Spotlight - Rusty Jones

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Today’s Spotlight is on Rusty Jones owner of Jones Vacuum. Jones was born and raised in Colleton County. He tried a number of different jobs after high school and worked for another vacuum store out of Summerville. Jones explains, “That’s when I found out about the vacuum business and vacuum cleaner repair. Later, I was doing odd jobs to make ends meet and began fixing a few vacuums cleaners at the house, word got out that we were repairing vacuums using what I learned in Summerville in the 1990’s, people continued to bring machines for repair and the business kept growing. I went on my own in 2005. I got the business license to actually do business as a legit vacuum cleaner store. Now Jones vacuum employees 4 on staff that includes family members. Jones Vacuum is proud celebrating 20 years in business in Colleton County.

Jones says, “A lot has changed in 20 years. Originally the business was out of the house, and it was very, very cramped, so I scraped up enough pennies to find a little spot on Bells Highway in town to rent. It was only about four or 500 square feet. I made the first month’s rent, moved in, and business took off from there. We ended up outgrowing that one and moved into another one next door to it. Jones Vacuum finally moved into its current location, originally a tire store, in 2008.

Jones is locally owned and operated and sells a wide variety of vacuums, Jones explains what his customers are looking for. “Some folks are just after convenience. They want quickest, simplest, easiest, get it done and over with. Some are after the most power, Some are after the best filtration if they got allergies and lung problems. So with the better machines, you’ll have something last 20 or 30, years and is repairable.” Customer Service is key. Jones adds, “If you come here, you get us with the vacuum. if you have a problem with it, it’s my problem, you’re not calling an 800 number asking where to ship it back for help. You come to the store, we fix your issue in and out. You don’t have the worries. It’s our problem.”

Jones can offer advice on purchasing the correct machine for the individual. “We pull out all the different machines that we think will work good in your situation, and we throw dirt and dog hair and everything else on the floor and let you use, and test drive every single one of them. So, you’re not just buying something off the shelf, reading the box and hoping it works. You try it out here, see if you like it, see how it works. Then even when we should get it home, if it doesn’t do what you wanted it to do, just bring it back. We start over again. We want to make sure to something you’re going to have, be happy with, and is going to last.”

In addition to selling vacuums, Jones can also service any brand that parts are still available.

“ The business has expanded over the years to offer other products”, Jones says. “The prior business (at the Jones Vacuum location) had a carport out here on in lot and it was a big empty parking lot. I figured, well, I’m going to stick something out there just to help fill up the space.

Jones began selling portable buildings. The Graceland building are fully customizable with everything from flooring to roofing materials being selectable. The Jones staff can make suggestions on the type of building to fit you need. They can also advise you on where to go to obtain the proper permits and what codes need to be followed to make placing the building on your property hassle free.”

In addition to the wooden structures, they also metal buildings that are custom manufactured. Jones says, “There’s a lot of different places that sell metal buildings, but there are very few to actually manufacture their own products and all their contractors are not only licensed, but insured, carry their own workers comp and are OSHA certified. They manufacture the buildings in their facility in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The metal buildings are built onsite by a 4-man crew and can usually be constructed withing a few hours. Jones vacuum has won numerous awards for portable building sale and was honored as being in the million dollar club which, this is awarded to businesses that achieve a million dollars in sales which is quite an honor for a small town business.

Jones Vacuum has recently renovated the building at 773 North Jefferies Boulevard just in time for the 20th anniversary, after sustaining damage from an automobile accident that resulted in damage to the building. A new facade complete with a porch and rocking chairs now welcome to customers to the store. Jones adds, “We had to put the red rocking chairs out there and invite people to stop by. Hey, just come hang out on the porch. Watch to watch the world go by right here on the corner.”

Congratulation to Jones Vacuum on 20 years of service to Colleton County.