Paul’s TV Gets CE Sales Space Via Art Van’s

By Alan Wolf -- TWICE, 3/8/2010

LA HABRA, CALIF. — Paul’s TV, the two-store Southern California A/V specialty dealer, will expand its footprint exponentially through an in-store shop program with Michigan furniture chain Art Van.

The agreement calls for Paul’s to open “stores-within-a-store” in each of Art Van’s 31 locations, beginning this month with five stores in Detroit. The balance of the shops will be installed by September.

The shops will include such brands as LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung and Sharp, and Paul’s will provide sameor next-day delivery, in-home setup and recycling services.

Paul’s similarly operates in-store shops within four Living Spaces Furniture stores in Southern California and with in four Jordan’s Furniture showrooms in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The A/V chain was founded in 1964 by Paul Goldenberg, the self-proclaimed “King of the Big TV.” Its current management team includes former Good Guys executive Babak Ghazavi, who serves as president.

“We are thrilled to be working with a company that is as committed to serving the customer as we are,” Ghaznavi said in a statement. “All of us at Paul’s TV are looking forward to many years serving the people of Michigan.”

Art Van Elslander, founder/chairman of the eponymous furniture chain, said the move was prompted by “the overwhelming demand from our guests who enjoyed our recent furniture and television package promotions.

“We scoured the country to find the experts in home theatre entertainment, who also share our commitment to the customer,” he said.

Paul’s will hire 150 salespeople to staff the 31 Art Van shops.