Featured Business
GET TO KNOW...
Stephen Fuhrman, owner of
A Cleaner Place
01. What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Electrician and own a lawn mower shop
02. What was your first job?
I worked as a carpenter and handy man for a contractor in Minnesota that had only one other employee.
03. What do you like to do in your free time?
My mood changes all the time but it always comes back to playing the saxophone, gardening and a little hunting.
04. What's the best advice you've ever received?
Boy this is a tough one. Everyone is ready to hand out advice.
“When things look the worst, jump in head first” My Dad
“Keep going forward or even sideways, never go backwards” My Dad
“There are more fish in the sea” My Grandpa Kelting
They might sound out of context here but all three pieces of advice hold a lot of merit in the business world.
05. How long have you been in business and how did you get started?
I have owned my own business for 25 years, started selling Kirby Vacuum Cleaners door to door in 1985 in Northern California. When I went to open a retail location the first time, I had no savings or credit to buy inventory with, so I drove around the neighborhood on garbage days and picked up old vacuum cleaners, took them home fixed and cleaned them up and then sold them in my store and at flea markets. I am happy to say I no longer dumpster dive or sell used vacuums but it comes down to “How bad do you want it.”
06. Why do you choose to operate your business in Oklahoma as opposed to somewhere else?
Primarily for lower operating expenses versus Northern California’s costs but also because of our e-commerce business; it is much more centrally located here for shipping all over the US, everyone gets their products in a couple days instead of over a week.
Finally Oklahoma is home for my wife and I was all for leaving California anyways so Oklahoma was the perfect fit.
07. Why do you think it is important to keep it local?
I would rather give my money to another locally owned business than an outside corporation. Stimulating locally owned businesses stimulates our schools hospitals and public services. To have a healthy community these people must remain in good financial standing. Large out of state corporations can actually be a drain on local economy and be dangerous to the economy if they ever close their doors.
08. What locally owned business (other than your own) could you not live without?
I wish this question was “What locally owned business do you miss the most.” Then I’d tell you, drug stores, grocery stores and car dealerships, because you hardly ever really know who owns them.
To answer your question…
Braum’s I use them for groceries more than fast food. I personally can live without sonic but realize how helpful they are to our community and therefore encourage friends to patronize them.
09. Our Facebook fans want to know: What is it that sets you apart from the national chains and promotes loyal, repeat customers?
Everyone who works in our business is family and has a vested interest in the success of our business. We personally try the products we sell, only sell those that we believe in and that fit within our mission of eco-friendly and/or sustainable. All of our staff has first-hand knowledge of our products which provides our customers with fast and accurate information or answers to their questions and help them with their purchases.
10. Our Twitter followers want to know: What drives you to keep doing what you do?
If I didn’t do this I’d have to get a real job. Seriously… I have always been interested in electrical/mechanical things. As a child I’d take toasters, blenders drills, or whatever apart and try to fix them even if they worked fine. Yes, I got in trouble sometimes. Now owning my own business is simply an extension of that. I still fix a vacuum once in a while even though we have employees to do most of that type of work. In addition to that, having employees gives me the satisfaction of knowing that I am doing my part to improve the quality of life for my employees and their families.
Getting out of bed in the morning and going to work is way more fun when my key hits that door, I know it is my business and I am responsible for my own success.
