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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And
the adventure continues!
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Nationally
recognized brands now sold through Warner's Dock, Inc:
Outboards: Johnson, Evinrude, Mercury,
Mercruiser, Yamaha, Honda,
Bass
Boats: Stratos
Pontoons/Deckboats: Weeres, Premier
Aluminum
Fishing Boats:
Alumacraft,
Trailers: Ez Loader, Tebben (Spartan),
Hoosier, Trinity
Docks/Lifts/Railways: Hewitt Roll-a-Dock, Sea Legs
Paddleboats
(quiet sports) PaddleKing
Aluminum Paddleboats,
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