RETAILOBSERVER.COM JANUARY 2015
6
Moe Lastfogel
moe@retailobserver.com
THE RETAIL
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throughout North America whose news
and information greatly contribute to the
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The Retail Observer and the
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Moe's Musings Views
Happy Retailing,
A
s you can see from the cover of The Retail Observer, we are celebrating our
25th Anniversary. The first issue of our magazine was printed in 1990 but yet
we tout "An Eye On The Industry Since 1970". Here's a little history as to why.
In 1970, Chuck Edmonds bought a franchise from a local TV/appliance
newspaper which he named the
Northern California Retailer. In a full newspaper
format, this magazine went out to both local brown and white good dealers in the
Northern California market. This "rag" as many lovingly referred to it, lasted until
1983 under his sole leadership.
In 1983, it was sold to a competitor by the name of Don Martin in Southern
California who renamed it
TAD (TV Appliance Dealer). The magazine's reach grew,
covering Southern California, Northern California, the Northwest and the Rocky
Mountain/Southwest areas. Chuck stayed on under Don's leadership.
In 1990, Don and his wife Kasnea (both NKBA Hall of Famers) sold the magazine
and decided to start Kasmar Publications which he still runs today. Their kitchen,
bath and specialty room publications can be downloaded online through the Apple
app store. Chuck went on to restart were he left off and formed a new publication
called
Retail Observer. He, along with long time friend Lee Boucher, ran this new
version of the magazine until 2007 and increased its outreach even further to 31
states and approximately 6,000 followers.
In 2007, it was purchased and given new life and was affectionately renamed
The Retail Observer which is the magazine you are reading today. It now has over
21,000 subscribers, is being read in over 35 countries and is available in a print and
digital version. Eliana and our team at
The Retail Observer are very proud of the
history that has been inherited and we look forward to continuing the legacy of this
beloved "rag" in 2015 and for years to come.
1970 UP TO TODAY
A LITTLE HISTORY
