Loren Walz has sold his last Kirby vacuum.

After more than half a century in the business, that adds up to an extraordinary number of vacuum cleaners. Under his distributorship, Walz estimates more than 27,000 Kirby vacuums found their way into homes.

Yet as far as Walz is concerned, it wasn't enough.

"Every home should have a Kirby vacuum," he said with a smile.

Saturday marked the final day of business for the 82-year-old at his Government Way shop. Family, friends and longtime customers gathered to celebrate with cake, laughter and stories, surrounded by the vacuum cleaners that defined his career.

For 54 years, Walz built a reputation as one of the region's top Kirby distributors, earning awards for sales and service along the way. His office walls were lined with plaques and trophies, reminders of decades spent promoting a product he believed in.

"It's been a good living," Walz said. 

A lifetime business

Walz decided several months ago that it was time to retire. Health challenges earlier this year played a role in the decision. He spent time in the hospital and rehabilitation in both March and May. The retirement also came after a longtime employee stepped aside because of health concerns.

He found a successor in Jack Seal, whom Walz describes as someone who can "fix anything."

Even in his final days at the shop, Walz was still handling repairs and servicing machines. He was also repairing what he jokingly calls "bojacks" — his nickname for every vacuum brand that isn't a Kirby.

Kirbys, however, remain his true love.

"I know them the best," he said. "In 55 years, I've never seen a Kirby I couldn't fix. The other stuff is throwaway."

That confidence stems from a belief in the product's durability.

"To sell something you know is going to last forever, you can't wear them out," he said. "Take care of it and it will take care of you."

Then he delivers one of his favorite lines:

"If you're 40 and don't have a Kirby, you've already paid for one."

Walz also takes pride in the fact that Kirby vacuums are American-made.

"They've always been made in the United States," he said. "They've never not been made here."

A career built on trust

The business provided more than just a paycheck. It allowed Walz and his wife, Nancy, to raise a family, put five children through college and take memorable family vacations.

"They've treated me well," he said.

Nancy points out that her husband never had the security of a salary.

"This man has been on commission his whole life," she said. "He's been on a commission paycheck all his life, trusting God."

Walz credits his success to a combination of mechanical ability and a genuine enjoyment of people. Talkative and personable, with blue eyes and an easy smile, he has spent decades making customers feel comfortable.

It's the people, he says, that he'll miss most.

His daughter, Lorinda Croswhite, said her father's success goes beyond sales.

In an age when broken products are often discarded and replaced, Walz built a career fixing things.

"He's consistent, reliable and honest," she said. "He cares for everyone who comes through that door."

Becoming a Kirby Man

Walz was in his 20s when he began selling Singer sewing machines. He quickly discovered a talent for sales. Before long, a friend introduced him to Kirby vacuums.

He sold two almost immediately.

From that moment, he was a Kirby man.

"He convinced me Kirby was easy to sell, and it was," Walz said. "There was nothing better."

Walz is a throwback to a different era, when the same person sold a product, serviced it and stood behind it for decades.

"You have to earn a distributorship," he said. "They don't just give it to you. You have to sell enough Kirbys so they know you understand the product and the business."

His sales records were impressive. His best month came in May 1993, when he sold 203 units. He sold 200 more in January of that year and 155 in December 1992.

Beyond vacuuming, Kirby machines can also shampoo carpets and perform other cleaning tasks, making them a versatile household tool.

"They're pretty easy to sell," he said.

His demonstrations were simple but effective.

Walz would ask homeowners if he could sprinkle baking soda or salt onto their carpet. After having them vacuum the area repeatedly with their own machine, he would make a pass with the Kirby.

"I would show them what theirs didn't get," he said.

Family tradition

The Kirby business shaped nearly every aspect of Walz's life.

He first opened a Kirby shop in Lewiston, where he worked for 24 years before moving the business to Coeur d'Alene.

Years later, at a company function, he met Nancy. She was a Kirby distributor in Kent, Wash. He was representing Lewiston.

"We've been together 32 years," Nancy said. "It was history ever since."

Walz's belief in the product became legendary within his own family. Each of his children received a Kirby vacuum as a wedding gift.

"You know what I would tell them?" he said with a laugh. "If you get divorced, it comes back."

Today, the Walz family includes 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Inside the shop, one of the treasures on display is a rare 1935 Kirby vacuum protected behind glass, carrying a price tag of $3,000. The company itself dates back to 1914, a history Walz knows almost by heart.

He still keeps old sales books, photographs and promotional materials from a lifetime in business. The images show a younger man shaking hands, smiling with customers and accepting awards. They tell the story of a career built one home at a time.

And now, after more than five decades, it's coming to a close.

As he prepares for retirement, he and Nancy hope to travel more and spend more time with family. 

It's a rare thing to reach the end of a career with no regrets.

Walz says he has none.

"I've always enjoyed what I do," he said. 

You could say he cleaned up.

    Loren Walz wears a shirt that says what he thinks about Kirby vacuums.
  

    Loren Walz sits in his office, decorated with awards marking his Kirby career.
  

    Loren and Nancy Walz share a moment in their Kirby vacuum shop on Government Way.