PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Almo Corporation, the nation’s leading independent distributor of appliances, consumer electronics, Pro A/V equipment and housewares, is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its founding in 1946. The celebrations surrounding this diamond-studded achievement range from giving back to Almo communities by serving 75 different charities to in-person and virtual celebrations in conjunction with key company and industry events.
View Almo’s 75th Anniversary Kick-Off Video
Follow the 75-year celebrations on Almo’s Corporation’s Twitter Feed.
Humble Beginnings
In 1946, Albert Margolis and Morris Green founded a wholesale distribution firm in Center City, Philadelphia. They named the company using the first two letters of their first names. Al was listed first so the company name would be in the front of the yellow-pages phone book, which was the primary means of advertising at the time. They sold replacement parts for radios and televisions to the dealer service trade through a number of branches in the Middle Atlantic states.
Over the course of 75 years, Almo has grown from a team of two to a thriving, third-generation, family-owned business with more than 650 employees, nine distribution facilities and 2.5 million square feet of warehousing space to support its major appliance and electronics, premium appliances, professional AV and e-commerce fulfillment business segments.
According to Warren Chaiken, president and CEO, Almo Corporation, “75 years ago, two friends gave their names to a dream – what started as their dream became their legacy. We are proud to still be running strong at 75 years and are especially thankful for the partnerships we’ve gained and maintained along the way. We look forward to celebrating the milestones that have molded and shaped Almo Corporation into the company it is today.”
Chaiken added, “While we will always be proud of our heritage, over the last year, the way our company has been able to transform, stay relevant and support those in need throughout the pandemic will be a significant milestone in the Almo timeline. Being able to quickly set up our processes for employees to work seamlessly from home, offering a financial relief alliance program, stocking up on product to keep our partners in business, providing products that focus on screening and sanitizing, and creating a successful virtual platform for our in-person dealer events are just some of the ways we have continued to move forward through the challenges of 2020.” He concluded, “The future looks bright as we continue to forge partnerships that fit our business model and focus on new strategic business opportunities.”
“Family, Innovation, Integrity and Teamwork (FIIT) are at the foundation of our company,” said Gene Chaiken, chairman of the board, Almo Corporation. “People are what make companies great and Almo is comprised of passionate, hard-working, caring people who bring meaning to our business and our relationships. Operating our business for 75 years has been a challenging and rewarding experience for all Almo stakeholders. We remain steadfast in our ability to be a value-added distributor for many years to come.”
Almo 75-Year Celebrations
Almo has multiple celebrations planned throughout the remainder of 2021, primarily during
the following in-person and virtual events:
- Almo’s Pro AV National Sales Meeting (August)
- Almo’s E4 Experience Boston (October 7)
- AVIXA’s InfoComm 2021 (IC21) (October 27-29)
- Almo’s E4 Experience Dallas (November 30)
- Almo’s E4 Evolution (E4v) Virtual (December)
75 Charitable Partnerships: A Diamond-Studded Year of Giving Back
Serving others has always been at the heart of the Almo business model. In fact, all Almo employees receive an annual paid “Do Good” day to focus on a philanthropic endeavor of their choice. This year, Almo is selecting 75 organizations for which to provide time, talent and donations, including:
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- American Cancer Society
- Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House
- American Red Cross
- Michael Vergauwen Scholarship Fund (AVIXA Foundation)
- The Block Gives Back – Food Insecurity in Philadelphia
- Penn State Food Bank
Almo Sustainability
Almo has a long history of promoting sustainability projects to reduce its footprint on the environment and to give back to local communities. Initiatives include adding motion-sensing lighting in its warehousing space and offices, replacing warehouse facility rooftops with solar-panels, and converting its forklift fleet from propane to “eco-performance” electric. These measures are significantly reducing Almo’s electric usage and lowering energy costs.
“This three-pronged approach is already making a dramatic impact in our ability to create a sustainable business model that minimizes our environmental impact,” said Ed Gibbons, senior vice president, Almo Corporation. “As we move forward, we will pursue new opportunities that allow us continue contributing to the environment, particularly as it relates to our employees, partners, customers and communities.”
Almo Named “Top Workplace” by The Philadelphia Inquirer
For the eighth time, Almo was named a “Top Workplace in the Mid-Size Business Category” by The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Greater Philadelphia Region’s most prevalent news source for the eighth time. Results are based solely on employee feedback centered around company values, encouraging ideas, feeling connected, learning opportunities, motivation and confidence in company leadership.
