Miller Family Appliance owner reflects on business evolution as Craig store nears closure

John Camponeschi/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Chris Miller, of Miller Family Appliance in Craig, came to the Yampa Valley to enjoy the mountains and to further his career with John Deere.
Over time, he became a vital component of the many communities, businesses and families that he served through his appliance retail and service business.
The Dec. 11 announcement of the business’ closing left many wondering what they are going to do without what one customer described as “the one and only Chris Miller.”
Miller opened his doors in February 2005. After working for John Deere for more than 20 years, the transition came naturally.
Miller, who is originally from Kansas, moved his family to Moffat County following a nationwide search for a John Deere location where he could further his career working as a parts manager while also enjoying a mountain lifestyle. After arriving in Craig, and working for the John Deere dealership there, he decided to transition to appliance retail sales and service.

“I always thought if I could work on a $100,000 tractor I could work on a $600 washing machine,” he joked. “So that’s the way it got started and it grew from there. I just became part of the community and a part of people’s lives throughout Craig and Steamboat.”
His business in Craig quickly expanded to include Hayden and Steamboat. Miller noted that in recent years, Steamboat has featured an increasing number of calls for service repairs and retail deliveries.
“It’s really blossomed over there, a lot of our business has been in Steamboat,” he said.
Miller also serviced Baggs and Meeker. His furthest service call, which was north of Browns Park, was a trip of more than 110 miles one way.
As one of the sole appliance businesses in the area for the last 20 years, Miller was able to visit the “beautiful and remote” areas of Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties.
Miller noted that many people were instrumental to the success of the business including Dave DeRose and JB Chapman, both of Craig. He also credited his wife at the time of the business’s founding, now his ex, for her support. Miller’s wife of 12 years, Tammy Thorpe, was an incredible and essential support in ensuring the business’ success as well.
The involvement of so many members of Miller’s family, including his children and grandchildren, was the reason he called the business Miller Family Appliance.
Miller explained that the years between the opening of the business and the recent decision to close were “really good.” Despite that success, continual issues in finding employees proved to be an obstacle that was difficult to overcome, especially during and following the COVID pandemic.
“I’ve been looking for an appliance technician for the last 20 years,” said Miller. “I’m here at 5:30 or 6 a.m. every morning, do paperwork until 9 a.m., and then start doing service calls all day. I just can’t do it all like I used to.”
The difficulty in finding employees, as well as recent health challenges, were factors in Miller’s decision to close. The last six months were difficult for him and his family as the demand for repairs and retail deliveries exceeded their capabilities.
“For years, I did it all by myself,” he said. “I didn’t have a lot of help so I just kept going and worked as hard as I could. I think that is a lot of what made me successful…people knew I was dependable, would take care of them and would do it right.”
Miller explained that the pandemic was when he began to feel that he wasn’t able to keep up with the business, particularly with the frequency and level of service calls.
“That was probably the toughest time,” he said. “You can’t just shut a business down. It’s like a freight train, and it just keeps rolling.”
Miller’s dedicated employees supported him whenever they could by working extra hours and providing the highest level of customer service, an ethos that Miller built into his business model. His staff eventually grew to 14 employees as business boomed.
Miller noted that changes in the appliance industry over the years, including integrated technology, resulted in technicians having to understand how to utilize apps and advanced system readers to diagnose problems.
Miller supported many businesses and organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Colorado, St. Michael’s Community Kitchen and the food bank through service, sales and donations.
Miller held two things in mind during every service call and delivery. The first was to treat every person’s home as if it was a “million dollar home.” The second was to dedicate himself entirely to serving the needs of the individual, whether it was a customer or friend, even if that meant making accommodations for payment.
“There’s people in this town, I don’t know what they are going to do,” Miller said. “There is nobody else who really does what we do.”
Yampa Valley residents will now have to travel as far as Grand Junction and Vernal to purchase appliances. Miller noted that several individuals who are trying to fill the appliance service void have already been overwhelmed with service calls as they do their best to keep up with demand.
“I don’t want to shut down. I just can’t do it anymore,” said Miller with tears in his eyes. “Craig has been a great community. They have supported me and my family really well and I have supported them too. 20 years is a lot of your life.”

Milled explained that one of the things he will miss most about his business is the deep connections he made with people throughout the region.
Feedback regarding the news of the business closing, which was announced via social media on Dec. 11, ranged from gratitude to a deep feeling of loss.
Several customers pointed out that “we have only one Chris Miller,” while also wondering what the future of appliance service and sales in the area is.
“The business was not just a business,” he said. “It was personal to me and I don’t want to quit the community. I just can’t do it anymore, and that really bugs me.”
As he transitions away from his business, Miller hopes to “sit back and take it a little easier” by spending time with his family, particularly his children and grandchildren. He also looks forward to “tinkering” around his home and traveling to support his granddaughter, who is an aspiring gymnast.
Despite retiring, he plans to continue helping out his community, family, friends and neighbors however he can, just as they helped him and his family over the years.

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