"The reason we do so well is because we answer the phone," said Nick, who noted that most companies on the Internet that produce a phone number rarely answer the phone or return voice mail messages. "Often it's impossible to get a human when you call places and we always return phone calls. We've even helped people on New Year's Day."
"The main impression I want our customers to have is I want them to feel safe in buying from us," said Nick. "Not only will we pick up the phone to take the order, but if UPS does damage a piece we will be available to fix the problem."
Along with increasing the product line from just weather vanes to a wide selection of items, the Fallettas have started seeing a turn in their client base.
"Now we are going from consumer business to contractor business," said Nick. "We even have a Web site just for contractors." http://www.contractorshelper.com
The couple love their unique business venture and have had many great moments over the years.
"I love talking to people," said Linda. "I talk to so many women and we have so much in common. I wish I had the chance to meet them all in person instead of just talking on the phone."
Nick said that he has personally had some very memorable moments working with service men and women whom they ended up just giving product to at no cost. Nick and Linda have also given several churches that purchased their products a very generous discount.
One of the couple's most memorable moments came a few years ago when they were approached by a family from the Carolinas about purchasing 30 weather vanes for their barns. The family owned a trucking company, and horses on a large estate. The Weathervane Shoppe was able to get weather vanes for all the barns on the property and the family provided their trucking company vehicles to do the shipping.
In the end, the family was so happy with the service and product that they sent the Fallettas a check for $5,000 as a bonus for the great job.
Of course, no job is perfect and the couple says the hardest part of having this business is that it is constantly happening no matter what time of day or year.
"When we go on vacation we take our weather vane business with us. We're very dedicated and that's one of our strongest points... that we take our business everywhere," said Linda and that can also be a downside because her day is constantly busy with phone calls about weather vanes, answering e-mails and then getting deliveries at the door.
Nick said that in his day job, he orders a security system then schedules an installer to get the job done. Everything is right at hand and he knows exactly what is happening at all times.
With the weather vane business, since they work with different vendors, it's harder to stay on top of things and you have to put a lot of trust in other people to make sure they are doing the job right and that the shipment won't be damaged during shipping.
The Weathervane Shoppe has been in existence for many years and the Fallettas plan to keep the business going strong for many years to come. Linda would like to eventually back away from the business a little and Nick is planning to retire from his day job in a few years and work on the weather vane business full time.
"I'd like to increase our sales. We've been able to do that for the last three years and I hope to keep that going," said Nick. He would also like to add more products and feels that is a necessity for him to retire from his other job and make The Weathervane Shoppe his full-time employment.
For more information on The Weathervane Shoppe, see the Web site at http://www.weathervane.com/
