Throwback Thursday: The importance of being Ernst
The March 7, 1988 issue of National Home Center News, the forerunner of HBSDealer examined the revamped design of Ernst Home Centers. The Ernst Home & Nursery in Redmond, Wash., contains, according to the article, courtesy desks set up at the front of the store and revamped merchandise presentations, such as a new flooring department.
The article also describes executive changes at the company, which at the time was engaged in a turnaround under CEO Hal Smith, who came to the company from Builders Emporium. New executives included Tom Stanton, senior VP of operations (from Payless Cashways); Tom Vertetis, senior VP merchandising (from Handyman); and Susan McNab, senior VP human resources (from Lanoga).
In a photograph of the new prototype, a sign near the store's courtesy desk reads: "Lowest Prices Everyday," and "It's Ernst Policy."
At the time of the article, Ernst operated 70 stores and had annual sales of about $300 million. Ernst had spun off from the the old Pay 'n Save organization. Ernst filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1996, and announced going out of business sales shortly thereafter.
The article also describes executive changes at the company, which at the time was engaged in a turnaround under CEO Hal Smith, who came to the company from Builders Emporium. New executives included Tom Stanton, senior VP of operations (from Payless Cashways); Tom Vertetis, senior VP merchandising (from Handyman); and Susan McNab, senior VP human resources (from Lanoga).
In a photograph of the new prototype, a sign near the store's courtesy desk reads: "Lowest Prices Everyday," and "It's Ernst Policy."
At the time of the article, Ernst operated 70 stores and had annual sales of about $300 million. Ernst had spun off from the the old Pay 'n Save organization. Ernst filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1996, and announced going out of business sales shortly thereafter.