Family has run Iz Schwartz Appliance for generations

Leah MacLeod is part of a family business tradition. Her grandfather, Isaac Schwartz – called Iz by his friends – started Iz Schwartz Appliance in 1979 at 110 Slades Ferry Ave., in Somerset, Massachusetts. Prior to that, he had worked with her great-grandfather, Hyman, who had a home improvement and lumber store in Fall River in the 1950s.

MacLeod’s father, Barry, went to work at Iz Schwartz in the ’80s. But Iz kept working, well into his 80s, according to MacLeod. “He loved coming to work,” she said.

MacLeod started working in the business part time while finishing up a college degree.

“I was lucky working alongside my father and grandfather for many years,” she said.

Both men passed away eight years ago.

“I cherish those years we worked together and am so thankful for the knowledge of the business they passed on,” MacLeod said.

In college, MacLeod thought she was on the road to becoming an accountant. But she enjoyed working in the small business so much that she decided to stay.

“I made the decision a few months before graduating that this is where I was meant to be, and I have been here ever since,” said MacLeod, who is married with a 3-year-old and a 6-year-old and attends Congregation Tifereth Israel, in New Bedford.

In her 18 years at Iz Schwartz, she’s seen the business transform from a warehouse with bargains, but not a wide variety, to an expanded selection.

“There are so many products we carry today, from refrigerators, dishwashers, ranges, all types of kitchen ventilation, washers and dryers, freezers and more. Some products that people may not know that we carry are garbage disposals, sinks, faucets, and seasonal products like grills and air conditioners.”

Their brands run the gamut and include luxury names like Wolf and a new line by Bosch called Benchmark.

“We have appliances for couples and individuals just starting out all the way up to the family or people planning their dream home,” she said.

MacLeod has seen a lot of home trends come and go.

What’s in now?

“Of course, stainless is still very popular,” she said. “But now black stainless is starting to have a niche market. And, of course, in the higher-end kitchens, custom panels for refrigerators and dishwashers are still in high demand.”

MacLeod said they’ve also “seen a high increase in people adding steam ovens, microwave drawers and wine refrigerators.”

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.