History
Exceptional Sales and Service Since 1946
Lots of Businesses talk about providing superior customer service. There are few, however, that have been doing it for more than half a century. And there are fewer still that have attracted the attention of colleagues across the country because of their success.
McHardy Vacuum Ltd. Has done all that and more, consistently demonstrating that superior service and superior products will attract customers regardless of how large the competition may be.
Since it began in 1946, the company has offered the best products available and stood behind them with unwavering service. Founded by J.C. (Mac) McHardy, the business now is owned and operated by his son, Philip McHardy. Although it has grown substantially over the decades, it is still in the same general location, at Dundas and Egerton streets in London, Ontario Canada.
“We started here with one building, and we have four now,” says Philip McHardy. “We were around the corner until 1965, but his has always been our neighbourhood.”
McHardy grew up spending lots of his free time at his dad’s vacuum shop. There are pictures of him as a baby exploring vacuums of the day. At 21, he went to work in the business, and in 1988, he purchased it from his father. After retiring in 1998, his father passed away in 2003.
With 12 people on staff, McHardy Vacuum does everything related to vacuums and also sells janitorial supplies of all kinds. The staff is split evenly between sales and service, and in addition to the primary focus of household vacuum repairs, much of the company’s work is commercial for school boards and universities. McHardy’s also maintains crews of sub-contractors installing and servicing central vacuum systems of all makes.
It specializes in the sale of Beam central vacuum systems, Panasonic upright models and Miele canisters, with lower priced Eureka and Hoover products also offered. However, its service department works on any kind of machine.
“We recommend products we believe in and know are top quality,” McHardy says. “There are a lot of cheap vacuums on the market today. They’re becoming a throwaway product for some people. Besides not lasting very long, those vacuums don’t do a very good job.”
Miele canister vacuums cost more than units made in China with inferior materials, but they last a lifetime. They also address health concerns may people have, specifically allergies and asthma.
The Mieles have a true HEPA air filter in them,” McHardy says. “Some other manufactures put a HEPA filter on but the exhaust doesn’t even run through it. It’s just a marketing ploy unless the machine is HEPA certified like the Miele models.
Much of McHardy’s success over the years is attributable to its first class service department. While the company competes with giant retailers in the sales arena, it actually receives a lot of service referrals from those same retailers. They recommend customers go to McHardy’s rather than dealing directly with manufacturers for service and warranty issues.
“The business has changed a lot in the last five to seven years,” McHardy says. “We’ve become much more a liaison between the manufacturers and the customers. We work to solve problems that manufacturers once handled themselves.”
While McHardy’s has prospered in the face of a changing industry, the same cannot be said for many smaller vacuum shops. Many of those still in business across Canada have approached McHardy to understand how he and his dedicated staff have thrived in such a competitive atmosphere.
“We don’t like to read our reviews or boast, but we’ve set ourselves up on a level to compete with and work with our competitors simply by offering the service that we feel all people deserve, regardless of where they purchased their product.”
Pg 6-7
Portfolio
The Magazine of London Professionals
Summer 2005
Lots of Businesses talk about providing superior customer service. There are few, however, that have been doing it for more than half a century. And there are fewer still that have attracted the attention of colleagues across the country because of their success.
McHardy Vacuum Ltd. Has done all that and more, consistently demonstrating that superior service and superior products will attract customers regardless of how large the competition may be.
Since it began in 1946, the company has offered the best products available and stood behind them with unwavering service. Founded by J.C. (Mac) McHardy, the business now is owned and operated by his son, Philip McHardy. Although it has grown substantially over the decades, it is still in the same general location, at Dundas and Egerton streets in London, Ontario Canada.
“We started here with one building, and we have four now,” says Philip McHardy. “We were around the corner until 1965, but his has always been our neighbourhood.”
McHardy grew up spending lots of his free time at his dad’s vacuum shop. There are pictures of him as a baby exploring vacuums of the day. At 21, he went to work in the business, and in 1988, he purchased it from his father. After retiring in 1998, his father passed away in 2003.
With 12 people on staff, McHardy Vacuum does everything related to vacuums and also sells janitorial supplies of all kinds. The staff is split evenly between sales and service, and in addition to the primary focus of household vacuum repairs, much of the company’s work is commercial for school boards and universities. McHardy’s also maintains crews of sub-contractors installing and servicing central vacuum systems of all makes.
It specializes in the sale of Beam central vacuum systems, Panasonic upright models and Miele canisters, with lower priced Eureka and Hoover products also offered. However, its service department works on any kind of machine.
“We recommend products we believe in and know are top quality,” McHardy says. “There are a lot of cheap vacuums on the market today. They’re becoming a throwaway product for some people. Besides not lasting very long, those vacuums don’t do a very good job.”
Miele canister vacuums cost more than units made in China with inferior materials, but they last a lifetime. They also address health concerns may people have, specifically allergies and asthma.
The Mieles have a true HEPA air filter in them,” McHardy says. “Some other manufactures put a HEPA filter on but the exhaust doesn’t even run through it. It’s just a marketing ploy unless the machine is HEPA certified like the Miele models.
Much of McHardy’s success over the years is attributable to its first class service department. While the company competes with giant retailers in the sales arena, it actually receives a lot of service referrals from those same retailers. They recommend customers go to McHardy’s rather than dealing directly with manufacturers for service and warranty issues.
“The business has changed a lot in the last five to seven years,” McHardy says. “We’ve become much more a liaison between the manufacturers and the customers. We work to solve problems that manufacturers once handled themselves.”
While McHardy’s has prospered in the face of a changing industry, the same cannot be said for many smaller vacuum shops. Many of those still in business across Canada have approached McHardy to understand how he and his dedicated staff have thrived in such a competitive atmosphere.
“We don’t like to read our reviews or boast, but we’ve set ourselves up on a level to compete with and work with our competitors simply by offering the service that we feel all people deserve, regardless of where they purchased their product.”
Pg 6-7
Portfolio
The Magazine of London Professionals
Summer 2005
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