Dave’s World’s inventory and selection changing with the times

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer
    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For those who haven’t visited Dave’s World in Dover-Foxcroft for a while, you’re in for quite a surprise. While the outside of the building on Summer Street hasn’t changed that much, it’s what’s inside that counts.
    The showroom has been rearranged to allow more room for appliances, flooring and displays of heat pumps and hybrid water heaters.
    The U.S. Cellular section has been relocated to its own store at the end of the building, said Robert Jankunas, co-owner. “We and U.S. Cellular have made a large investment in the store,” he said. “It’s as up-to-date as any store in Maine, and that’s a real point of pride with us.”
    The heat pump business has taken off “at an unbelievable pace,” said Jankunas. “We did 106 installations last month alone. Matt Scott, who just returned from Mitsubishi Electric Heat Pump Conference in Atlanta, received notice that we are currently the largest and most experienced residential heat pump installers in the entire United States.”

    The rapid expansion of the heat pump business in southern Maine has prompted Dave’s World to open a store in Windham on Oct. 20, “We’ve already installed units as far south as Yarmouth,” Jankunas said.
    Why are heat pumps becoming so popular? It’s a combination of the high cost of fossil fuels and the worry-free technology of the units, said sales rep Jason Simpson. “Our heat pumps are rated to function at 13 below zero,” he explained. “The Mitsubishi units have a ‘smart sensor’ that detects body heat in a room, and adjusts the BTU levels accordingly. It also has adjustable louvers to direct air to and from any direction.”
    They’re also extremely quiet and energy efficient, Simpson said. “From March to November, you hardly have to turn on your furnace,” he added.
    Another recent innovation in the heating and cooling line is the GE GeoSpring hybrid electric hot water heater. It uses heat pump technology so it’s 62 percent more efficient than the standard electric 50-gallon hot water heater. It also has a “vacation mode” so you don’t have to heat water you’re not using.
    Every unit that Dave’s World sells is installed by factory-trained technicians, Jankunas explained. “When you’re in the retail business, customer service is your number-one priority,” he added.
    That’s also one of the reasons why Dave’s World has a sales meeting every morning. “It’s not just about promoting our product line, but making the customer’s experience more pleasant,” Jankunas said.
    Large appliances were the major feature when the former Gellerson TV & Appliance reopened as Dave’s World nearly 30 years ago, and they’re still the cornerstone of the business, Jankunas said. “We’ve had an excellent long-term relationship with GE, and that’s our top-selling line,” he said. They also carry Amana, Frigidaire, Hotpoint, Speed Queen, and Whirlpool, and will soon stock Samsung and LG appliances.
    “There’s a lot more to consider than price when purchasing a major appliance,” Jankunas said. “For example, if you have a large family and need to do several loads of laundry a week, you wouldn’t want an inexpensive, low-capacity washer. So we have appliances tailor-made for everyone’s needs.”
    Sales Manager Matt Spooner is nicknamed “the flooring guru” for his expertise in the field, and the showroom displays reflect his commitment to the product. “My family has been in the flooring and carpeting field for years,” he said. “So I was able to build a relationship with all the major manufacturers. When I first came here, we were getting flooring from one distributor. Now we’re dealing with four or five. Last year alone, we did nearly $500,000 in flooring business.”
    The most popular brands in hard-surface flooring include Mannington, Armstrong and Maine Traditions, manufactured by Kennebec Lumber in Solon. Carpeting brands include Mohawk and Shaw plus Dalyn area rugs.
    “We offer free estimates and do custom designs,” Spooner said. “For a good example of our work, take a look at the floor at Rowell’s Garage.”
    The cellular business is changing rapidly, Jankunas said. “It’s not just cellular phone service anymore, but data,” he said. “You can adapt your home phone to a cellular service, and thanks to routers and WiFi hot spots, you can have connectivity all over the world,” he said.
    U.S. Cellular at Dave’s World carries smartphones, tablets, mobile hot spots, wireless modems and can tailor a data plan to fit your needs and your budget.
    One recent innovation is the expansion of cellular-based vehicle monitoring. “You can attach a device to a car or truck, and it will tell you where it’s been, how fast it was going and even when the oil needs changing,” Jankunas explained.
    For more information about all the products and services offered by Dave’s World, visit www.davesworld.com, find them on Facebook or visit their store on Summer Street in Dover-Foxcroft.

Observer photo/Mike Lange
    THE TEAM — Part of the Dave’s World sales and service team poses in front of the Dover-Foxcroft headquarters. Pictured, from left, are Jeremy Loguerico, Laura Dellaire, Jason Simpson, Brandee Herbest, Matthew Spooner and Robert Jankunas.

Observer photo/Mike Lange
    FLOORING AT ITS FINEST — Dave’s World Sales manager Matthew Spooner, also known as the “Carpet Guru”

Observer photo/Mike Lange
    BRANDEE HERBEST — Dave’s World appliance sales specialist

Observer photo/Mike Lange
    STAN BELVIN — Dave’s World heat pump installer