Family focused on customer service

Detleff Knoll wasn't born in Texas—or even the United States—but he got here as fast as he could.

Knoll opened his first store selling and repairing televisions in Luetjenburg, Germany, in 1971, but after several trips to the United States with his wife, Connie, the couple decided to move to America.

"In the 1970s, we made three independent trips to the United States, and we fell in love with this country," Knoll said. "After the third trip, we decided to move to America."

Fast forward several years, and the couple and their four children moved to Texas. Their children ranged from a year old to 8 years old at the time. The couple bought Fred's TVs in Marble Falls, which sold TVs and other appliances.

"[It was] a beautiful little mom and pop store," Knoll said.

After two years, Knoll and his wife changed the name to C&D TV, and five years after coming to America, the family applied for and received their United States citizenship.

The Knolls sold the shop after owning the business for more than 25 years and moved to Georgetown, where Knoll opened Georgetown TV & Audio off of East University Avenue.

"Our business is not built on selling TVs. Our business is built on customer relationships and service," Knoll said. "I highlight the name service more than anything else because we are not in [business] for the huge things; we are for the daily customer who walks into my store."

Knoll runs the business with the help of his youngest son, Thomas, who works full time in the store as a technician.

Along with his son, Knoll's daughter, Jessica Sharpe, works in the store.

"We are a family business," he said. "My daughter works here part time unfortunately. I wish she was here every day, but she has family, too. My son is here full time. He spends probably 60 hours a week. I do the same hours, because we are a father-and-son business."

Along with family, Knoll employs four other technicians who install TVs and audio systems.

"We don't subcontract anybody to install your TV," he said. "It is my technicians, and they do the job right."

Knoll added that his technicians will also help customers move old TVs, hide cables and program remote controls, because after all, he said, customer service is the name of the game.

"It's about personal, friendly business," he said. "We keep the promise we say and finish the job."

Georgetown TV & Audio, 4201 E. University Ave., 930-2299, www.georgetowntvandaudio.com