John E. Kieffer Sr. founded Kieffer’s Appliances in 1917, and the company has evolved dramatically since then. Lisa Dukart highlights what makes this company over 100 years old a 2024 family-owned business honoree for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Initially launched as Girard Rubber Co. in Philadelphia, the company sold automobile tires and ice blocks for iceboxes. The advent of refrigerators prompted a pivot to appliance sales, setting the stage for a new era.
Under John Sr. and his son Larry, the company expanded its offerings and relocated to Lansdale in 1963. By 1987, third-generation leader John Kieffer transitioned the business, phasing out tires, focusing on luxury appliances, and building a small sales team.
In 2006, John’s son, Jace, joined the family business, intending it as a temporary role during the economic downturn. However, he quickly found his calling. Together, John and Jace reinvented the company, transitioning its focus to outside sales and partnerships with major homebuilders.
Today, Kieffer’s boasts over 100 employees, a dozen outside sales representatives, and a service radius spanning 100 miles. Jace, the fourth generation, is poised to lead fully, marking another chapter in the company’s legacy.
Carrying the family tradition is “a lot of pressure,” Jace admits, “ but I’m far enough into it that it’s something that I wouldn’t change for the world.”
Read more about Kieffer’s Appliances in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
