| MICHAEL J. CORCELLI, BORN
APRIL 28, 1953 AT CARSWELL AIR FORCE BASE IN FT. WORTH, TEXAS. HE ATTENDED
WALSH JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL AND PLAYED ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM. AFTER GRADUATION
HE ENLISTED IN THE NAVY AND WAS STATIONED AT BETHESDA NAVAL BASE IN
BETHESDA, MD. THERE HE BEGAN TO DATE HIS LEUTENANT, JUDY, NOW JUDY CORCELLI.
THEY WERE MARRIED AND UPON THEIR NAVAL RELEASE THEY MOVED TO CLEVELAND,
OHIO. MIKE PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE HIS LINE OF WORK IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
HE WORKED AT "FAMILY FOOT
CARE" UNTIL THEIR DISOLUSION IN 1989. AT THAT
TIME HE BECAME A COLLECTOR FOR A RENTAL FRANCHISE, "RENT-A-CENTER".
SEEKING ADVANCEMENT, HE THEN WAS RECRUITED BY A NEW COMPANY CALLED "CROWN RENTAL". HE HELD THE POSTION OF
FINANCIAL ADVISOR. UPON THEIR DISSOLUSION MIKE AGAIN WAS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.
BROWSING THROUGH THE SUNDAY PAPER MIKE CAME ACROSS AN AD IN THE BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY SECTION FOR A BUSINESS CALLED "WHOLESALE
APPLIANCE". MIKE INQUIRED AND AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION
PROCEEDED TO PURCHASE THE BUSINESS. IT CONSISTED OF 3 RETAIL STORES
AND A COUPLE TRUCKS. THIS ADVENTURE STARTED JULY 1997. MIKE HAD NEVER
HAD MUCH EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS, DEALING WITH PEOPLE, ORGANIZING AND
ACTUALLY PUTTING A PLAN IN ACTION AND MAKING IT WORK, MANNERS, COMMON
COURTESY OR ANYTHING AS FAR AS THAT GOES NECESSARY TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS, AND IT SOON BECAME VERY OBVIOUS TO EVERYONE BUT HIM AND HIS
WIFE. FOR SOME STRANGE REASON MIKE HAD THIS IDEA THAT HE WAS SOMEHOW
BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. HE KNEW IT ALL AND NOBODY ELSE KNEW A THING.
I BELIEVE HE CALLED IT "JAILHOUSE MENTALITY. " I AM NOT QUITE
SURE WHERE THIS ATTITUDE CAME FROM OR WHY WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THAT
THINGS WERE NOT WORKING QUITE SO WELL THAT MIKE DID NOT, NOTICE OR MAKE
ANY EFFORT TO CHANGE THE SITUATION. MIKE COULD NOT KEEP EMPLOYEES, AND
HE HAD SEVERAL GOOD ONES, ALTHOUGH HE WILL NO DOUBT BLAME "THEM"
FOR "HIS" FAILURE. MIKE WAS HIS OWN WORST ENEMY. HE COULD
NOT BE FACED WITH ANY TYPE OF ISSUE, TALK ABOUT IT, THEN MAKE A DECISION
ON WHAT COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE THAT WOULD BE IN THE BEST INTEREST
OF THE COMPANY OR THE CUSTOMER. IN ESSENCE, MIKE BEGAN TO LOSE CUSTOMERS,
WHICH WE ALL KNOW MAKE OR BRAKE A BUSINESS. ESPECIALLY A SERVICE TYPE
BUSINESS SUCH AS HIS. WITH SALES DOWN, APPLIANCES BACKED UP IN THE STORES.
WITH NO EMPLOYEES, THINGS PRETTY MUCH CAME TO A STANDSTILL. NO ONE IS
QUITE SURE EXACTLY WHAT OR HOW THINGS REALLY EVOLVED BUT AS IT STANDS
TODAY "WHOLESALE
APPLIANCE" IS NO LONGER WHAT THE
SIGN SAYS ON FRONT OF THE RETAIL STORES ONCE OWNED AND "OPERATED"
AND I USE THE WORD LOOSELY, BY MICHAEL J. CORCELLI, THEY NOW SAY......."APPLIANCE
MART"
MIKE ALWAYS SAID HE WOULD CLOSE THE DOORS
AND BE A JUNK MAN, WELL MIKE, LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT YOUR CHANCE.
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