Julie Abbey of Appliance Center Furniture & Mattress in Toledo, Ohio, was inducted into the AVB Hall of Fame during a main stage presentation at BrandSource’s Convention 2023 in Nashville for her lifetime of achievement within the group and the industry.
Julie Abbey took the reins of the business her father Chuck Oswald started over 60 years ago and ran with it. Today, Appliance Center Furniture & Mattress has three Toledo-area locations, over 150 employees, more than 200 brands of appliances and furniture, and $7 million in inventory.
Julie’s role there was not a foregone conclusion. Before joining the family business she earned a law degree and had career aspirations that did not include retailing. But helping out at the store for “a day” turned into an amazing 37-year journey of selling — not to live, but to give. Julie and her husband John have long supported many local and international charities, donating countless hours and millions of dollars to those in need.
“I have no regrets in not pursuing my law career,” she said. “I realized early on that my career goals were centered around helping people. It did not matter to me whether it was providing legal services or selling refrigerators and couches; what mattered to me was being able to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Slipping on the traditional Hall of Fame Jacket at the induction ceremony, Julie told attendees, “I’m really humbled and honored to join this group. I’m so grateful to my family and all who have helped me along on this amazing journey.”
Abbey represents the fourth generation of Hall of Famers, following the class of 2022, which included the late Mark Reckling of Grand Appliance and Mark Pardini of Pardini Appliance & Mattress. They were preceded by the class of 2021, which included Jackie King of Nampa Appliance TV & Mattress, Tom Balistreri of Colders’ Furniture, Appliances and Mattresses, former AVB BrandSource board member George “Skip” Ignaczak and AVB’s own Member Relations GM Kevin Werner.
