrest will operate in a sales environment that cares for the purchaser long after the purchase with access to staff service technicians for warranty work and repairs, the release stated.
“After spending some time at their business, I feel that they are the best option to replace the sales and service that we have offered,” said Forrest. “They have a beautiful showroom and are dedicated to the industry that I come from with their pricing standpoint, customer service dedication and all-around positive experience.”
Forrest will bring with her decades of experience in the sales and service of home appliances and will begin immersive product training for key Village brands including Maytag, Whirlpool and KitchenAid when she visits the World of Whirlpool facilities in Chicago. Her first day on the Village Home Stores sales floor is set for Aug. 1.
Village Home Stores is a second generation small business that has served the region since 1984. They offer appliances, appliance service, cabinetry, countertops, lighting, window treatments, flooring and wall surfaces, as well as complete kitchen and bath remodels.
Their work portfolio is available online at houzz.com/pro/villagehomestores and they appear weekly on TV locally every Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. on WQAD News Channel 8.
The Village Home Stores, located at 105 S. State St., Geneseo, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.
