EDISON – For Scott Richard, the saying, “When one door closes, another opens,” has perhaps never been truer.
Just as his time at the former Derby Appliance store on Route 27, where he had worked for nearly five years as store manager and sales manager with the intention of buying the business, was coming to an end in July, Richard accelerated plans to open his own appliance store.
He took the knowledge he gleaned from Derby and the spirit of treating customers like family with him. The longtime family-owned business closed at the end of the summer after nearly seven decades in business.
On Nov. 5 Richard is hosting a grand opening celebration of My Family Appliances at 561 Route 1, Edison in the Wick Plaza shopping center. Although a soft opening isn’t scheduled until Oct. 22, Richard has already been busy delivering appliances while finishing renovations at the 3,450-square-foot new store.
The store will offer kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, ranges, hoods, ovens, wall ovens, microwaves, laundry room appliances, major brand outdoor grills, and air purifiers, including some that are guaranteed by the FDA to kill COVID, and a line of generators.
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“I haven’t opened the door yet and I’ve already made significant sales. I’m looking forward to servicing this community in any way I can,” Richard said. “This is an investment of love for me.”
Since late July Richard has worked on the new store.
“We’re bringing it right into the 21st century,” Richard said.
Richard’s business has strong ties to both is own family and Derby Appliance. His son and nephews are among those featured in his early advertising efforts and most of his sales team, who are like family with names like “Uncle Clarence,” formerly worked at Derby Appliance.
The lead sales person is Clarence McLendon, who worked at Derby for 15 years and has 30 years in the appliance business. Richard said customers love McLendon.
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Richard’s connection to Derby Appliance began during the 25 years he worked in advertisings sales in the radio industry for stations like Magic 98.3, WCTC, Greater Media and New Jersey 101.5.
“I actually knew Mark (Berkowitz) from Derby as his sales representative for his advertising,” said Richard.
After Berkowitz started talking about retirement following his wife’s death, Richard expressed interest in buying the appliance business, which he knew about from his work writing their advertising campaigns.
“I came to work for Mark and learn the business at the feet of the master,” said Richard, a Somerset resident. “My son was young and I was spending too much time on the road. I didn’t want to be an outdoor cat anymore – I wanted to come in. He gave me the opportunity based on the fact I was buying the business and I just totally fell in love with it.”
Although the deal to buy Derby Appliance fell through, Richard pushed forward with his career in appliance sales.
“It’s sales, something new and exciting every day. You have new people walking in your door and sometimes you really get to help them out of a jam, especially during the pandemic,” Richard said. “We were open, we were essential. There are times people come in when they are in a bad way and they really need a washing machine and you can help them. This is a wonderful business. You get to meet great people, wonderful, wonderful people.”
He said unlike some of the big box stores, My Family Appliances offers more personal service.
“When you come to a store like this you are being greeted by a knowledgeable sales professional. You are not a number, you can ask tons of questions about a product or refrigerator or a washer or a dryer and get the answers. Here you can go in depth and build your kitchen or your laundry room or your outdoor kitchen the way you want it,” he said.
But the business is really about family.
“When I decided what to name the business, when I knew I wasn’t getting the old (Derby) name, what I wanted to do was connote a feeling when people talk about it,” Richard said. “I call it My Family Appliances because when I say, ‘It’s my family’ … I want my customers to come in and feel like family. We’re going to treat you like family. When you walk in you’re going to be taken care of. I’m your Uncle Scott in the appliance business.”
His slogan? “Where you always get the family discount.”
Email: [email protected]
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
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