Abt Electronics Fact Sheet

Abt History

December, 2021

• Based in Glenview, Ill. (1200 N. Milwaukee Ave.)
• One of the nation’s leading independent electronics and appliance retailers
• Largest single-store retailer of electronics, appliances and home goods in the country
• Has consistently grown double digits percentage each year since 1936
• Ninety percent of business is from repeat customers or referrals
• Attributes its success to industry-leading, award-winning customer service and an unmatched shopping experience – both in-store and on its e-commerce site Abt.com
• Founder David Abt launched the family business with an $800 loan from his wife Jewel in 1936, as a Chicago-based radio store (a small store front in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood with only 3 employees)
• Third generation family-owned and operated business
• Currently run by brothers - Mike, Ricky, Jon, and Billy Abt - who share the title of copresident (grandchildren of Dave and Jewel Abt and sons of former CEO, Bob Abt)
• Abt has won dozens of awards including the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award
(2017, 2020), Consumer Reports #1 Appliance Dealer for 3 years in a row (2016, 2015, & 2013), one of Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces for 10 years in a row (2019-2010) taking the #1 spot in the Large Business Category 3 times (2016, 2012, & 2011), and TWICE magazine’s Excellence in Retailing Award (2011) among many others

Abt Store

• Abt offers a one-of-a-kind shopping experience in an impressive 114,000 square-foot showroom situated on 70 acres
• Entire complex including a state-of-the art warehouse totaling over 450,000 square-feet, with expansion on the way
• Layout includes unique stores-within-store concept, essentially a mini-mall of boutiques such as Apple, Tumi, Time Watch Boutique, Abt Candy Store, and more
• Abt offers many unique features including its famous Las Vegas-inspired atrium with a newly renovated dancing fountain with hourly light and water shows synchronized to music, it’s 7,500-gallon saltwater aquarium with schools of exotic fish, a moray eel, a small shark, and colorful coral reefs and a one-of-a-kind TV windmill created by Panasonic
• Product categories include appliances/custom kitchens, gourmet cooking, home comfort (HVAC, power generators and sump pumps), TV and A/V, computers, watches, fitness, sunglasses, luggage, garage doors and home goods
• Abt’s most recent addition is the Inspiration Studio that combines Abt’s product expertise with visionary designs by renowned kitchen designer, Mick de Giulio. This 10,000-square foot one-of-a-kind showroom features 12 unique kitchen builds each based on a suite of kitchen appliances from a respected brand
• Abt is known for its weekend treats providing free, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and coffee for its customers every Saturday and Sunday afternoon

Unmatched Customer Service

• Abt is known for its award-winning customer service. Abt services customers before, during, and after the purchase with a team of 1,700 expertly trained staff who guide shoppers on what products best match their needs
• Customer support is available through Abt Electronics’ toll-free line, online live chat and email seven days a week

Pioneering E-commerce Website | Abt.com

• One of the first major retailers to offer its products online when it launched in 1997
• Selected as one of a few authorized retailers for brands such as Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Bose and Onkyo when launched
• Offers free nationwide shipping on thousands of products to all 50 states

Commitment to Ongoing Customer Support

• Offers a no-hassle return policy
• Provides all customers with free technical support seven days a week on any product that’s purchased in-store or online
• Repairs all brands it carries at its authorized Service Shop, one of only a handful of retailers to do so

Abt Electronics Green Initiatives

• Will feature an on-site 30,000 square-foot recycling center where customers can safely dispose of electronic waste
• New 30,000 sq. ft. recycling center takes in 8,500 tons of waste per year including 95% of the company’s own waste
• Has recycled over 13 million pounds of electronics and appliances
• Once daily garbage pick-up has been reduced to one time per week
• Energy-saving windmills and solar panels help power Abt Electronics, reducing its carbon footprint
• Rooftop Solar Array consists of 1,500 340-watt solar panels which produces enough electricity to run 80 homes for a year
• Rainwater harvesting system features a 10,000-gallon barrel that collects renewable rainwater for their irrigation system
• Offers electric vehicle charging stations via (1) ChargePoint for 2 cars and (10) Tesla charging stations
• Abt’s fleet of delivery and service vehicles make 9,000 calls per week. All of the used oil, oil filters, coolant, and batteries from the trucks get recycled
• Abt’s also has Tesla Powerpacks that provide a reliable source of back-up power. Fully charged, the Powerpack station would be able to power the average suburban home for a month-straight, completely off the grid

Abt Electronics was founded in 1936 when Jewel Abt loaned her husband Dave $800 to open a small electronics store in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Abt has grown to become the largest independent, single-store retailer of electronics, appliances and home goods in the country. This third-generation family-run business (now run by Dave and Jewel’s four grandchildren, Mike, Ricky, Jon and Billy, who share the title of co-president) is known for its award-winning customer service from its team of more than 1,700 expert staff members. Its Glenview, Ill.-based location boasts a 114,000 square-foot showroom on 37 acres. The entire facility, including its continually expanding state-of-the-art warehouse, totals over 450,000 square feet. The company has been recognized by the Chicago Tribune as one of the Top Large Workplaces in Chicago for ten consecutive years, taking the No. 1 position in 2016, 2012 and 2011. Abt has become an influencer on a national scale thanks to its thriving national ecommerce website where customers can receive advice and customer support through the site's live chat feature, email and toll-free phone number. Abt is known for being an eco-friendly business and has an award-winning green program that includes bio-diesel trucks, LED lights, a rooftop solar array, an irrigation system that uses renewable rainwater, and a generator that provides electricity for nine hours of the day. Abt also has an on-premises 30,000-square-foot recycling center that takes in over 8,500 tons of waste per year including 95 percent of the company’s own waste. In the center of the showroom is a beautiful atrium where customers gain access to its many boutique stores-within-a-store such as an Apple Boutique and a Connect Computer Store. For more information, visit www.Abt.com.

David Viggiano, Mekky Media Relations
[email protected]
773-580-9721