Music to our ears

The owners of Whirlwind Audio in Creston have found innovative ways to succeed in a competitive industry

1 of 2Janice and Bill Dyck are a close-knit team. — Photo courtesy Bill and Janice Dyck

2 of 2Family is number one. — Photo courtesy Bill and Janice Dyck

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Bill and Janice Dyck are a solid husband and wife team with a knack for business ownership. Detecting the need for retail audio sales and installation services in the Creston Valley, the couple opened Whirlwind Audio in 2007. They sell and install products for cars, trucks, motorcycles, watercraft and RVs, focusing on items such as remote starters, alarm systems, GPS navigation, Bluetooth, audio/video players, speakers and satellite radio. In June they moved to a new location on Highway 21, where they feel the shop and property is more conducive to their type of business.

Creston's proximity to the border means heavy competition from US companies. Bill and Janice tackle this challenge by offering a high level of quality—in the products available, the time they put into brand research and the service that customers receive.

"The market is changing, with many vehicles offering better sound systems, back-up sensors, navigation, remote starters and so on as original equipment,” said Bill. "With Creston being so close to the border and the average age of the population being around 60, we were challenged to make Whirlwind something different."

Building on success

The beauty of shopping at Whirlwind Audio is that you can find something of interest no matter what demographic you fit into. Giving customers the best possible sound systems to suit their needs and budget is one of many ways that the business has established itself in this tough market.

"The idea is to get back to the roots of car audio," Bill said. "I take pride in the fact that we make things louder or sound better, and we have awards to show our success. We have something to offer no matter if you're 16 or 85, from back-up sensors and cameras to 24-inch subwoofers."

The Dycks are very much in tune with the future of their industry, and they have come up with several ideas to pursue over the next few years, including exclusive speaker packages and items that are not manufactured overseas. As well, they also came up with some creative ventures to draw customers in and increase their presence in the community.

"If we can give people something that is totally unique our business will continue to grow," said Bill. "We will continue to have our yearly sound-offs with this year's being Sunday, September 25, 2011. As for the summer months, we have opened a concession stand for those who love homemade ice cream (MacKay's brand). We are hoping that this draws the customers down to our little shop by the Goat River."