Chris Edwards is the face and voice of Tucson Appliance Company, and if you have a problem with something you buy from his collection of stores at the 10,000-square-foot building at 4229 E. Speedway, he wants to hear about it.
"My cell-phone number is listed on our website," Edwards said.
Having taken over the company he ran with his late father, Bill, for 13 years, Edwards, 42, is trying to snap the business out of a slump. He says sales are off as much as 30 percent since their peak in 2008.
The Tucson Appliance building is divided into segments that operate independently under the same banner: The main Tucson Appliance showroom, the air-conditioning-focused Tucson Cooling and Heating, business-oriented Tucson Commercial Appliance, furniture-selling Tucson Furniture Warehouse and high-end Tucson Wholesale Supply Premium Appliance Center.
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Edwards said his father didn't like to advertise that Tucson Appliance was five businesses in one, but now that he's in control of the company, Edwards started a new ad campaign geared to spread the word about the unusual setup. He also changed the company's slogan from the iconic "Where low prices are our priority" to "Where our low prices are your priority."
We caught up with Edwards:
Q. How has the economy affected sales?
A. It's been humongous. A lot of people aren't remodeling or spending any money unless something actually breaks. But we're definitely in a position to both fix and replace (appliances).
Q. What message do you want to get to customers?
A. It's the mentality of the customer thinking the big-box store is always cheaper. That isn't true.
Q. Are you always cheaper than the chains like Best Buy and Sears?
A. No. From time to time we are. It depends on the products we have in stock. Our selection is much greater, and our customer service is better.
Q. How is it better?
A. You can call me on my cell phone - customers can talk to the owner. I'll fix the situation one way or another. If I'm wrong, I'll definitely fix it.
Q. That's a bold move to post your number on your site.
A. Sometimes I'll answer that, and other times I'll get the message and reply. I want to talk to the customer. I want to be out there.
Q. Has business started improving?
A. I feel a change. However, this is an election year, and after the election I expect a lot more changes. Right now, people aren't shopping as much.
Q. How tough has it been to operate the business without your father?
A. It's been hard. It's not as easy as it used to be. I've got to take on new challenges head-on myself, without having a partner to go over them with and throw ideas at. It hasn't been easy, and I don't expect it to be any easier. But I've been in business 20 years, and I'm ready. Rock and roll.
Contact reporter Phil Villarreal at 573-4130 or pvillarreal@azstarnet.com