Other that Ellett, the company’s holding company, SportCo Holdings, also controls United Sporting Companies, Inc., and Ellett-owned companies including Simmons Gun Specialties, Evans Sports, Inc., Jerry’s Sports, Inc., Bonitz Brothers, Quality Boxes, and Outdoor Sports Headquarters, Inc. All are located in Chapin, South Carolina. Firearm aficionados were afraid federal legislation would either ban firearm sales in the United States or at least make the purchase of firearms a more difficult process, so they snatched up guns in a rush. A longtime competing gun distributor to fallen Ellett Brothers has moved into Chapin. United Sporting Companies operates through two subsidiaries, Ellett Brothers, and Jerry’s Sport Center, and is a leading nationwide distributor of hunting, outdoor and marine products. Privacy Policy. Although Ellett Brothers underwent numerous changes during its first six decades of business, two characteristics remained constant throughout its history: the Ellett Brothers name and the location of the business. But a year later, Ellett announced its own bankruptcy. The company's other product lines, however, did not perform as well, making 1995 a year of disappointment for those anticipating growth at company headquarters. Executive management was removed as a result, devolving control over the company to middle-management and Tuscarora representatives from the summer of 1990 to the spring of 1991. The acquisitions completed in 1995 were indicative of Ellett Brothers' new growth strategy to broaden its product lines and increase its channels of distribution. The essence of this acquisition program was described by the company's president and chief executive officer Joseph Murray, who explained after the acquisition of Safesport that "[Ellett Brothers'] acquisition strategy has been to acquire companies whose products will benefit from Ellett's marketing expertise, while expanding our product sources and channels of distribution." Again, as in 1993, external developments outside the company's control were responsible for spurring sales growth. Headquartered in Chapin, South Carolina, USC is a marketer and Davidson’s, the Arizona-based company, set up a small sales office in … Aside from the annual catalogs, Ellett Brothers' also frequently published promotional "mini-catalogs" that concentrated on a limited assortment of merchandise and advertised seasonal specials. Ellett then sold off the rest of its inventory, and at closeout prices. The firm markets and distributes products and accessories for hunting and shooting sports, marine, camping, archery, and other outdoor activities. Ellett then sold off the rest of its inventory, and at closeout prices. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/06/12/usc-chapter-11-bankruptcy Late in 1995, the company formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Leisure Sports Marketing Corp., to serve as the owner and operator of Ellett Brothers' three new subsidiary operations and entered 1996 looking for further potential acquisitions. For the first quarter century of its existence, Ellett Brothers operated as such, serving a three-state territory with fishing equipment during the economically depressed 1930s and throughout the 1940s. Lower prices meant firearm distributors attracted more customers, pushing sales upward. learn how over 7,000 companies got started! By dealing with small, "mom-and-pop" stores, Ellett Brothers was able to realize higher profit margins than it would have by supplying more competitive sporting goods chains with merchandise. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ellett brothers llc (28) elusive wildlife technologies (22) encore (19) equibrand (21) ernest bogart (1) fair west trailers (0) favorite pet product (7) fletcher's (1) four paws (1) frio (21) fritsche's farm (2) froglube (0) g.q.f. www.ellettbrothers.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. His parents were Erving "George" Elliott Jr. (1924-1998) and Mildred Reece (1921-1991) His father George created a lumber company and loved racing, and later created a speed shop where Bill's brothers… More significant growth was recorded during 1993, however, when the company's mainstay business was buoyed, ironically, by recessionary economic conditions. By 1935, Ellett Brothers’ warehouse had moved to a 424 square foot building. The company's marine accessories business proved to be a natural, complementary addition to its core outdoor sporting goods business, contributing $2.6 million in sales for 1989 and giving the Chapin-based company a promising new facet to its business that augured growth for the 1990s. Get the inside scoop on jobs, salaries, top office locations, and CEO insights. General Merchandise in Chapin, SC. In 1933 Chilton Ellett, Sr. started a fishing supply business with a meager amount of merchandise, ninety dollars in … In addition to the company's telemarketing program, its never-ending series of product catalogs also played an important role in generating