Kollman Appliance

For more than 40 years, Kollman Appliance has been providing outstanding sales and service of major appliances.

By applying personal service and expertise to their customers' appliance needs from purchasing to delivery and setup, Kollman Appliance has maintained a loyal customer base and become a full-line GE Showcase dealer.

Kollman Appliance is home to the GE Monogram, GE Profile, GE Cafe and Hotpoint appliance lines, which can be viewed firsthand in their state-of-the-art showroom.

"As new products come out, we strive to be the first to offer the latest and greatest and have it here for people to see. We're a full-line appliance store to serve the customer looking for exceptional cooking equipment in a price range that fits their lifestyle and budget," said John Kollman, owner of Kollman appliance.

The newest product in the GE line is the fashion-forward finish, Slate - a warm, grey metallic with a low-gloss finish that is a natural complement to the wide spectrum of wall colors, countertop materials, and floor and cabinetry finishes found in most homes today. The matte finish on the the appliances' exterior is easy to clean and resists fingerprints.

GE's Slate appliances are becoming more popular than stainless steel appliances, said Josh Caskey, co-owner of Kollman Appliance.

That's because homeowners can pair a Slate finish with virtually anything. From sleek granites and composites to organic glass and wood, Slate perfectly harmonizes with today's materials and colors. With such a broad palette of complementary finishes, Slate can appeal to every taste. 

Whether you are looking to replace a single appliance or remodeling your entire kitchen, GE's Slate appliances are designed to blend with other stainless steel, black or white appliances, or make a statement by themselves.

Kollman Appliance offers package deals on appliances as well as complete installation to make for a worry free buying experience. Several financing options are available including interest free/minimum payment programs.

Kollman said it pays for customers to shop locally in their own hometown.

"We do things that Big Box stores can't or won't," Kollman said.

Following are some of the benefits of shopping locally at Kollman Appliance:

- Kollman Appliance has its own service technicians in-house to care for products, whether they are grills or appliances.

- The store has its own delivery staff.

- Kollman Appliance is a member of Brand Source, a national buying group with several billion dollars of buying power.

"It allows us to be extremely competitive with national companies," he said.

- Kollman Appliance is a locally owned business providing jobs.

"Money is spent here and stays here. It helps local charities and organizations, a lot things national companies don't do very well," he said.

Kollman Appliance has operated from its present location since 1959. The store's founder, R.W. Kollman, learned the refrigeration trade in the 1940s and began selling major appliances in the 1950s. Helen Kollman joined her husband in the business and the mom and pop enterprise began to grow. The business is currently owned by their son, John Kollman, who joined the family business full time in 1977 after selling appliances in Omaha and graduating from the University of Nebraska in Omaha in business.

Since 2008, Kollman Appliance has been co-owned by John Kollman, Josh Caskey and Tami Fairbanks. Caskey has been with Kollman Appliance since 2004 and Fairbanks has been with the store since 2001.

"We are continuing to do business the way John (Kollman) has done it," Fairbanks said.

In the 2000s, Kollman Appliance expanded and added product lines, including professional-quality grills. The store offers the no-flare-up Holland Grills, Traeger wood pellet grills for low and slow barbecue, and the natural lump burning charcoal Big Green Egg smokers, along with the accessories, supplies and spices.

"Grills as cooking equipment have become a growing part of Kollman Appliance's business, and the store frequently has demonstrations in the spring and summer to show the public what the grills can do," said Caskey.

In the last year, Kollman Appliance expanded its showroom, so there are more grills to offer, show and see.

In 2001, Kollman Appliance expanded its offerings by opening Sleep Source to sell mattress sets next door at 407 W. Seventh. Sleep Source offers the Tempur-Pedic and Sealy lines. 

Nine people are employed at Kollman Appliance and contribute to the city's tax base.

Kollman Appliance offers free and fast delivery of their products, as well as factory-trained service representatives who offer quality service after the sale.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about Kollman Appliance, visit the store at 409 W. Seventh St., call 712-255-6650 or visit their website, www.kollmanappliance.net.