1947
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July
23, Ron and Dolores Warner celebrate their wedding anniversary and start
in business on the same day. After working in the Doboy
feeds division before and after W.W.II, Ron decided that he wanted to be
his own boss. The business was called Warner's Direct Service and sold
gasoline and repaired cars. It was located at 727 No Knowles Ave. About a
block south of the current store. The building was torn down in the early
sixty's to make way for a new more modern facility. The new facility is
now the Super America Station.
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1956
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Start
selling Evinrude Outboards and Crestliner
aluminum boats. The service bay had to double as outboard repair and auto
repair shop. The largest outboard of the day was the 30hp Big Twin from
Evinrude.
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1957
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Purchased
the 928 No Knowles Ave main building. The building was owned by Doboy and had contained the original machinery for Doboy Packaging when they started. They had moved to
the current building off west Third street. The building was originally
built for Burik Implement in 1947. Remodeling
started that fall. Glasspar fiberglass boats where added to the mix. Glasspar
was one of the first companies that produced fiberglass boats for
consumers. The family that bought the first Glasspar
is still a customer of the business. Dragon Fly air motors were added but
didn't last too long.
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1958
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The
Grand Opening was held in the spring of 1958. Warner's Dock name added to
the building. Name was chosen to coincide with the marine business. If
you needed your boat fixed you didn't take it to your dock you took it to
Warner's Dock.
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1960
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The
expansion starts. The first of many acquisitions of adjacent property
begins to accommodate the growth. Mercury outboards added.
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1961
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Ski-doo
snowmobiles added. Sales continued for 35 years. Discontinued in 1998 due
to growth in the marine side of the business as well as several mild
winters.
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1966
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First
building expansion. Building extended on the lower level for additional
showroom space.
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1967
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New
dock and lift installation as well as and seasonal installation and
removal begins. Discontinued in 1987. Ron Reese starts working in the
service department. (He still does!)
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1970
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Warehouse
complex off North 4th Street purchased. New buildings built in '84 and
'87.
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1971
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The
last of Ron and Dolores three sons starts working full time in the
business. The third generation is born and begins visiting the business
in his car seat. (A short while later he begins taking stuff apart.
Putting it back together begins much later.)
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1972
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Alumacraft
boats added. Warner's Dock celebrates 25 years.
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1973
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Allis
Chalmers Lawn and Garden added. 1990 the brand name is changed to Simplicity.
Weeres pontoons become the brand of choice.
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1974
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Johnson
Outboards sales begin.
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1984
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More
of the third generation starts taking stuff apart. He eventually moves into sales
department to help is dad.
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1985
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Inventory
system is computerized. Begins a tradition of technological advancement
for business systems.
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1988
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Ron
and Dolores retire from day to day operation of the business. Both
continue to offer advice and encouragement. Sea Doo Personal watercraft added
however they are dropped in 1998.
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1991
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Javelin
Bass Boats added, Later to become the Stratos Group.
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1994
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Fourth
generation born (twins). They haven't learned to put things back together
yet. They do like boats and fishing. Time will tell.
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1996
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Distribution
of our own 750 page marine accessory catalog begins.
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1997
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50th
Anniversary celebration. First Evinrude Ficht
outboard sold. First Internet Web Page bring cyberspace to main street.
Expanded in 1999 to include hourly updates of product availability.
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1998
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Snowmobiles,
PWC's and jet boats discontinued. Marine offerings expanded.
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1999
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Web
page listing of used product expanded. Hourly updates of product
availability introduced.
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2000
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Ron
and Dolores both celebrate their 80th birthdays and 52 years in business.
Premier pontoons sales begin.(see 2002)
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2001
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Outside
display lots expanded. Removing additional houses to make more room for
display. Mercury Outboards is again added to the product mix. (The more
things change the more they stay the same:))
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2002
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Honda
and Yamaha Outboards added, Premier awards TOP
DEALER Award to Warner's Dock. "Boat and Motor Dealer" magazine
features Warner's Dock on the cover of Oct Issue. Web site creates sales
in 26 states.
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2003
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June
2003, www.warnersdock.com
web site reaches a milestone of attracting over 1000 visitors in a single
day. Premier Top Dealer and
Bronze Achievement Award. Top 100 Johnson
and Evinrude dealer award for 2003 model year. Marine Accessory catalog
goes on line. First international
sales of accessories and sales reach all 50 states.
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2004
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After
over 62 years of marriage and almost 58 years in business, affectionately
known as “Grandma” by all her friends and family, Dolores passed away on
January 25th 2004 at age 84 just 9 days after her
birthday. Grandma’s legacy lives
on.
Premier
Top Ten dealer award for the third year in a row.
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2005
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Full
line marine accessory e-commerce website goes live. www.warnersdock.com
web site is mentioned in Boating Industry, BRP RPM magazine and other
national publications as an example of excellent dealer website. Premier Top Dealer Award for the fourth
year in a row. Nate Warner
receives recognition for excellent product knowledge and customer service
from Stratos Boats. DockBuck$ tournament incentive program begins with
payout in 13 tournaments the first year.