business. This organization is not BBB accredited. Ahead were years of continued robust financial growth, as the company honed its telemarketing talents and matured into a highly-efficient and focused telemarketer and distributor of sporting goods. Business soared as a result, lifting sales and profits substantially. Ellett Brothers buys from over 800 manufacturers and suppliers. Ellett Brothers is owned by United Sporting Company and currently employs 200 people. During the early 1970s, Ellett Brothers' management directed a group of its salespeople to market the company's products over the telephone, marking the beginning of telemarketing at the Chapin headquarters. With this strategy leading the company forward, Ellett Brothers moved toward the late 1990s intent on building sales growth and increasing its gross margins. Ellett Brothers, a bankrupt firearms distributor founded in South Carolina, will lay off more than 170 workers at its Chapin facility and close the plant by August. SportCo Holdings Files Bankruptcy Yesterday, the “other shoe dropped” in the matter of SportCo Holdings, the company that owns, among others, Ellett Brothers and United Sporting Co. After months of rumors concerning their overall fiscal health, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, saying it planned to liquidate it’s holdings. Its mainstay hunting and shooting sports equipment business had registered a record sales year and its marine accessories business, one of the newer facets of Ellett Brothers' operations, was growing steadily. In 1989, executive management launched a veterinary pharmaceutical business that represented a dramatic departure from the company's traditional business. Ellett produces and distributes two annual catalogs containing its entire product line. For 40 years, Ellett Brothers approached this integral aspect of the wholesaling business much like its competition, but in the early 1970s the company adopted a different approach that distinguished it from other sporting goods distributors and spurred sales growth significantly. Despite the slip in sales, Ellett Brothers assumed a decidedly aggressive acquisitive stance during the year, purchasing three companies that established a presence outside of Chapin for the first time in the company's history. First, it started an archery sales division to focus on the archery pro shop dealer. All of Ellett Brothers' merchandise, which also included marine accessories, camping equipment, and general outdoor sporting accessories, was sold by the company's telemarketing sales force and through numerous product catalogs. Now in its 73rd year of business, the Company markets and distributes a broad line of products and accessories for hunting and shooting sports, marine, camping, archery and other outdoor activities. Flagging firearm sales during the early 1990s forced manufacturers to slash their prices by 1993, a response to the anemic economic climate that benefitted distributors like Ellett Brothers. Completed in August 1995, the purchase of Safesport was followed in September with the acquisition of Taylorsville, North Carolina-based Vintage Editions, Inc., a specialty manufacturer of nostalgia products such as wooden boxes, storage chests, serving trays, dart board cases, and compact disc racks. The veterinary pharmaceutical business was sold by the beginning of the summer of 1991 and by the end of the summer a new executive management team was in place. Ellett Brothers is a middleman for mountain men and other outdoor enthusiasts. In the early 1970’s, the Company implemented a telemarketing program that resulted in a significant growth in sales and profits. General Merchandise in Chapin, SC. Meanwhile, however, the company was acting on less prudent decisions and straying far afield. SportsCo Holdings Inc., which owns Chapin-based Ellett Brothers and several other subsidiaries, said it plans to liquidate its holdings, citing excessive debt and inventory. As Ellett Brothers entered 1993 and its 60th anniversary year, the company's marine accessory business was performing admirably. From the 1960s forward, Ellett Brothers' sales force focused their efforts on selling firearms and outdoor accessories to a largely rural clientele comprised mainly of independent, "mom-and-pop" retailers. Branch 1: Ellett Brothers, LLC • 267 Columbia Ave, Chapin, SC 29036 • 1-800-845-3711, Branch 2: 5935 Granite Lake Dr, Granite Bay, CA 95746, United States. Ellett Brothers is a shining example of a true American success story. Ellett Brothers buys from over 800 manufacturers and suppliers. United Sporting Companies (USC) is a leading nationwide distributor of hunting, outdoor, marine and tackle products. Their selling efforts are further supported and enhanced by training in daily sales meetings and continuous supervision by regional sales supervisors. Inc.; Vintage Editions, Inc.; Leisure Sports Marketing Corp.; Safesport Manufacturing Company. Copyright (c) 2019 Company-Histories.com. In 1974 Ellett