Karl’s TV & Appliance starts its reputation
for service in the town of Gregory
When Elmer Karl started his business in 1956, he didn’t expect to become one of the region’s largest retailers.
After almost 70 years, Elmer attributes the success of Karl’s TV & Appliance with over 30 locations across the Midwest to their focus on customer service. “We are your servicing dealer since 1956,” says Elmer. “We’re going to take care of the customer before, during, and after the sale.”
Karl’s TV & Appliance makes a promise to stand behind their products, ensuring any customer will be taken care of for years to come. Elmer’s origins as a TV repairman soon transferred to a career as a service dealer for more than just televisions.
Giving back
Reflecting his own humble beginnings, Elmer was later inspired to share his success with his employees. In 1984 he implemented an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) providing better benefits for those looking to retire with Karl’s. Today the employees own almost half of the company.
Over the years, Elmer says when other area appliance businesses prepared to shut their lights off permanently, they reached out to see if he could provide a second chance for their hometown store. By becoming a Karl’s location, the stores remained open and continued serving their local communities and employing people.
“There’s just a lot of people who reach out to our executive board looking to retire or are looking for some help because of the Karl’s reputation, where we are, and the recognition of the name,” says Jerri Lynn Kenzy, who joined Karl’s as an accountant over two and a half decades ago.
Starting out small
Originally, Elmer took out a loan for $2,000 to begin his business, even needing his father to co-sign on the loan. About five years later, Karl’s made its first move toward expansion, opening a second location in Winner with the help of a friend he met at a dealer meeting.
“We set up shop in Winner, and that worked for about three years before we expanded,” Elmer says. Eventually, the company would grow to cover numerous locations across the state, solidifying its presence in communities like Mitchell, Yankton, and towns in nearly every state bordering South Dakota. Karl’s now operates 31 locations located in seven states in the Midwest.
Karl’s slowly spread to places far from Gregory, but Elmer still managed to visit various locations throughout the years. He says that he would visit every store at least once each year, but at the age of 92, it has become more difficult. Today, the company operates their headquarters in the town where it all began.
Keeping up on business
Golden West connects some Karl’s stores with their service, making it easier for employees to meet, communicate, and work together from their hometowns. The first two Karl’s locations in Gregory and Winner are serviced by Golden West.
“A big part of any business is having reliable phone and internet service,” says Jerri Lynn. “With our stores spread out over such a distance, much of our work is done using connected devices. We are able to rely on Golden West for this.”
The Karl’s TV & Appliance website hosts ordering options for customers that became more popular during the pandemic. Even then, many could still order products from a name they could trust and knew well – Karl’s TV & Appliance.
Find the nearest Karl’s TV & Appliance store here.
