Interview with Philip Barhite, owner, manager and trash boy
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: My father has been in the vacuum business since the 1960s, and as a child I loved to go to work with him. Throughout my life I have been taught in the field of sales and have always had a good mind for fixing things. So here I am now in my 40s in business with a gentleman that has a story not much different than mine, a man who I have worked with on and off for the last 15 years. We have dreamed for years what it would be like to have our own store. So here we are, each with 30-plus years in the vacuum business. My partner, Donald Wadsworth, is also factory trained in sewing machine repair. Both of us have been trained 20-plus years in portable heater repair and lamp repair.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: First of all, this is not a franchise with a recipe for success. We are two guys with a life of knowledge in our industry who feel things could be different in the way vacuums are fixed and sold in Denver. American-made products are a focus in our store. Though it’s seemingly impossible to not have any foreign product, we are trying to buy local and American-made when possible. At 5280 Vacuum Center, we offer a money-back guarantee. We do estimates in person with the customer. Most local shops source out some or all of their repair work. We do all of our own repair work, and the customer’s product does not leave the store. We offer pick up and delivery and extended hours of operation. We recycle anything we can’t rebuild or tear down. We also used Colorado reclaimed beetle kill pine to build our displays and sales counter as well as carpet remnants to offer a variety of different carpet for people to sample any of our products on. I think just one visit to our beautiful, clean store will show people that we are not just another vacuum shop.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: It never gets boring. We work on so many different products and there are so many different problems, it is never a dull moment. Ninety-nine percent of the customers are fun to talk to and we get to know these people. The other 1 percent is just part of doing business. Selling things helps us keep our doors open, but fixing things is what keeps us in this business for so many years.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Overcoming the stigma of small repair shops and the damage that some have done to our industry. I hear other stores say “the big-box stores” are our problem. I don’t agree. The big-box stores keep the pond stocked. What we do with the fish is up to us. If our integrity in the way we treat people and their products is constant and fair, we will prosper.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: That we are just average guys with families and simply want to make a living.
Profile
Business: 5280 Vacuum Center
Address: 2049 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite K, Lakewood
Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Founded: January 2016
Contact: 303-386-3689,
Employees: 3