Brothers moved to its current location in Chapin, South Carolina, and presently occupies a total of 250,000 square feet of warehouse and office space at that location. We see them around but we don't know what goes on behind the scenes. United Sporting Company, or USC, which owns Ellett Brothers, formerly Acusport, and Jerry's Sports distributors has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in … Ellett Brothers Rankings. After facing many tumultuous, roller-coaster years like all of us in the firearm industry coupled with a fast return to normalcy, Acusport eventually filed for … Ellett believes that dedication to providing exceptional customer service and support through a highly-trained and motivated sales team, broad product selection, rapid order fulfillment, and purchasing convenience are, and will continue to be, the hallmarks of Ellett Brothers’ approach to serving the outdoor sporting goods market. Gander Mountain announced Friday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it closes 32 underperforming stores and searches for a buyer. Gander Mountain announced Friday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while it closes 32 underperforming stores and searches for a buyer. Ellett Brothers 2014 Distributor of the Year Award, One of many they received over the years. During 1993 and 1994, developments that affected Ellett Brothers' business were outside the company's control but provided a welcomed boost to business, completing its recovery from the problems of the early 1990s. Like other sporting goods wholesalers, Ellett Brothers relied on a sales force that traveled throughout the company's area of service to solicit business. Ellett Brothers is ranked #30 on the Best Retail Companies to Work For in South Carolina list. In late 1994, Ellett Brothers purchased a 106,000-square-foot facility near Chapin and in early 1995 began to move its marine accessories business into this new facility. But a year later, Ellett announced its own bankruptcy. Led by Joseph F. Murray, a veteran of the sporting goods distribution business who joined the company in June 1991, Ellett Brothers' new management team followed up on the work started by middle-management and Tuscarora representatives and restored profitability by the end of 1991. It was not long until the latter approach proved to be dramatically more effective than the former, leading the company to eliminate all field sales personnel and rest its fortunes exclusively on its telemarketing program. Ellett Brothers was founded in 1933 by the Ellett family in Chapin. Instead of celebrating the encouraging results registered by the newly-formed marine accessories venture and the arrival of the company's 60th anniversary year, Ellett Brothers ventured into unexplored territory. Ellett Brothers features such recognized brand names as Remington, Ruger, Browning, Winchester, Smith & Wesson, Daisy, Motorguide, Minn Kota, Coleman, and Leupold. Our Business Unit Managers receive ten weeks of initial comprehensive training, followed by ongoing career enhancement classes. Hunting and shooting sports equipment sales at Ellett Brothers soared 40 percent during the year as a result, driving total sales up to $160.1 million. Half of Ellett Brothers 240 employees were employed as salespeople in 1993, all of whom were stationed at the company's headquarters in Chapin, the sole location of Ellett Brothers' operations. Ellett Brothers is a nationwide marketer and supplier of outdoor sporting goods products. But the late 1980s saw a number of changes resulting from a transfer of ownership of the company. We do not specifically market to children under 13. The following year, Ellett Brothers surged resolutely forward, casting aside any ill effects from the misadventure into veterinary pharmaceuticals by posting record sales and net income levels. In 1944, Ellett Brothers made its first major expansion into a 7,200 square foot building in downtown Chapin, South Carolina. In 1954, Ellett Brothers expanded its office and warehouse to over 17,500 square feet. Gregg and Paul Thorne have been in the fishing industry since 1981. Our editors pick the products & services we write about. Ellett produces and distributes flyers throughout the year to emphasize new items, special purchases, and upcoming seasonal products. During the mid 1990s, Ellett Brothers marketed and distributed more than 60,000 different items and targeted a clientele consisting primarily of small, independent retailers located in all 50 states and in 16 foreign countries. According to an employee, those working shifts over the weekend received the … Tuscarora soon implemented two major changes, only one of which proved successful. St. James Press, 1997. Find out what works well at Ellett Brothers from the people who know best. Ellett’s annual catalog of hunting and shooting sports products and outdoor accessories is the largest in the industry and is considered by many to be the reference standard for hunting and shooting sports