Business Spotlight: New location offers more room for cuckoos

Looking for a Black Forest cuckoo clock? How about a Sligh grandfather clock or a mantel clock? Then again, an antique clock would make a nice conversation piece.

Given the selection, it's easy to see why some customers at the Clock Shop spend a great deal of time pondering their choices before purchasing a clock.

Since moving to its new location at 1332 E. Republic on Nov. 1, the Clock Shop has increased its inventory significantly. The shop now carries large and small chalet-style cuckoos, traditional cuckoo clocks, novelty clocks from Germany, wall clocks, mantel clocks, grandfather clocks, antique and pre-owned clocks, specialty clocks and classic German clock styles made by Hermle.

"We've doubled our floor space, which has allowed us to carry a larger selection of clocks," said Jim Driver, who co-owns the Clock Shop with his wife Sarah. "Our new location also has better visibility from the street, which should increase drive-by business."

Founded in 1984, the Clock Shop originally specialized in repairing time clocks used in factories and businesses.

Over the years, the business' focus shifted, however, and today the Clock Shop is one of a handful of businesses in the area that specialize in new and antique clock sales, service, repair and restoration.

Since buying the Clock Shop in 1996, the Drivers have focused on increasing clock sales.

Still, servicing, repairing and restoring clocks account for half of the business' income.

Customers who come to the Clock Shop for service, repair, or restoration work receive a flat-rate estimate.

However, the Drivers occasionally have to contact a customer if they realize additional work is needed.

"Our prices are extremely reasonable, and all of our repair work comes with a 90-day guarantee," Jim Driver said. "Servicing, repairing and restoring clocks takes skill, and it takes time. Sometimes I'll underestimate how long it will take me to fix something, but I still charge the price I quoted the customer. Other times, I'll start fixing a clock, and I'll realize that other things need to be serviced or repaired. When that happens, I'll call the customer and ask if they want the additional work done."

Although most customers bring their clocks to the shop to be serviced, other clocks, such as grandfather clocks, must be serviced and repaired on site.

Each morning, Jim Driver travels to the homes of customers located within a 60-mile radius of Springfield. After this work is completed, he returns to Springfield and opens the Clock Shop at 10 a.m.

"A lot of people wonder why I don't open the shop earlier," he said. "I can't open it any earlier and still make house calls."

Being the shop's sole full-time employee can be both challenging and taxing. However, Driver's wife Sarah, who works part-time as a registered nurse, puts in her share of extra hours at the shop servicing and repairing cuckoo clocks. She also spends a great deal of time searching for antique and pre-owned clocks, which are repaired, restored and later sold at the shop or on the shop's Web site at www.ozarkclockshop.com

"Having a Web site has helped us increase business," Jim Driver said. "If we have an antique or pre-owned clock that doesn't sell at our shop, we usually can sell it on our Web site. Establishing a Web site also has allowed us to sell new clocks to customers who can't find a particular clock in the area where they live."

Although the Web site has helped increase clock sales, the Drivers said they plan to focus on their brick-and-mortar shop during the coming weeks. In fact, bringing business to the Clock Shop's new location is a primary focus these days.

"We're always busy through the holiday season," Jim Driver said. "I think our new location will help us attract more customers, particularly now that we've increased our inventory."