Bellflower/Lakewood Appliance in Bellflower, CA is the longest continuously operating appliance dealer in Bellflower, a suburb of Los Angeles. Established in 1931 as a Maytag Dealer when Bellflower was largely a community of dairy farmers, the store grew with the city as America took to the suburbs.
In 1980, Dan Koops, who was born and raised in Bellflower, took ownership of the store, which by now offered both new & used appliances, as well as parts and service for all brands. Dan credits his success to hard work and fair dealing. As Dan says, "When you have a store and you live in a town you have to back what you say will do. You really have nowhere to hide if you don't." Dan doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk. His reputation for hard work & dependability is such that he serves on the City Council, and he is the former mayor of Bellflower.
Of course, Dan struggles with the same kinds of issues that many companies deal with; finding good technicians is always a challenge. Competition from unlicensed amateur repairmen and questionable internet sites has also kept Dan on his toes. Dan says his relationship with W.L. May has helped. Dan commented "W.L. May offers better service from 1000 miles away than the competition that is less than 3 miles away. I don't need to worry about it. When I order my parts are here next day. Other suppliers have trouble meeting that need."
Between business and public service Dan keeps pretty busy. When he has time, he likes to go boating and also to work on his collection of vintage trucks. In fact, last year one of his trucks took 1st place in the working cars division during a big car show.
If you find yourself near the interchange of the 91 & 605 freeways in LA County, stop off in Bellflower and introduce yourself to Dan and see why Bellflower/Lakewood Appliance has been a fixture in the community since the 1930's
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.