products. Under Tuscarora, Ellett Brothers introduced a marine accessories product line in … Ellett Brothers is a shining example of a true American success story. He was named after two relatives and is the youngest of three boys. In 1985, a subsidiary of a privately-owned, Rocky Mount, North Carolina-based investment firm named Tuscarora acquired Ellett Brothers. The Business Unit Managers generally call each of their customers at least once a week to monitor their in-stock positions, to convey information regarding new products or promotions, and to provide status updates on previously unavailable merchandise. His parents were Erving "George" Elliott Jr. (1924-1998) and Mildred Reece (1921-1991) His father George created a lumber company and loved racing, and later created a speed shop where Bill's brothers… The Company’s goal is to be the nation’s dominant purveyor of outdoor sporting goods products. This organization is not BBB accredited. Compare pay for popular roles and read about the team’s work-life balance. sales manager at Ellett Brothers Inc Newberry, South Carolina 118 connections. Join to Connect Ellett Brothers Inc. NEWBERRY HIGH. Once again pointed in a positive, profitable direction, the company rallied forward during the ensuing two years. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, & more. Other that Ellett, the company’s holding company, SportCo Holdings, also controls United Sporting Companies, Inc., and Ellett-owned companies including Simmons Gun Specialties, Evans Sports, Inc., Jerry’s Sports, Inc., Bonitz Brothers, Quality Boxes, and Outdoor Sports Headquarters, Inc. All are located in Chapin, South Carolina. For distributors like Ellett Brothers, the art of convincing retailers to buy merchandise was done face to face, an all-important task undertaken by a field sales force that travelled a circuit, visiting prospective retailers and signing them on as customers. As consumers, we often take for granted all the hard work that goes into building a great company. Ellett Brothers’ archery division was awarded the Multi-Line Distributor of the Year award by the leading Archery Business industry trade magazine in 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1998. In 1985, a subsidiary of a privately-owned, Rocky Mount, North Carolina-based investment firm named Tuscarora acquired Ellett Brothers. In 1994, a host of regulatory issues such as the Brady Bill and the Crime Bill sparked widespread consumer demand for firearms, lifting buying levels to unprecedented heights. The company struck a deal with an even bigger wholesaler, Ellett Brothers, to offload its remaining stock at reduced prices. This innovative approach to sales and customer service combined telecommunications technology and management information systems helped achieve a more focused, controlled and responsive sales and service programs. Initially, the company distributed fishing equipment exclusively, deriving all of its business from fulfilling the requests of independent sporting goods dealers located in its home state, North Carolina, and Georgia. Tuscarora soon implemented two major changes, only one of which proved successful. The company's second quarter century of business was decidedly more dynamic, encompassing sweeping changes that shaped the Chapin-based company into the Ellett Brothers of the 1990s. Ellett Brothers, LLC manufactures and distributes outdoor sporting products. The Company’s customers include over 20,000 independent retailers in all 50 states. 7. After facing many tumultuous, roller-coaster years like all of us in the firearm industry coupled with a fast return to normalcy, Acusport eventually filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy . In 1985, a subsidiary of a privately-owned, Rocky Mount, North Carolina -based investment firm named Tuscarora acquired Ellett Brothers. The Company began to broaden its product lines to include marine accessories in late 1988 with the addition of a new division dedicated to selling to reputable marine dealers throughout North America. All rights reserved. For a brief period the company was supported by a two-pronged marketing program: some salespeople traveled in the field soliciting business from independent retailers in person, while others solicited business over the telephone. The diversification into the veterinary pharmaceutical business proved to be Ellett Brothers' undoing, drawing attention away from the company's traditional business and tainting its enviable historical record of profitability. United Sporting Companies now owns Ellett Brothers, Jerry’s Sport Center and Acusport which are all distributors of firearms and related goods. The wholesaler supplies over 60,000 products for hunting, shooting, camping, archery, and marine sports to small sporting goods retailers. Ellett Brothers LLC supplies sporting goods and other recreational equipment. He was named after two relatives and is the youngest of three boys. By the summer of 1990, with profits sagging, Ellett