After 30 years in business, Bob and Gailyn Johnson, owners of Johnson Appliance, are reflecting on their journey.
“Making it through the pandemic with a very limited staff, long backorders on appliances, and ensuring safety protocols were met” were some of their biggest challenges, said Bob.
To meet demand, they rented additional storage space and placed large orders to keep products available.
Bob said the business was mostly born out of necessity. After Anderson Appliance, Maytag Appliance, and Bob’s Appliance closed, the town was left with only rental stores, he said.
And the Johnsons felt that there were some open store fronts downtown that needed someone in them.
“We thought the appliance business was similar to heating and air conditioning—more service-oriented,” Bob said. “We were wrong.”
Though retail drives the business, service remains key in competing with big-box stores.
“Servicing our products is the only thing that has kept us alive. We feel good about keeping the appliance store in a small town, giving locals an option to shop nearby instead of traveling far away,” he said.
Over the years, technology has changed how they sell and service appliances. Features such as fault codes help diagnose issues, while Wi-Fi-enabled washers, dryers and ranges allow customers to control them remotely via apps. Modern washers adjust water levels automatically, and some have removable agitators.
Keeping a diverse mix of appliances—entry-level to high-end—has contributed to the business’s longevity and success, Bob said, as well as being able to service all the appliances sold.
Caring for customers has also been essential.
“They are our friends and neighbors,” he said.
The couple agrees that the largest milestone over the past 30 years was moving from their cramped Second Street location to a larger showroom at 114 N. Chestnut St.
Looking ahead, the Johnsons anticipate exciting industry innovations, including ranges and microwaves with built-in air fryers and chest freezers that convert to refrigerators as needed. The Laundry Pro 2.0 will allow washers to function without detergent or fabric softener, using only cold water.
Bob assures customers that aside from efforts to secure better pricing and improve the service department, there won’t be major changes to the business.
“We see more automation in our industry. I’m sure we’ll have to learn how to incorporate it efficiently,” he said.
To celebrate 30 years in business, Johnson Appliance will hold an anniversary sale June 16–28. The storewide sale will offer special pricing on brands such as Whirlpool, Maytag, KitchenAid and Amana. In addition, there will be giveaways and door prizes, along with 12-month special financing for eligible customers.
