Mourning the demise of Sandy Bloomberg, the co-founder of Tweeter Etc. in the AV and consumer electronics industries
Tweeter Etc. and the Rise of Premium Audio Retail
Sandy Bloomberg, a 25-year veteran of Tweeter Etc., co-founded the consumer electronics chain in 1972. Tweeter, Etc played a significant role in the 1990s and early 2000s, popularizing premium audio and home theater products in the U.S., making high-quality audio technology more accessible to consumers through specialized retail stores.
During Bloomberg's tenure, the company grew exponentially. When Paul Shindler joined Tweeter Etc. in 1977, there were three stores and 60 employees. Upon leaving the company in 2004, there were 5,000 employees and 180 stores in 22 states, marking a remarkable expansion to 180 stores at its peak.
Bloomberg's focus on customer education, high-end product lines, and experiential retail environments set Tweeter apart from its competitors. His commitment to customer service was absolute, as demonstrated by his personal delivery of a new Proton Radio to an unhappy customer in response to a complaint about a delayed repair and lost radio.
Tweeter's salespeople were known to be the experts due to Bloomberg's investment in their training. He made a major commitment to training his salespeople, ensuring they had the knowledge and skills to help customers make informed decisions about their purchases.
Mark Cerasuolo, a longtime industry friend, worked at Tweeter Etc. in the mid-70s and found Bloomberg fun to be around. Cerasuolo even helped open Tweeter Etc.'s fourth store.
Bloomberg's personal relationship with Shindler extended beyond the office, with the two often meeting at Filene's Basement for the annual Louis sale. Shindler, who served as Bloomberg's vice president of Training, noted that during Basic Training, every new hire was taught about Bloomberg's dedication to customer service.
Bloomberg was dynamic and sometimes challenging, but always came down on the side of 'fair and reasonable.' He had a great passion for Chinese food and Santarpios Pizza, and his love for these foods was as legendary as his contributions to the consumer electronics industry.
In 2011, Bloomberg was inducted into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant impact on the industry. Despite the decline of Tweeter Etc., its legacy continues to influence how specialty electronics retail stores operate today.
- Tweeter Etc.'s significant role in the 1990s and early 2000s, popularizing premium audio and home theater products, was in part due to their commitment to feature high-quality technology in their specialized retail stores.
- During Bloomberg's tenure at Tweeter Etc., he not only focused on customer education and high-end product lines but also integrated experiential retail environments in their business strategy, setting them apart from competitors.
