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RC Willey Home Furnishings

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RC Willey
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryRetail
Founded1932; 92 years ago (1932) in Syracuse, Utah, United States
FounderRufus Call Willey
Headquarters,
Area served
Western United States
Key people
William H. Child (Chairman)
Scott Hymas (CEO)
Jeff Child (President)
Curtis Child (CFO)
ProductsFurniture
Electronics
Home appliances
Mattresses
Flooring
OwnerBerkshire Hathaway
Websitewww.rcwilley.com

RC Willey Home Furnishings (RC Willey) is an American home furnishings company in Utah, Idaho, Nevada and California.[1] It was founded in 1932 by Rufus Call Willey in Syracuse, Utah, RC. He began selling Hotpoint-brand appliances door-to-door out of the back of his pickup truck. RC Willey has 13 locations across the Western United States and specializes in furniture, electronics, home appliances, mattresses, and flooring. In 1995, the holding company Berkshire Hathaway bought RC Willey in a deal with Warren Buffett.[2][3]

History

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RC Willey was founded in 1932 in Syracuse, Utah, then a farming community.

In 1932 Rufus Call Willey began selling Hotpoint Brand appliances door-to-door in Syracuse, Utah. Employed by the local electric company, he first started selling appliances from the back of his pick-up truck on the side as he made his rounds. To guarantee customer satisfaction, Willey would lend out appliances for a week so that people could try them out. He also let them finance the purchases in installments over a three-year period, payable at harvest time. In 1950 he built his first store next door to his home in Syracuse.

In 1954, Willey left the company due to terminal cancer. William H. Child, who had married Willey's daughter Darlene three years earlier, took over the business. William Child is credited with adding furniture to the company's appliance offerings.

Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., the holding company led by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, acquired RC Willey on May 24, 1995.

In 1998, RC Willey's South Salt Lake location became the site of a "Whaling Wall" mural by the famous marine artist Wyland.

Chief financial officer Scott L. Hymas, who had been with the company since 1987, succeeded Bill Child as CEO in February 2001. Child remained chairman. At the same time, Bill Child's nephew, Jeffrey S. Child, became the company's president.

Timeline

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Timeline
Year Event
1932 Rufus Call Willey begins selling appliances door-to-door.
1950 RC Willey opens its first store in Syracuse, Utah.
1954 William H. Child takes over the business.
1969 A second store opens in Murray, Utah.
1990 Six stores have sales of $100 million.
1995 Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. acquires the company.
1999 RC Willey expands outside Utah with Meridian, Idaho, store
2019 Original RC Willey closes

References

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  1. ^ Benedict, Jeff (April 21, 2009). How to Build a Business Warren Buffett Would Buy: The R. C. Willey Story. Shadow Mountain. ISBN 978-1606410417.
  2. ^ "BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC". www.berkshirehathaway.com.
  3. ^ "LINKS TO BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY SUB. COMPANIES". www.berkshirehathaway.com.
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