TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

APPLIANCE CONNECTION A Family Business Spanning Generations

By Amy Falkofske | Photos by Mike Delong

Appliance Connection is not just any appliance store — it’s a true family-run business encompassing two generations and working on a third.

It all started 34 years ago in 1985 with a four-person staff consisting of the owners Mark and Pam Tonnesen and their children Marty (15) and Andrea (12) Nohe. There was also a Chevy truck and a used van. Then, in 1995 they moved to their current location, a massive showroom on Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge.

Fast forward a bit. Mark continues to be involved in the day-today business, but as the chairman. Pam is very involved with the visionary work of the store, helping them set goals, according to Marty Nohe, now president of the store. About his mom, Pam, Marty said, “She’s absolutely the mom of the family, but she’s also the mom of the business as well.” His sister, Andrea, is now vice-president.

Marty’s older children, Rachel (18), a sophomore at NOVA and Nicholas (16) work at the store too. Nicholas works in the warehouse and his dad sings his praises. “He’s one of the best warehouse workers we’ve got,” said Marty.

Marty and his wife Kris also have two younger boys who aren’t quite old enough to work in the store yet, although Marty will sometimes bring them in to help him on the showroom floor.

Marty spoke to what it was like growing up in the family business and now serving as the president. “A lot of times family businesses have to make a difficult choice between whether they are a business that happens to be run by a family, or that they are a family that gets to run a business together. They have to make a choice between the business side or the family side, and that’s never been a problem for us. We’ve always put the family side of our relationship first because the business could disappear tomorrow, but the relationships we have with each other are going to have to last forever,” he said.

Andrea said that Appliance Connection has essentially been her whole life. “It has provided me an amazing opportunity to raise my family while providing for my family. I love the relationships I’ve built with my coworkers, and I feel the full weight of wanting to be sure they can provide for themselves and their families, too,” she said.

She also spoke to what it’s meant to be a part of a business that is such a big part of the community. “I also love the connection to the community. When I say I work at Appliance Connection, I’m often regaled with stories of positive experiences people have had with us. But the best is when they start singing our jingle!” Andrea said.

Appliance Connection does sales, delivery and installation of new residential major kitchen and laundry appliances, but their phenomenal customer service coupled with great selection sets them apart from other stores in the area. “We started off as sort of a neighborhood appliance store serving the people of Woodbridge, Dale City and Lake Ridge, but we’ve grown into a business that serves customers from the entire D.C. Metropolitan area, the Fredericksburg area, even folks coming from Richmond and Baltimore from time to time because they know about our great customer service and our industry-beating selection,” said Marty.

“Because everything happens under one roof, with the direct involvement of the owners and managers, we are able to focus on providing excellent customer service. We want you to come back and to tell your friends about us,” Andrea said.

Andrea also noted what makes Appliance Connection distinctive. “I think a big part of what makes us unique is that we are still family owned and operated. We do all of our delivery and installations in-house, using our own employees. We carry most major brands, from the most basic value products to some of the highest-end luxury appliances. We focus on product training for our non-commissioned salespeople, so they are able to take the time to work with customers to help figure out which products will really best serve their needs,” she said.

Today, Appliance Connection has 50 employees and runs 10 box trucks, and they possess a clear vision for the future. “We want to be the premier place in all of Northern Virginia to buy appliances and make home improvements. We are really proud

Appliance Connection does sales, delivery and installation of new residential major kitchen and laundry appliances plus a whole lot more.

of having the largest appliance showroom on the east coast and having the best selection and the best customer service that you can find anywhere,” said Marty.

Marty also said that without the customers, Appliance Connection would not be where they are. “We are very grateful for the support that this community has shown us over the 34 years being in business here in Prince William County. We’ve enjoyed a lot of success over the years, but that kind of success doesn’t come from hard work alone. It comes from great customers who have come back to us year after year,” he said.

He continued by saying, “I can’t make money if I just rely on new customers. It’s the people who return to us every time they have a need and who know that we’re going to take care of them better than anybody else. They keep us in business and for that we’re always grateful.”

Stop by Appliance Connection at 13851 Telegraph Rd, Ste 101 in Woodbridge for all of your appliance needs. You can also find them online at applianceconnection.net.

Amy Falkfoske (afalkfoske@princewilliamliving.com) is a freelance writer and photographer. She has a Master’s degree in Film-TV with a concentration in screenwriting. She lives in Bristow with her husband, two boys and two Beagle dogs.