Sept. 24, Ryan Burnside and his wife, Amanda, assumed responsibility as the new owners and operators of the Tiffin Sears store.
Burnside said they also own the Sears store in Mount Vernon, and they were able to grow that location from a ranking of 971st in the country to the fifth-ranked Sears store nationwide. Burnside said they took over the Tiffin location during a time of transition and are committed to the store "for the long haul."
Burnside said he and his wife are able to offer extensive product knowledge and approach customers with a friendly, non-pushy attitude. They don't try to sell the most expensive items, he said, but rather work to meet the needs of each customer.
Burnside said he and his wife were approached by Sears regarding ownership of the store after the success they had in Mount Vernon.
Burnside said he is ranked third in customer satisfaction within the company, and the district and regional managers of Sears have expressed excitement for the direction the Burnsides can bring to Tiffin's Sears store.
The Burnsides also have hired a store manager, Dalton Stump, for the Tiffin location. Stump has a high level of knowledge about the products he sells, Burnside said, as does the assistant store manager, Eva Tanner, who worked for the previous owner. Burnside said Stump and Tanner are trustworthy, knowledgeable employees who share his commitment to customer service.
Burnside said plans for the Tiffin Sears include a move to a new location within Westgate Village Shopping Center, which is larger than the current location and is designed specifically for Sears, and an increase in products carried at the store, including a larger selection of tools.
The move is scheduled for January or February, Burnside said, and an opening celebration will take place in February or March.
If business picks up the way it did in Mount Vernon, Burnside said, the store could bring new jobs to the Tiffin area.