New 16,000 square foot showroom/service department building
construction begins at 1020 No Knowles Ave.
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2006
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New building completed and business is
moved to new building effective June 19th, 2006. http://www.warnersdock.com/buildingproject.htm
Premier
names Warner’s Dock, Inc a Top Ten Dealer again. Also awards the Silver Achievement
award for sales success and Top Market Share of all dealers. The only dealer to receive three
awards. Evinrude names Warner’s
Dock to the Evinrude dealer council.
Sales
of Premier, Stratos, Alumacraft and Evinrude
outboards reach record sales both in units and dollars. Web site expands sales to more
countries.
Grand
opening on Jan 5, 6, 7th records over 2000 in attendance, far
beyond expectations.
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2007
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Warner’s
complete a record year in sales. Service department processes 25% more
units than ever before. Warner’s
again receives Top Dealer award from Premier, and district dealer of the
year award from Evinrude motors.
First shipment of a complete boat/motor/trailer unit to
Russia. The oldest
of the second generation of Warner’s, Marlin Warner, finishes 2007 and
changes status to semi-retired as of Dec 31, 2007. Rob Newhouse receives grand prize in
the 2007 Bass Cha$ers Cup, presented by bass
fishing legend Larry Nixon. Rob Keller, Wes
Haney and Dennis Rhead also
receive prizes.
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2008
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Warner’s Dock Inc. adds Champion
Fiberglass Boats. Champion Boats
sales exceed expectations. Warner’s
receive Premier’s Top Dealer award for the 7th year in a
row.
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2009
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Bass
Fishing Legend Denny Brauer attends the Open
House in January. Over 2000 people
in attendance over the 3 day event for great food and a great bass
seminar. Due to the economic down
turn, Champion Boats is merged into the Stratos Line of Boats. Alumacraft Boat Sales hold their own and
Premier Pontoon sales farewell.
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2010
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The
yearly open house is changed up to incorporate a Fishing Expo feel as well
as an Open House / Customer Appreciation.
The addition brings local vendors of Bass Tackle, Walleye Tackle
and Musky Tackle. The change is
welcomed by customer’s who attend and take advantage of deals on the
latest Fishing Gear. Not to mention some great deals on new Boats and
Pontoons. Long Time Evinrude Pro
Guido Hibdon is in attendance and puts on a
great seminar sharing some of his secrets to his fishing success. BRP/Evinrude allow Warner’s Dock to
operate the factory booth at the Minneapolis Boats Show where repowering
is the key to success. Other shows
Warner’s display product at during the season is the Lake Home and Cabin
Show in Minneapolis and the Northwest Sport Show.
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2011
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At
the age of 91, Ron Warner, founder of Warner’s Dock passed away on Nov 2nd. Father of 3 Boys, Grandfather to 7 and
Great Grandfather to 8. One more
Great has been added since. Even
at the age of 91 he still made it into “The Dock” every day to check up
on his legacy. After 23 years as
Business Manager at Warner’s and a few more years of hard work before
that, the youngest of the 3 brothers, Greg retires to spend more time
chasing the wind and waves on Lake Superior. Gerry, middle son, is still a selling
machine with the word “retirement” not in his vocabulary – yet….
The
yearly Open House / Fishing Expo brings Stratos
Pro Mike McClelland and Evinrude Pro Dion Hibdon. Both put on great seminars. The Fishing Expo expands bringing 10
vendors of Fishing Tackle and Fishing Rods. Warner’s also gives away a Premier
pontoon equipped with an Evinrude 40 ETEC during a sweepstakes event that
started in January and ended mid-April.
Bob Jensen from Mondovi WI held the key that started the Evinrude
at an in store event held in April.
Still to this day we aren’t sure if Bob believes he won! Congrats Bob!
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2012
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Warner’s
Dock Celebrates 65 years in Business!
3 Generations and still growing. Phoenix Bass Boats is added to the
lineup along with Palm Beach Pontoons.
The January Open House / Fishing Expo is
a success, thanks in part to Evinrude Pro Scott Martin, Phoenix Pro Greg
Hackney and Evinrude Walleye Pro Pete Harsh. Warner’s realizes a resurgence in sales
as the market comes back to life.
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And
the adventure continues!
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Nationally
recognized brands now sold through Warner's Dock, Inc:
Outboards: Evinrude, Mercury, Mercruiser, Yamaha, Honda,
Bass
Boats: Stratos,
Phoenix
Pontoons/Deckboats:
Premier, Palm Beach
Aluminum
Fishing Boats:
Alumacraft
Trailers: Ez
Loader, Trophy, Mid America, Eagle
Docks/Lifts/Railways: Hewitt Roll-a-Dock, Sea Legs
Paddleboats
(quiet sports) PaddleKing Aluminum Paddleboats
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