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In This Issue...
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Business
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Capitola’s Oreck Floor Care Center
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Capitola’s Oreck Floor Care Center
A Breath of Purified Air and In-Home Service
By Judith Wellner
After months of rain and winter gloom, spring is the time to open your windows and let some fresh air in. It’s cleaning time. When the sun comes out, the spots in the carpet seem to stand out. If your dusty old vacuum isn’t up to the task, Oreck has one that is.
But vacuuming doesn’t have to be a drag.
Just walk into the Oreck Floor Care Center in Capitola and randomly pick up one of their world-class vacuums. You’ll be struck by how incredibly light it is.
“This is what people like the most about them,” says owner Chin Nguyen.
The premium plate vacuums are only eight pounds, but they are just as powerful as your average 30-pound machine. The secret is the motor, explains Nguyen, and the fact that it’s very simple. There are no attachments; it is simply a powerful vacuum that does what it promises it will do.
Since he started the company in 1963, founder David Oreck’s mission has been to create the super vacuum. Now he sells his vacuums, air purifiers and floor machines all over the world. He caters to commercial users as well as home owners, bragging about his products’ many innovations.
For instance, the vacuums aren’t just light. They are also energy-efficient. They operate at about 400 watts, using half the energy consumed by a simple hairdryer.
Another important characteristic is that every vacuum has a seven-layer or eight-layer bag, keeping all the dust strictly inside the machine.
21 years â€" A Long Engagement
Fully trusting the quality of its products, Oreck boldly offers a 21-year warranty on its vacuums.
“A couple came in one day,” Nguyen recalled, “they said they were married for 21 years.”
As it turns out, they were looking for the perfect vacuum cleaner. When they were told that 21 years is exactly the warranty time Oreck offers, they smiled and decided to buy one.
Even though the price range of products might seem a little steep at first glance ($299 to $699), Nguyen fully believes that in the long run they are a worthwhile and prudent investment.
“Anybody can beat Oreck on the price, but no one can beat it on the cost,” he says.
If you buy an Oreck vacuum, it will be serviced for free for 21 years. These machines last for a very long time.
“They will pay for themselves,” says Nguyen.
Born Half a World Away
Chinh Nguyen took over management exactly a year ago. It was spring, and so it called for a fresh start. He left his Silicon Valley job. After working for 20 years for a corporation, he felt he had to do something independently. He searched for a while, and finally came across Oreck.
“What I like about it is that I really feel that I’m helping people,” says Nguyen.
Nguyen moved to the States from Saigon, Vietnam in 1979. He feels that while having an accent can be difficult in the business world, it might bring a unique quality as well.
“People might pay more attention,” he says.
Nguyen believes that most of his customers come to the store because they hear through word of mouth how good the products are. There are lots of returning customers. Some people drop by every other month, just to pick up cleaning products.
Local Shop Offers In-Home Care
On weekends and Thursdays, when Nguyen is not in the store, he’s out and about cleaning carpets.
The In-Home Service is a special feature of the Capitola store. It’s a dry-clean procedure, and, as Nguyen explains, the main focus is not only to leave your carpets spotless but also to remove allergens and thus make the air much cleaner in your home.
He also emphasizes that thorough dry-cleaning is much more practical and user-friendly than steam-cleaning.
“There is no mildew, you don’t have to wait for the carpet to dry, and I can work high up, even on the fifth floor, where traditional steam cleaners can’t go,” he added.
What makes the In-Home Service even more attractive is that you don’t have to move your furniture. Mr. Nguyen will do all that for you. Dry-cleaning the carpet in a typical 15 x 15-foot room is surprisingly affordable at $20. The process is fully pet friendly.
Revolutionary Air Care
Oreck isn’t solely about clean carpets. Removing allergens, bacteria and odors from the air is just as important for the company. What could be more important than the air you breathe?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air inside your home may be up to five times more polluted than the air outside.
“I have three air purifiers at home,” says Nguyen. “You can try one out for free.”
The store offers a 30-day trial period. You don’t even have to pay up front. You just take the purifier home, try it out and see how it works for you. This option is unique to the Capitola store.
Oreck purifiers are quiet, energy efficient, and they have a permanent filter, which means you won’t have to buy expensive replacement parts later. According to Oreck, running their air purifier is as economical as an ordinary light bulb.
The Orbiter â€" Making Life Polish Perfect
Another wonder product is the Orbiter. This is the machine Nguyen uses for his In-Home Service. It cleans, polishes, scrubs, waxes and refinishes almost any floor surface, including laminate, vinyl, hardwood, tile and marble.
The Orbiter requires almost no maintenance at all. It has no gears, belts or motor brushes to wear out.
Besides vacuums, air purifiers and the multi-purpose Orbiter, you’ll find a plethora of cleaning products at the Oreck store â€" anything and everything that eliminates stains, odors, mildew, mold, and leaves surfaces allergen-free and fresh-smelling.
You can find the Oreck Floor Care Center at 1440 41st Avenue in Capitola. The store is open every day, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m. and can be reached at 831-476-1885.
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