Recent Press Releases -- Updated April 9, 2009

University of Montana Business Professor Joins Vann's Board of Directors

MISSOULA, MONT -- Vann's, Montana's largest independent appliance and electronics dealership, announced the appointment of Cameron Lawrence, Ph.D., to the Vann's board of directors. Dr. Lawrence currently serves as the Poe Family Faculty Fellow in the School of Business Administration at the University of Montana.

"Cameron brings a wealth of knowledge in information systems management and technological integration to Vann's," said George Manlove, president and CEO of Vann's, Inc. "He will be a terrific director, and we're excited and honored that he has chosen to serve as a trustee on Vann's Board."

Dr. Lawrence's expertise in the strategic use of technology and management of complex IT infrastructures will be a valuable addition to the Vann's board. He has also been actively involved in a wide array of business projects such as technology startups, consulting, and commercial real estate. In his academic career, Dr. Lawrence has been honored for his teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and his work has been published in leading Management Information Systems journals. He earned his Ph.D. from the London School of Economics.

"I look forward to integrating the lessons learned by the company's management team into my teaching. Of equal importance, I welcome the opportunity to provide a fresh perspective to senior management regarding the company's strategy and the management of its technological assets," Dr. Lawrence says.

Dr. Lawrence joins current Vann's board members: chairman George Manlove, ex-officio member Pete Vann, Paul Nisbet, and William Honzel.

New Vann's Store One of a Handful in U.S. to Display Giant Plasma TV

HELENA, MONT -- Vann's new store at 2019 Cromwell-Dixon Lane in Helena is one of five electronics retail stores in the entire nation to display one of the world's largest plasma televisions, a 103" flat panel made by Panasonic.

Weighing in at 485 pounds and measuring seven feet five inches wide by four feet two inches high, this giant television is definitely a specialized purchase. Potential buyers must prove their intended location is capable of handling delivery and installation before they can buy the TV. The giant plasma panel is most often used in commercial or business applications, but it has made its way into a few homes.

"Panasonic's new line of Viera plasma and LCD HDTVs are among the most sought-after flat panels in the world. They deliver crisp, clear, lifelike images in stunning High Definition and boast of exciting connectivity with other HD products like our Blu-ray Disc Players, digital still cameras, and HD camcorders. Specifically if you're looking for the best in flat panels, it's a Panasonic. And now if you're looking for the largest, it's also a Panasonic. You can see life-size images on a 103" panel right here at Vann's," says Vince Dyadasco, Panasonic's Vice President of the Western Region.

"Vann's is excited to have the opportunity to show our customers this kind of cutting edge technology," says Rob Standley, Vann's Director of Sales and Merchandising. "We're fortunate to have a great relationship with Panasonic, and it's quite a compliment that they selected our store to display their 103" plasma."

The giant, high definition television fits well into the new Helena lifestyle store, which offers customers an opportunity to learn about the newest technologies and innovations through live demonstrations before making a purchase. The hands-on Vann's store experience provides visitors with a chance to test-drive a variety of products, including dishwashers, ranges, digital cameras, home theater systems, and now one of the world's largest plasma TVs.

In the Vann's Helena showroom, the 103" plasma is paired with another cutting-edge home theater product: D-Box theater seating. These reclining seats are specially designed with Motion Code technology to move in perfect synchronization with the movie onscreen. The chairs move forward, back, up, down, and to both sides. So during a chase scene in an action flick, the seat moves the same direction as the action on the screen, giving the viewer the impression that he or she is riding in the car with the character. Combine that with the literally larger-than-life image on the 103" plasma screen, and the movie experience is dramatically different.

The new Vann's store in Helena is scheduled to open its doors to the public Thursday, August 28, with a grand opening celebration to last through Labor Day weekend. Events include free in-store seminars, demos, and contests.

Progressive Montana Retailer Continues In-State and Nationwide Growth

MISSOULA, MONT -- Vann's, a Montana-based retailer recently named one of the nation's fastest-growing private companies, will continue their current growth by opening an innovative store at the Skyway Shopping Center in Helena in late spring 2008. Inc. 5000 identified Vann's as one of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S., and part of that growth can be attributed to a commitment to significant development of both online and retail sites. The planned "lifestyle" store in Helena is the newest in a series of remodels and new construction at the company's six retail locations throughout Montana. It will offer a unique shopping experience where customers can learn about the newest technologies and innovations through live demonstrations before making a purchase.

Plans for the lifestyle-based store include a Performance Kitchen and a listening room in which customers can see products in action to determine which might best meet their needs. The Performance Kitchen is a live kitchen intended to mirror cooking shows. It will include multiple professional-style cooking products from Wolf, Viking, Dacor, and GE Monogram, which can be used for side-by-side comparisons and live demonstrations. The new Vann's store will also have vignettes of contemporary appliances to showcase styling variations.

