Electric Fixture & Supply Co Information

Electric Fixture & Supply Company was founded in 1932 by Herbert G. Carlson. We were the first independent wholesale electric distributor in Omaha, Nebraska. Electric Fixture today is one of the largest remaining independents in the country. The Omaha-based company currently operates branch stores in Columbus, Lexington, Lincoln, Norfolk, North Platte, West Omaha and Omaha, all in the great state of Nebraska. We are a full-line electrical wholesaler; the company offers electrical items, lighting equipment and lamps, as well as comfort heating products. The company principally serves electrical contractors, equipment manufacturers, utilities, railroads, airlines, educational institutions as well as industrial, commercial and government customers throughout a market area covering Nebraska, western Iowa, northern Kansas, northeastern Missouri and southeastern South Dakota. Electric Fixture's actual roots can be traced back 70 plus years to a long-defunct Des Moines, Iowa, electric company. A few years after World War I, a young Army veteran named Herbert Carlson took a job as a truck driver for the Des Moines firm, soon working his way up to city sales and then becoming the credit manager. In 1932, Mr. Carlson was offered to take over the firm's year-old branch in Omaha, Nebraska. He bought out most of the stock in the Omaha branch and gained a work force of five employees. In future years, Mr. Carlson would admit that in the beginning it was "touch and go" for his fledgling firm; his salary was $90.00 a week and he had to "watch expenses". Electric Fixture survived those early days and later flourished; its parent company, however, did not fare as well. As did innumerable other businesses in the 1930's the Des Moines distributor fell victim to the depression. For the next 22 years Electric Fixture & Supply Company operated out of a multi story building at 1210 Harney Street in Omaha. The business at that time had two distinct divisions, wholesale distribution of electrical fixtures and supplies and sales of both major and small "table" appliances -- including toasters, mixers and sewing machines. The appliance division was discontinued in the late 1950's. In 1955, Electric Fixture moved into a new 130 X 220 foot building constructed on land purchased at 1006 North 20th Street, a building still serving as corporate headquarters today. Newspaper accounts of the new facility's grand opening reported the one-level building was designed for easy material handling. Among other features were the display room with its "ceiling of lights" and warehouse walls strengthened by a course of bricks run between every two cement block. Electric Fixture first expanded its in-state market during the 1960's with branch stores at 123 West 5th Street in Lexington (1962) and 600 Omaha Avenue in Norfolk (1963); in 1971, a third outlet was opened at 5th and Tonka in Beatrice. A store on East Highway 30 in Columbus came on-line in 1994, followed in the spring of 1996 by the North Platte branch at 515 Bicentennial Avenue, and then came the Lincoln branch in the fall of 1996. In January 1997 the Norfolk store was relocated to a new facility at 1203 South 11th Street. In June 2002 our second location in the Greater Omaha Area opened at 15555 Industrial Road. For most of the company's history, Electric Fixture & Supply operated as a privately-held partnership, headed by its founder. Well into the mid 1970's, Mr. Carlson served as president, treasurer and chairman of the board. He was succeeded during the next 19 years by two presidents: George Rhode and Leon L. Siedlyk. Other corporate stockholders over the years included William J. Brunnell, Authur Carlson, Rolland K. Fried, Harry L Griffith, Dwight I. Hultman, and George Tice. Mr. Carlson died at the age of 84 in 1980. On October 1, 1990, Electric Fixture & Supply's corporate structure changed dramatically. With the retirement of all of the partners but Mr. Siedlyk, the company remained independent by taking an innovative ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan ) approach. As Electric Fixture positioned itself to flourish into the 21st century, its employees became its owners. Leon Siedlyk became the first president under the new structure in 1990 and served until his retirement in 1995. Gordon Gunderson stepped into the position and remained president until his retirement in May of 2003. Currently company officers are Robert Tilson, president; Bill Waugh, senior vice-president; Steve Van Haitsma, Vice President. Due to the changing economy, in March of 2004 the Beatrice Branch located at 5th & Tonka for 33 years closed its doors for business. Our current branch managers are Rich Bergland, Columbus; Frank Koehn, Lexington; Tom Erickson, Lincoln; Doug Denney, Norfolk; Todd Schultz, North Platte; and Mark Dehne, West Omaha . Throughout the years, Electric Fixture & Supply Company has been devoted to better service, quality merchandise and honest treatment of our customers. Our motto, " The Customer Is Our Most Prized Asset" continues to reflect this dedication.