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Flanner’s Temporarily Shuts Doors in Milwaukee
The family-owned store has been in business since 1891 and is run by former PARA president John Flanner. The company is a member of the very selective PRO Buying Group, which in recent years lost its most prominent member Tweeter Home Entertainment to bankruptcy.
According to an article in Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Flanner says the temporary shut-down is due to financial problems, but the company is not out of business and has not declared bankruptcy.
The company’s website defaults to a message from John Flanner which says:
Like many businesses, we've faced some challenges from the recent economic downturn. We’re in the process of renegotiating our business and financing relationships to improve the company. This process has taken longer than expected, and we are no longer able to provide the experience or level of service we strive to provide. Therefore, we are temporarily pausing operations. We appreciate all of the support we've received as a local, family owned, independent business, and we intend to continue serving this community for years to come.
According to the article, Flanner’s attributes about one-quarter of the store's $15 million in revenue to custom installation service. The business was started in 1891 by John Flanner’s great grandfather.
In the past year, two elder-statesmen custom retailers - Myer Emco and Bernie's - shut their doors due to increasing competition.
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5 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
Here’s what I tweeted (@juliejacobson) ... pass it on:
Milwaukee AV lovers: Support Flanner’s, which has done so much for the local community and the industry. http://bit.ly/9RYI9a
and I’ve just become a Flanner’s “fan” on Facebook . . . let’s all do everything we possibly can to help them through this crisis:
Milwaukee-area audio/video and home theater lovers: Please Support Flanner’s, which has done so much for the local community and the consumer electronics industry. It would be a sad day indeed to see one of the oldest retailers (possibly THE oldest) in the country become yet another victim of our current down economy and increasing competition from the big box stores.
I feel sorry for the higher-end stores going the way of the do-do. But the markups, the state of the economy, and the growing base of technical literate consumers spells the end for these stores.
I am going to miss the high end stores, but their time has passed. They can’t compete with big box stores that offer products that are very close to the same performance of the products of the high-end stores for substantially less.
What do we do it we still have warrintees?
That is totally sad and I’m certain that all in the industry join me in wishing John Flanner and his intrepid crew nothing but the best in emerging from this challenge a stronger, healthier company. I have very fond memories of calling on Flanner & Hafsoos (as they were known then) back in the 70s and 80s and of interacting with John during his tenure as PARA prez.