Brothers' board of directors had begun to take action, quickly realizing that the foray into veterinary pharmaceuticals was causing the company to flounder. This new building was nearly 113 times the size of the 1933 warehouse. In a deal first announced last year at this time, Ellett Brothers -- a distributor of outdoor sporting goods products located in Chapin, South Carolina -- has finally closed the books on a buyout offer/merger between Ellett Brothers and another company owned by Robert D. Gorham (Ellett's chairman of the board) and E. Wayne Gibson (chairman of Ellett's executive committee). Zippia's Best Places to Work lists provide unbiased, data-based evaluations of companies. In 1933 Chilton Ellett, Sr. started a fishing supply business with a meager amount of merchandise, ninety dollars in the bank and half of an 8’ x 16’ shed for a warehouse. Under Tuscarora, Ellett Brothers introduced a marine accessories product line in late 1988. In 1957, Ellett Brothers began distributing hunting and shooting sports products and outdoor accessories in an expanded territory, and the company subsequently discontinued the distribution of fishing equipment. Next, Ellett Brothers acquired Denver, Colorado-based Safesport Manufacturing Company, an importer and marketer of camping and backpacking accessories, sporting cutlery, outdoor safety products, and other outdoor leisure products. Finally, we can read about how these great companies came about with Company Histories.. Ellett’s growth strategy is based on providing the highest level of support and service to customers, rather than being simply a product distributor. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. The company, whose units including Ellett Brothers serve 20,000 retailers in all 50 states, said other reasons for its Chapter 11 filing were too much debt and discounting caused by … But the years ahead also brought their own anguish. Ellett Brothers is a middleman for mountain men and other outdoor enthusiasts. Learn more. By the end of 1992, revenue generated by the sale marine products eclipsed $7 million, up substantially from the $2.6 million posted in 1989. Coming off of two banner years, Ellett Brothers entered 1995 as a flourishing enterprise. Yesterday, the “other shoe dropped” in the matter of SportCo Holdings, the company that owns, among others, Ellett Brothers and United Sporting Co. After months of rumors concerning their overall fiscal health, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, saying … Designed to be used at retail sales counter as a reference source and sales guide, the company's annual catalogs were produced for each major product group, with the photographs and names of Ellett Brothers' sales personnel included in each volume. Ellett Brothers by this point was deriving the bulk of its business from hunting and shooting sports equipment, with camping and boating equipment rounding out the company's roster of merchandise. The company went public in June 1993, making its initial public offering at $9 a share, and went on to record a banner year, as Ellett Brothers telemarketers were kept busy taking orders for the company's 44,600 different items. Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. He was flamboyant, known to always wear suspenders, a red and white shirt much like a tablecloth, and turquoise and silver jewelry. United Sporting Cos, the parent of Ellett Brothers, filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware on June 10 with an intention to liquidate. During this precarious period in the company's history, those in charge attempted to restore profitability by concentrating on strengthening Ellett Brothers' primary outdoor sporting goods business and by limiting the losses from unprofitable operations. By the end of 1993, sales had eclipsed the $100 million mark for the first time, reaching $118.6 million. United Sporting Companies now owns Ellett Brothers, Jerry’s Sport Center and Acusport which are all distributors of firearms and related goods. They currently employ about 200 people and contributed a large part of the Town of Chapin’s operational income through their large annual business license fee. A leading national distributor of outdoor sporting goods, Ellett Brothers, Inc. specializes in marketing and supplying hunting and shooting sports equipment. The smaller retailers, in turn, were attracted by Ellett Brothers' quick shipping service--90 percent of the company's orders were shipped via two-day Federal Express service--and its wide selection of products, enabling small stores to keep tight control over inventory. Chapin, SC (Paul Kirby) – The CEO of United Sporting Comapnies, the parent company of Ellett Brother’s in Chapin, released a statement earlier this year in which he told investors and their customers that the Chapin distribution facility would not be shutting down. Ellett Brothers, LLC • 267 Columbia Ave, Chapin, SC 29036 • 1-800-845-3711, Top 7 Best Scopes for the SCAR 17 Reviews and Guides 