Charles Avnet

Charles Avnet (1888–1979) was an American businessman who founded electronics parts distributor Avnet.

Biography

Avnet was born to a Jewish family in 1888 in Russia.[1][2][3]

In 1921,[4] Avnet began buying surplus ham radio parts and selling them to the public on Radio Row in the lower Manhattan[1] capitalizing on the end of the World War I era ban on the trade of radio parts in 1918.[2] He had $85,000 in sales in his first year.[1] With the advent of commercial radio broadcasting and factory-made radios (which did not require parts), he adjusted his distribution pipeline and began selling parts to manufacturers and dealers.[2] In 1929, he diversified by branching out into car antenna kits and automobile assembly kits. During the Great Depression, he shifted the focus from retailing to wholesaling.[2] During World War II, sales to the private sector were banned, so Avnet shifted to government sales[4] with an emphasis on connectors.[2] After the war, the market was flooded with war surplus components and Avnet flourished incorporating as Avnet Electronics Supply Co Inc in 1955 reaching $1 million in sales.[4] In 1959, the company went public as Avnet Electronics Corporation.[4]

Personal life

He was married to Celia Avnet.[3] They had four children: Lester Francis Avnet (1913–1970), Robert H. Avnet (1919–1964), Lillian Avnet Marks, and Dr. Norman Avnet (1928–2017).[5][6][7] He died in 1979; services were held at Congregation Beth Sholom in Long Beach, New York.[3] His grandson (son of Lester) is director, writer and producer Jon Avnet.[8]