SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Sears Catalogue Store on Old Airport Road has moved to a bigger location, but stayed close to home.

At the end of May, the store, run by husband and wife team David and Michelle Lucas, moved to 327 Old Airport Road, just up the road from the former location at 325 Old Airport Road.

Husband and wife team David and Michelle Lucas, dealers at the Yellowknife Sears Catalogue Store stand proud in their new location, which has allowed them to expand their product line and their staff. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

Measuring 4,800 square feet, compared to the old spot's 3,600 square feet, the new and improved store, which overlooks the Frame Lake area, has made it possible for the Lucases to expand their product lines and bring in greater quantities of big appliances like washing machines and fridges.

They plan to increase the inventory of mattresses - an item growing in popularity - in the next few weeks.

"We can also carry all brand names for appliances," said David.

Electronics will get a particular boost from the new setup, said David.

"We're going to have a full electronics section," said David. "Flat screen TVs, sound systems. The TVs are going to line up the back wall. Before, we just a had a few sets. I think one of them was sitting there for two years."

David said the old location made for very cramped operations.

"We had no room to move," he said.

Michelle is especially happy with the move, as her office used to be located at the front desk, which made it difficult to concentrate.

"I was having to do office work and serve customers at the same time," she said. "This way, I have more privacy."

The absence of a proper loading dock made it very hard to bring in stock, David added. Previously, trucks pulled up to a door and warehouse workers unloaded boxes one by one. Now large bundles of boxes can be picked up by a pallet loader, which makes working conditions safer and cuts down on time.

"The staff is all trained to use the loader," he said.

Staff numbers have also jumped since the move. The old warehouse was manned by David and Michelle, who are known as the dealers, plus one other-full time sales associate.

Now the warehouse boasts three full time sales associates, plus two part-timers.

"We've really grown," said David, overlooking a vast showroom of stoves, washing machines and fridges.

The warehouse receives four 48-foot trucks - half-full - a week, but David expects the trucks will be full during the Christmas shopping season.

"It's crazy then," he said.