Builders Emporium was a chain of home improvement stores based in Irvine, California, United States. At the time of its closing in 1993, it had 82 stores in Southern California and an additional 15 in Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas; 4,300 employees in total.[1]
The chain had a fictional human character, "Pops" Larsen that, in brochures and other media, was portrayed as helping customers with do-it-yourself tasks such as hanging a door.[2]
History
The Builders Emporium chain was started in 1946 in the San Fernando Valley community of Van Nuys by Si L. Bercutt.[3][4][5] The store's motto was "Everything to build anything."[3][6]
Victor M. Carter[7] bought the ailing Van Nuys hardware store in 1949.[8] He introduced the concept of a self-service hardware store with a "do it yourself" training component that became the model for The Home Depot. Carter built Builders Emporium into a leading self-serve retail operation and the largest hardware store in the United States, selling it in 1956, to acquire controlling interest in Republic Pictures just a few years later.[8]
Acquisition
In 1962, Builders Emporium was acquired by Food Giant Markets, Inc.[9] In 1967, Builders Emporium was acquired by Two Guys when Two Guys purchased its parent company Food Giant Markets, Inc. At the time of acquisition, Builders Emporium had 14 locations throughout Southern California.[10][11][12][13] Two Guys later renamed itself Vornado.
The chain was sold by Vornado to Wickes in two installment in 1978. In January of that year, Vornado sold 47 Builders Emporium centers in California to Wickes. In the following month, Vornado sold 12 Builders Emporium home improvement centers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to Wickes.[14]
Shutdown
Builders Emporium was forced to close in 1993 after its former parent had a number of financial problems during the previous decade.[4]
Campaigns
Builders Emporium was owned by the Santa Monica-based Wickes Companies, and an ad campaign from 1982–1988 features the slogan "We got the message, Mr. Sigoloff", referring to former Wickes chairman and CEO Sanford C. Sigoloff, in a campaign to restore credibility, consumer confidence, and sales to the chain after Wickes' bankruptcy. The advertising campaign was a huge hit credited with helping the chain increase sales by 25% the first year it was launched.[15] In 1988 the chain had sales of about US$675 million.[16]
See also
External links
References
- O.C.'s Builder's Emporium Will Close Its Stores Los Angeles Times, August 25, 1993, retrieved 15 June 2019^
- The Marketplace Crescenta Valley Weekly, retrieved 15 June 2019^
- Si L. Bercutt; Builders Emporium Founder Los Angeles Times, July 26, 1991^
- David W. Myers. O.C.'s Builder's Emporium Will Close Its Stores Los Angeles Times, August 25, 1993^
- Builders Emporium To Shutter All Its Stores Associated Press, August 25, 1993^
- Early Views of the San Fernando Valley Water and Power Associates^
- Tom Tugend. Victor M. Carter Dies at 94 The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, April 1, 2004, retrieved 14 December 2013^
- Myrna Oliver. Victor Carter, 94; Businessman Gave Time, Money to Southland Charities Los Angeles Times, April 2, 2004, retrieved 14 December 2013^
- Food Giant to Acquire Hard Goods Company Los Angeles Times, January 23, 1962^
- Merger Planned With Vornado by Food Giant Los Angeles Times, July 11, 1967^
- Vornado and Food Giant Terms OKd Los Angeles Times, July 28, 1967^
- Vornado Agrees To Buy Food Giant in Swap of Stock: Plan Is Subject to Approval By Both Firms' Holders, Final Vote of Directors Cost Put at $52.5 Million The Wall Street Journal, July 11, 1967^
- Les Gilbert. Vornado Tie To Food Giant Seen in Week: Vornado, Food Giant Merger Women's Wear Daily, July 10, 1967^
- Wickes Profit Up 33.3% The New York Times, May 23, 1978^
- Builders Emporium advertising The Los Angeles Times, 14 December 1988^
- McKitrick in new CEO of Builder's Emporium Los Angeles Times, June 30, 1989, retrieved 15 June 2019^