BrandSource Members Brace for Hurricane Ian

Some 18 dealers, 33 stores face the brunt of the storm

By Alan Wolf, YSN

The collective thoughts and prayers of AVB BrandSource are focused today on the many members, employees and their families facing down Hurricane Ian.

The storm, which was nearing Category 5 status with wind speeds of 155 mph, made landfall Wednesday morning along Florida’s southwest coast, where some 18 member dealers with 33 collective stores lie directly in its path.

Power outages are already reported in multiple coastal communities, along with spinoff tornadoes across the state. But aside from damaging winds, the greatest concern remains projected storm surges as high as 16 feet.

Fortunately, mandatory evacuation orders were in effect in nine Gulf Coast counties, including several touching 11-store BrandSource member Famous Tate. According to marketing director Jason Horst, the Tampa-based chain had closed all its locations by Tuesday afternoon, powered down workstations and fortified coastal storefronts with sandbags and protection panels.

“The main priority in any storm is the safety of our associates,” who can also seek shelter in company facilities, he said. “We maintain generators at our main warehouse and distribution center, as well as the corporate showroom … We have plenty of beds in our showrooms!”

Horst also expressed concern for neighboring BrandSource members who are also facing Ian’s wrath head on. They range from 10-store Great Rooms and six-store Bill Smith Appliances to smaller companies including Badger Bob’s Appliances, Blue Water Appliances, Buddy’s Home Furnishings, Mullet’s Appliances and Rice’s Appliance & Bedding Center, among others.

BrandSource, a unit of YSN publisher AVB Inc., is a nationwide buying group for independent appliance, furniture, mattress and CE dealers.

Upcoming Events