Behind the Counter of a Vacuum Repairman
Dick Sampier behind the counter at his vacuum sales and repair shop at 2165 W. Stadium Blvd. in Ann Arbor.
Boxes upon boxes filled with vacuum parts and accessories pack Dick Sampier’s small shop behind Stadium Hardware, a shop so off the beaten path that it might go unnoticed unless you were looking for it. But customers find it because they are looking for it – Dick Sampier Vacuum Sales and Repair is one of the last remaining vacuum repair stores in the Ann Arbor area.
Sampier, who opened the business in 1985 and is the sole employee, can often be found in the back of the store, either answering customers’ questions or working on one of the 10 or so vacuums he fixes each day. Sampier says he considers himself more of an artist than a mechanic, and he’s earned a reputation as someone who can fix even the most tricky mechanical problems.
So how does someone end up starting a vacuum repair business, and then stick with it for nearly 25 years? [Full Story]