SLS Cellular is a Veteran Owned business selling Cell Phones and accessories. We also offer Dish Network, Vonage, and U-Haul
It was just six months ago that Nick Willard and his family were in transitional housing until Willard battled the slums and opened a niche cell phone store called SLS Cellular, 815 W. Main St. Sun Prairie Wisconsin
Despite the negative feedback he received, Willard designed a cell phone company that encompassed nine different carriers that never require a contract.
From T-Mobile to Ultra Mobile to Net10, Nick wanted to offer more for less -- and that’s just what he did. Nick gave the example of an Apple IPhone cigarette plug lighter power jack that normally costs $34.95, but if a customer were to wait two days for SLS Cellular to order it, it would cost $19.95.
“I know people want a whole lot of things,” Willard said. “We can get anything you want, but as a community store we’re here for the community. A whole lot of people can’t afford the Samsung, but they want the good phones. We offer a similar phone based on those that is about 60 percent less expensive.”
In addition, SLS Cellular offers a 90-day same as cash program that gives customers the option to spread out their payments.
From the first day, helping the community was always in mind. As a 90 percent disabled veteran, Nick wanted his store to be a pivotal part in paying it forward. When the cleaning and painting were required in his new store, Willard hired a young high school student who could not afford his sports equipment. After remodeling the store and helping for just a few days, the student had enough money to buy everything he needed for his high school sports career.
“The store has touched so many lives already,” Willard said. “From the buildup to opening, it’s always been about helping the community.”
Once opened, SLS Cellular started to serve the community. Although some customers just needed a tweak on their phone and a sale may not have been made, SLS Cellular began to impact those who walked in.
“It’s not all about making the sale today,” Willard said. “It’s about making the relationship for tomorrow. When you can do that, you know we live in an awesome community.”
Customers can even come into SLS Cellular to pay their prepaid cell phone bill and receive a $2 discount on any prepaid bill they pay. Helping out in the littlest ways has been gratifying to Willard and SLS Cellular has given him a purpose he never thought he would have.
Although phones are a key part of Willard’s business, SLS Cellular has an additional room that offers organic gourmet coffee and a television set for Dish Network. SLS Cellular offers Vonage, Dish Network and U-Haul.
With their coffee and TV room, customers can sit down and enjoy a free cup of Gourmet coffee and enjoy a little TV before finalizing their purchase.
Also in SLS Cellular is their “General Manager of Everything Else” Caleb Willard’s. Ten year-old Caleb, Willard’s son, helps mingle with the customers, clean the windows and anything else he can do to help. “He’s just great with the people,” Willard said. “I want everyone to know it is a family setting. I think he cleans more here than he ever has at home.”
With the help of his son, Marian his Wife and many others, Willard has achieved more than anyone thought possible of him. Although he battled many obstacles on the way, Willard has always been volunteering and has continued to incorporate that in his store. Anyone with old phones that are just sitting around in desk drawers or homes can be donated, Willard said. He hopes to start a partnership with the Sunshine Place and donate old phones to them that SLS Cellular has fixed. In addition, he is also donating phones to veterans after they have been refurbished and will send them overseas.
Willard’s latest idea is teaming up with Boomerang and donating phones to a homeless shelter.
“It’s a community based store and I want to really exemplify that,” Willard said. “Sun Prairie is just beautiful. It’s a great place to start paying it forward.”
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