Similarly, in conjunction with audio and video industry designers, Vann's is designing a state of the art listening room for customers whose passion is music the way it was meant to be heard. In this room, customers will effectively audition industry-leading audio components in a controlled environment, so they will be able to determine what will work best in their own homes. Vann's lifestyle experience provides customers as well as architects, designers, and home-builders with a chance to test-drive energy-efficient cooking products, dishwashers, digital cameras, home theater systems, and more.

Scheduled to open in late spring of 2008, the new Vann's lifestyle showroom in Helena will mark the third renovation or new location for the company in the last five years with plans for additional lifestyle enhancements to other existing locations.

"Customer expectations facilitate our expansion," explains George Manlove, President and CEO of the company. "Our customers want a more interactive and personalized buying experience. They don't just want something off the shelf, they want the right product for their home and their lives. With the lifestyle store concept, Vann's is providing its customers with the opportunity to make the best possible purchasing decision."

Vann's has recently been recognized on a national level by Inc. magazine. Known for their annual list of the top 500 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., the magazine started publishing an expanded list this year. The Inc. 5000 list identifies the five thousand fastest-growing private companies in America. Inc. estimates there are seven million private companies in the U.S. that could be considered for the list. To qualify, companies must be U.S.-based, privately held, and independent, among other requirements. The Inc. 5000 list is ranked according to percentage of revenue growth from 2003 through 2006. Vann's 115% growth rate over those four years garnered their place on the list.

Consumer Electronics Daily News Honors Vann's With West Coast Dynamic Growth Award For 2006

MISSOULA, MONT -- Consumer Electronics Daily News announced that Vann's, Inc., Montana's largest independent appliance and electronics multi-channel retailer, will receive the West Coast Dynamic Growth Award at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas January 8, 2007.

CEDN's Editor-In-Chief Lee Oser selects the winners. He said, "We chose Vann's to receive our Dynamic Growth Award for the western United States out of respect for the wonderful results the company has achieved over the medium term and for its long-term contributions to its community. Vann's is demonstrating that concern for its customers, whether in the stores or online, along with respect for traditional American values of hard work and honesty, command results in the consumer electronics marketplace."

CEDN, an online daily newsletter with a nationwide readership of about 10,000, reports on issues in the consumer electronics field. CEDN presents the Dynamic Growth Award when a business exhibits solid medium-term growth, innovative business practices, and community involvement. There are two award winners for 2006; Vann's represents the West Coast, and Electronics Expo, based in New Jersey, represents the East Coast.

George Manlove, Vann's President and CEO, commented about receiving national recognition, "We've worked hard to grow our business profitability in a very competitive environment, while maintaining our passion for customer service. Vann's has created a unique, innovative business model that is working quite well. Our loyal employee-owners deserve a lot of the credit for our continued success."

Since 1961, when Vann's started as a single retail location in Missoula, MT, the company established a precedent for growth. Over the next 37 years, Vann's steadily expanded, adding five retail locations throughout Montana. Advancements didn't stop there, though. In 1998, the company launched an e-commerce component. Vanns.com has grown continuously since its inception. A new state-of-the-art national distribution facility opened in Lolo, MT, in 2005, to meet online consumer demand. In addition to the e-commerce focus, Vann's also applies innovative retail trends to their showrooms. This summer, a completely redesigned lifestyle retail showroom opened in Bozeman, MT, offering live test kitchens and home theater set-ups.

Manlove added, "We're honored to receive national recognition from Consumer Electronics Daily News for our accomplishments. Vann's has great pride not only in our 46-year heritage, but in our significant business relationships in the major appliance and electronics industry."

To learn more about Vann's Inc. or the Dynamic Growth Award, please contact George L. Manlove, President and CEO at 406-541-6005, or go to www.vanns.com.

About CES
CES is an annual trade show for manufacturers, retailers, engineers, corporate buyers, government leaders, financial analysts, and the media in the consumer electronics field. Some of the most influential members of the consumer electronics community -- this year Bill Gates and Michael Dell -- are featured as keynote speakers. Awards receptions at CES, like the one sponsored by Consumer Electronics Daily News, recognize outstanding performance by industry members.

About CEDN
Published and distributed for over 30 years at CES in Las Vegas, CEDN's distribution numbers at that event reach 50,000. Recently, CEDN also became available as an emailed and online publication. About 10,000 consumer electronics industry members are daily readers, and an extra 1,000 receive the publication weekly.