Company Snapshot: Conn's

Address:
3295 College St
BEAUMONT, TX 77701-4611

Telephone:
409 832-1696

Internet Homepage:
http://www.conn.com

Year Founded:
1890

Total Stores:
65

Total Annual Sales:
$653,684,000

Senior Executive:
Theodore M. Wright: Chairman, CEO, President
Michael J Poppe: Exec VP, COO

Known as a strong regional competitor in the retail consumer electronics arena, with stores in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, Conn’s was actually founded as a plumbing company in 1890.  When the company was sold to Carroll Wayne Conn Sr., in 1934 he changed the company name to Conn Plumbing and Heating Company, indicating that the initial focus of the company was unchanged.

Three years later the company began selling refrigerators and began to add a range of major appliances to its product lineup.  Shortly after serving in the Korean War Mr. Conn’s son C.W. Conn Jr. joined the company and decided that that customers needed a dependable service center for their appliances and thus added service, parts and maintenance to the company’s offerings.  Later, through the Conn Credit Corporation he added a consumer credit service.

Conn’s current product lineup centers around consumer electronics including a strong mix of computers and major appliances, furniture and lawn equipment.  Recently, seeing the demise of Circuit City and the many challenges being experienced by Best Buy, Conn’s has begun to emphasize its furniture and mattress offerings.  Considering the recent rapid growth and expansion of hhgregg, with a similar product mix, it would seem that Conn’s will remain on the scene for the very long haul.