2021, Top 7 Best Scope for M1A Reviews And Guides 2021 from Experts, Top 7 Best Scopes For The Remington Model 700 Reviews 2021, Best Sniper Scope Review And Guides 2021 (UPDATED), (TOP 5) Best 3 Gun Scope Review And Guides 2021, Best Slug Gun Scopes Reviews And Guides 2021, TOP 8 Best Muzzleloader Scope Review And Guides 2021, Best Holographic Sight Review And Guides 2021, {TOP 5} Best Scope for .45-70 Guides and Reviews, TOP 8 Best Red Dot Sight Review And Guides 2021, (TOP 8) Best Scout Scope Reviews And Guides 2021, {TOP 12} Best Night Vision Scopes For Hunting Review And Guides 2021, {TOP 8} Best Prism Scopes Review And Guides 2021, (TOP 10) Best Rimfire Scope Review And Guides 2021. Further sales growth was achieved in 1994 when Ellett Brothers posted record firearm sales for the year. Founded in 1933, Ellett Brothers was established in Chapin, South Carolina, where the company operated as a regional sporting goods distributor. The firm markets and distributes products and accessories for hunting and shooting sports, marine, camping, archery, and other outdoor activities. The wholesaler supplies over 60,000 products for hunting, shooting, camping, archery, and marine sports to small sporting goods retailers. They also had a facility in Newberry. By the end of 1995, marine accessories sales had reached $18.4 million, posting a 20 percent increase from 1994's total and substantially outpacing the average industry growth rate of 8.9 percent, as reported by the National Marine Distributors Association. Principal Divisions: Hunting and Shooting Sports; Camping, Archery, and Outdoor Accessories; Marine Accessories. For years catalog advertising had been a key component of the company's marketing strategy, an advertising approach that placed the Ellett Brothers' name and its wide selection of merchandise at retailers' fingertips. The first significant change occurred in 1957, when Ellett Brothers began distributing hunting and shooting sports products and outdoor accessories throughout an expanded geographical area. In recent years, the Company further expanded its product lines. Ellett Brothers of Chapin, located at 267 Columbia Ave., notified employees over the weekend that the facility will be permanently closing its doors … The brand may be new, but the founders aren’t. Ellett Brothers originally distributed only fishing supplies to independent sporting goods dealers located in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Ellett Brothers' salespeople were making 4,000 telephone calls a day by this point and serving 17,600 sporting goods retailers across the nation, most of whom were small, independent retailers located in rural areas. The foray into hunting and shooting products and outdoor accessories marked the introduction of what quickly would become the company's core business, a product line that has defined Ellett Brothers since the 1960s. Not long after this signal move, the company abandoned its original business by discontinuing the distribution of fishing equipment. Chilton Ellett, one of the founder’s sons, ran the business for a long period and was well known around Chapin. Ellett Brothers, a bankrupt firearms distributor founded in South Carolina, will lay off more than 170 workers at its Chapin facility and close the plant by August. In May 1995, the company acquired Houston, Missouri-based Evans Sports, Inc., a manufacturer of outdoor sporting accessories and wooden nostalgia boxes. The company struck a deal with an even bigger wholesaler, Ellett Brothers, to offload its remaining stock at reduced prices. As compared with traditional telemarketing and field sales forces, Ellett Brothers believes that its teleservicing improves the frequency and quality of communications with customers. Tuscarora soon implemented two major changes, only one of which proved successful. Though the financial gains achieved in 1993 and 1994 were credited to recessionary economic conditions and the threat of pervasive gun control, much of the company's success was owed to the marketing efforts of Ellett Brothers' sales force in Chapin. Principal Subsidiaries: Evans Sports. Meanwhile, the search was on for a new executive management team. Camping, archery, and outdoor accessories sales increased a modest two percent in 1995, but hunting and shooting sports products sales declined 20 percent, leading to a six percent slip in total sales for the year. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, & more. Source: International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. Sales derived from boating equipment and supplies had increased 50 percent in 1993, creating a burgeoning force within the company's operations that required additional space to grow. The Company’s product lines, which contain over 50,000 SKU’s, include firearms, reloading, marine electronics, trolling motors, optics, cutlery, archery equipment, ammunition, leather goods, camping equipment, sportsman gifts, and a variety of other outdoor sporting goods products.