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RC Willey Home Furnishings (RC Willey) is an American home furnishings company in Utah, Idaho, Nevada and California.[1] It was founded in 1932 by Rufus Call Willey in Syracuse, Utah, RC. He began selling Hotpoint-brand appliances door-to-door out of the back of his pickup truck. RC Willey has 13 locations across the Western United States and specializes in furniture, electronics, home appliances, mattresses, and flooring. In 1995, the holding company Berkshire Hathaway bought RC Willey in a deal with Warren Buffett.[2][3]
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1932 in Syracuse, Utah, United States |
| Founder | Rufus Call Willey |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Western United States |
Key people | William H. Child (Chairman) Scott Hymas (CEO) Jeff Child (President) Curtis Child (CFO) |
| Products | Furniture Electronics Home appliances Mattresses Flooring |
| Owner | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Website | www |
History
editRC Willey was founded in 1932 in Syracuse, Utah, then a farming community.
In 1932 Rufus Call Willey began selling Hotpoint Brand appliances door-to-door in Syracuse, Utah. Employed by the local electric company, he first started selling appliances from the back of his pick-up truck on the side as he made his rounds. To guarantee customer satisfaction, Willey would lend out appliances for a week so that people could try them out. He also let them finance the purchases in installments over a three-year period, payable at harvest time. In 1950 he built his first store next door to his home in Syracuse.
In 1954, Willey left the company due to terminal cancer. William H. Child, who had married Willey's daughter Darlene three years earlier, took over the business. William Child is credited with adding furniture to the company's appliance offerings.
Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., the holding company led by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, acquired RC Willey on May 24, 1995.
In 1998, RC Willey's South Salt Lake location became the site of a "Whaling Wall" mural by the famous marine artist Wyland.
Chief financial officer Scott L. Hymas, who had been with the company since 1987, succeeded Bill Child as CEO in February 2001. Child remained chairman. At the same time, Bill Child's nephew, Jeffrey S. Child, became the company's president.
Timeline
edit| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1932 | Rufus Call Willey begins selling appliances door-to-door. |
| 1950 | RC Willey opens its first store in Syracuse, Utah. |
| 1954 | William H. Child takes over the business. |
| 1969 | A second store opens in Murray, Utah. |
| 1990 | Six stores have sales of $100 million. |
| 1995 | Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. acquires the company. |
| 1999 | RC Willey expands outside Utah with Meridian, Idaho, store |
| 2019 | Original RC Willey closes |
References
edit- ^ Benedict, Jeff (April 21, 2009). How to Build a Business Warren Buffett Would Buy: The R. C. Willey Story. Shadow Mountain. ISBN 978-1606410417.
- ^ "BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC". www.berkshirehathaway.com.
- ^ "LINKS TO BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY SUB. COMPANIES". www.berkshirehathaway.com.