West Bend, WI – There’s a testament to tradition and service at West Bend Vacuum Center, 905 Gateway Court, in West Bend, WI. For over 40 years, brothers Lee and Jim Taylor have upheld the legacy of their father, guiding the family-owned business with a commitment to quality and customer care with a little bit of humor and local conversation thrown in, kind of like Mayberry… in a vacuum store.
“Our dad started selling vacuums door to door,” said Lee.
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Wesley Taylor worked selling shoes at JC Penny’s in downtown West Bend, WI. A graduate of the old West Bend High School, the Taylors said their dad made a career shift and worked out of the house and traveled selling Airways vacuums.
“You know, at the time a vacuum was the thing to get. It was easy because there were no electronics; it was just a shell that looked like a fire hydrant with a motor and cord and it was steel,” said Lee.
“He had a pretty big territory,” said Jim. “He would knock on door of all the farmers and people on the outskirts of town. That was the day when you would knock and then stick your foot in the door before they closed it.”
The Taylors say they still have customers come in and say their dad sold them a vacuum and they live in Campbellsport, Eden, and New Fane.
It was the early 1960s when a friend suggested Wesley own a storefront. “He ended up renting a spot at 249 S. Main Street,” said Jim. “There was an upstairs and downstairs and he rented out another garage out back. There was a lot of space.”
Over the years, as the vacuum business grew, the storefront relocated several times with a spot by the old Lithia Brewery, and then downtown on Main Street.
“In the 1970s we had the basement full of used vacuum cleaners,” said Jim. “We would rebuild them and buff them out and make them look brand new.
“We had an assembly going with six people; two people were buffing wheels, and we would put brand new bumpers on them, and it would sound crazy, but we’d just put a bunch of them on the floor and sell them in one day. Then we did it again.”
The Taylor brothers started working at their dad’s store when they were in high school.
“I was 16,” said Lee. “I would come right from school; that was the good old days when you had the mod system. I’d schedule my classes accordingly and then I would scoot off during the afternoon and go and work for my dad.”
The Taylors recalled their friends were working at Serigraph, Taco Bell, or Randy’s.
“I really didn’t mind working for dad… you weren’t really kicked around as much and we learned a lot,” said Lee.
“I learned especially how to take care of customers and count change,” said Jim. “Nobody can count change back. I’d be in the grocery store and before they even give me the change, I already knew what I have coming back. That was a biggie.”
The brothers refer to the secrets of customer service as a lost art. “We’re usually pretty friendly… but that’s just our nature,” said Jim smiling. “We treat people with respect.”
Those simple Midwest values have paid off in ways that leave the Taylor boys rather shocked…. but in a good way.
“One happy customer brought us a pie,” said Jim. “Another brought cookies, wine – good wine and there was beer. Dark beer. That customer knew us well.”
The Taylors tell the story about someone who went to another store vacuum store. “He bought a brand-new vacuum and didn’t even want to take it back,” said Lee. “So, he brought it here, traded it and we gave him a deal and he came back with this very expensive carwash package. Two of them… one for each of us.”
It’s those acts of kindness, that remind the Taylor brothers they’re doing something right. “It shows us people really appreciate the honesty and customers are whistlin’ Dixie.”
The showroom floor at West Bend Vacuum Center is different than the big box stores. “We carry quality products, not disposable products,” said Lee.
Brands like SIBO and Riccar, known for their durability and performance, are staples at West Bend Vacuum Center. The Taylors also carry a diverse range of cleaning solutions, from air purifiers to stain removers. Their goal is simple: to provide customers with everything they need to keep their homes clean and healthy.
Beyond their business, the Taylor brothers are deeply rooted in the community. Whether it’s supporting local schools, sponsoring events, or donating to charitable causes, they understand the importance of giving back. Their involvement goes beyond business transactions; it’s about building relationships and being a positive force in the community.
