Hall of Famers Don Idler, Mickey Reali and Robbie VanHoose (l. to r.) display their well-earned awards, flanked by BrandSource President Tom Bennett and AVB VP Jarred Roy.
Three more members honored for lifetime industry achievements
YSN Staff
Three additional BrandSource members were inducted into the AVB Hall of Fame during Convention 2024 for their longevity and history of success in business and within the group.
Mickey Reali of Orville’s Home Appliances, Don Idler of Idler’s Home and Robert “Robbie” VanHoose Jr. of Big Sandy Superstore now take their place among the history-making BrandSource members who have earned this honor.
The induction ceremony was held on the Convention’s main stage on Monday.
The new inductees are:
Don Idler
Don Idler learned what it took to own a business and make it a success from his father, Bud, who bought an appliance shop as a young man with a young family. Idler started working there as a kid, and took his father’s business philosophy to heart.
“His motto was ‘Idler’s Appliance, the house that service built,’ and he really lived by that and he taught it to me also,” Idler said. “Take care of your customers and treat them like family — it’s said a lot but if you live it, you will see the results you are hoping for.”
That’s how it worked for the Idler family. Idler’s Home, a five-location family business that includes Idler’s children Brian and Jennifer, has achieved a level of success Bud Idler probably never envisioned.
“I have to pinch myself,” Idler said.
Robert VanHoose Jr.
Robbie, as VanHoose is more commonly known, started out working in his father’s business, learning the ropes in the warehouse. Barely out of his teens, he and a partner bought the company when Robert VanHoose Sr. decided to retire young and raise horses instead.
“We bought three stores from my dad,” VanHoose said. “It was 1976. Game on.”
The result, Ohio-based Big Sandy Superstore, is a powerhouse in the appliance industry with more than 30 locations in six states across the Midwest. And, thanks to VanHoose’s sons, it continues to operate as family business.
Mickey Reali
As a teenager, Mickey Reali went from a part-time stockboy at a small appliance store in his hometown to selling appliances in the showroom. That’s all it took to spark a lifelong love of selling, working with people and building a business.
His career took him to several different businesses, culminating in 35 years at Orville’s Home Appliances. As CEO, he implemented cutting-edge ideas designed to bring out the best in his workers and make the most of their strengths.
Under his leadership, Orville’s grew to eight locations and a central warehouse in Western New York State, with a staff of close to 200 people who know they’re valued by the company. To Reali, it’s about finding great ideas and building on them as much as you can.
This year’s inductees represent the fifth generation of Hall of Famers. They join a long list of industry luminaries who have been honored by BrandSource.
- Class of 2023: Don Hillebrand of Don’s appliances and Julie Abbey of Appliance Center Furniture & Mattress.
- Class of 2022: The late Mark Reckling of Grand Appliance and Mark Pardini of Pardini Appliance & Mattress.
- Class of 2021: Jackie King of Nampa Appliance TV & Mattress, Tom Balistreri of Colder’s Furniture, Appliances and Mattresses, George “Skip” Ignaczak and AVB’s Member Relations GM Kevin Werner.
- Class of 2019: Ron Bemis of Bemis Appliance, John Horst of Famous Tate Appliance & Bedding Centers and the late Bill Pleasants Sr. of Plaza Appliance Mart.
The AVB Hall of Fame was created in 2019 to recognize those who have gone over and above in their service to the industry. The award took a one-year hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
