Page 14 - YourSource November 2016

DEALER FEATURE
FISHERMAN TURNED RETAIL HEAVYWEIGHT: THE EVOLUTION OF JOHN’S APPLIANCE
If you told John Hinton Jr. back in the early 1970’s that one day he would be the proud owner of a throwing re- tail appliance and bedding chain, it is doubtful he would have believed you. At the time, John made his living as a spear fisherman in Daytona Beach, Fla. After selling his daily catch, he tinkered with used appliances at night and sold them in a bid to supplement his income. Over 40 years later, John’s Appliance and Bedding boasts six locations in north- east Florida, each standing as a monument to the unlikely success story of an ex-fisherman who evolved into an inde- pendent retail heavyweight.
The introduction of John Hinton into the world of appli- ances began at his father’s store, Halifax Appliance Service, where he worked while he attended high school. While work- ing for his father, he received his formal education in appli- ance repair. As it turned out, repairing washing machines and refrigerators with John Sr. did not quite capture the young man’s imagination at first, and before long, he left his father’s store to earn his living as a spear fisherman. Despite his prow- ess catching fish, John maintained his connection to his Dad’s business by repairing used appliances and selling them out of his garage.
John Hinton Sr.
In 1973, John made the
momentous decision to
end his fishing career and
rent a 200 square foot store
where he could sell the re-
furbished appliances that
he had become adept at
repairing. He quickly out-
grew his original store in Daytona Beach and ended up buy- ing a 2,1000 square foot lawnmower shop to accommodate his growing refurbished and scratch and dent inventory. Eight years later, John doubled down on his bourgeoning success by buying a 14,000 square foot showroom featuring new ap- pliances for the first time, along with an added service depart- ment. What followed was the continued growth of the busi- ness, resulting in the opening of stores in Palm Coast, Orange City, New Smyrna Beach and Altamonte Springs.
Today, John’s Appliance and Bedding is a family business, which includes his children, Kelsey and John, who handle the stores’ crucial online and social media presence. The sales en- vironment has also changed. The simpler days of selling ap- pliances out of a garage are long gone. The contemporary market is ultra competitive where sales and promotions are ongoing. “Everyday is a promotion. Black Friday is six weeks long now. You have to be competitive or the box stores will kill you,” says John. Like other appliance store owners, John marvels at how informed the customer has become. He must also accommodate the millennial generation whose buying habits differ from their predecessors. Of millennials, he says, “They are a different breed. They don’t have the disposable income that their parents had, so they are in interested in get- ting the best deals.”
John Hinton’s first store in the mid-70’s
14 YOURSOURCE
NOVEMBER 2016