When Sarnia’s venerable St. Clair Audio Visual Unlimited first opened
its doors back in 1979, customers were looking for much the same thing
that they look for today, said owner Grev Martin: top-notch customer
service and cutting-edge consumer goods to provide them with countless
hours of enticing entertainment.
“Let’s face it. We all like music, we all like movies, we like
sporting events, we all like to be entertained. People want to recreate
that experience in their own homes.” he said. “And that’s what we’re
selling and that’s what we’ve always sold. In a big picture sense, we’re
selling entertainment.”
In the three and a half decades since the esteemed audio-visual store
started its run in Sarnia, St. Clair Audio Visual Unlimited has
provided local connoisseurs of music, movies and television with an
abundance of entertainment options along with an ample amount of
education and knowledge, not only with regards to how to use the devices
but also on how to stretch their entertainment dollar as far as they
can.
Whether it’s installing backup camera in cars, providing top-notch
audio and security for homes, boats, trucks – even golf-carts – or
helping customers select the television, turntable, appliance or
electronic device that best suits them, the store has become a one-stop
shop for all home and vehicle entertainment and security needs, said
Martin.
“The big thing we’re selling these days is wireless home audio
distribution,” he said. “Basically, we’re providing customers with the
ease of putting music in every room in their home as well as outside and
letting them control it with a mobile device.”
“We also have home theatre rooms, with projectors and screens and a
home audio system that replicates the theatre experience in your home,”
Martin continued. “And in cars, we provide in-car touch screen
navigation and the ability to integrate your mobile device with the
screen, whether its streaming music or GPS maps or video.”
While countless electronic retailers have come and gone over the past
three and a half decades, St. Clair Audio Visual Unlimited has stood
the test of time. In spite of the allure of cross-border shopping, the
encroachment of big box stores and the growing presence of electronics
in home improvement, discount retail and furniture/appliance stores,
knowledge, service and reliability are what distinguishes St. Clair
Audio Visual from its competitors, Martin said.
“It’s a very competitive industry. When we first started there were
just independent retailers. Then came the advent of big box stores. But
now big box stores recognize that selling strictly on price is not a
viable option anymore, it’s just not financially feasible,” he said. “We
tend to be from the mid-to-higher end. We can compete because we are
part of a larger buying group that spreads right across Canada that
includes over 200 independent retailers. Plus we have the added
advantage of having knowledgeable staff and full sales and
installation.”
The key to building such a strong customer base, Martin said, is to
earn their trust by providing them with reliable service and quality
products. With four of the store’s eight-strong staff having over 20
years experience, customers know that they can rely on decades of
expertise to help them make sound, solid choices.
“In one word it’s longevity. You know you’re going to see the same
face you see every time you come in the store,” he said before breaking
in to a grin. “Mind you, the face might have a few more wrinkles and the
hair may get a little grayer, but it’s the same face that you see every
time.”
“We don’t just sell customers a product, we educate the customers
about that product,” Martin continued. “We also assist them in
installation, we hang televisions on the wall for them, we hide the
wiring, we walk them through how to operate their systems just to make
it as simple as possible...basically, we add that labour element and
that expertise and knowledge to the sales.”
Whether customers want to construct a dynamic, cutting-edge home
theatre, install an in-car video system for the kids or make their
mobile device into omnipotent home entertainment accessories, consumers
of all backgrounds, ages and needs will benefit from the personalized
service and decades of experience that only St. Clair Audio Video can
offer, Martin said.
“Regardless of your age, there is a certain segment of the population
who appreciate a retailer who will spend some time with them, share
their knowledge with them and be there when they do have a problem or
when they need to upgrade,” Martin said. “We’re helping them get the
most from their entertainment dollar.”
St. Clair Audio Visual Unlimited is located at 1437 London Road. For more information call 519-542-4818 or visit www.stclairavu.com.
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