Equal Partners.
It was 1950 when John Leedom left his job as an assistant sales manager for Sprague Products and joined in partnership with Pat Patterson to form what is known today as Wholesale Electronic Supply, Inc. Leedom was twenty-nine years old and wanted a business of his own. Pat was fifty-one and wanted a business for his son.

John borrowed six thousand dollars from his dad and added four thousand of his own. Pat loaned him the rest. They pooled resources and opened the doors in October of that year. The doors opened with five people and forty thousand dollars of inventory representing fifty different product lines. The first territory salesman was hired and he traveled anywhere outside of Dallas.

The first year's revenue was $300,000. That same fifty thousand dollars over the past fifty years has grown to be worth 4.2 million or an 84 times growth rate. Total sales for the last fifty years accumulate to over 500 million and in October of 2000 we will celebrate our 1340th payday.

People Just Keep On Keeping On.
In 1953 the first branch was opened in Longview, Texas. Then followed Waco, Wichita Falls, and Fort Worth Texas; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Shreveport, Louisiana; and then Tulsa, Oklahoma. Sherman and Austin Texas fit in there somewhere. Today, the headquarters is still in Dallas and though each of these stocking warehouses have closed, each of these locations still have territory salesman in residence.

Our management staff averages 19 years with the company. We currently have 8 employees employed for over twenty years; 4 employed for 15-20 years; 3 employed between 10-15 years; and 32 employed under 5 years.

What are we doing here anyway?
The original focus of the company was to sell radio and television service parts at the wholesale level to the dealer fixing your radios and televisions. Industrial type merchandise and consumer electronics were added. We sold Texas Instruments when it was called Geophysical Services Company and Rockwell International when it was Collins Radio.

Today our company still sells consumer electronics, still sells product to industrial accounts and has added an education division which sells nationally to K-12 market and college bookstores. We have a total of eight operating companies and 12 inbound 800 numbers, answered by twelve (?) inside staff people and 10 outside territory sales staff. Our building measures 50,000 square foot and we provide a living for forty-nine families.

How Do You Market Your Products and Smarts?
Wholesale Electronics Supply utilizes inside and outside sales staff, 800 numbers, show exhibitions nationwide, product demos, Third Thursday local shows featuring specific product lines and e-commerce marketing.

What Can You Offer Me That Few Others Can?
We operate as a No Excuses Company in a not our fault world. We offer the financial security of a well-funded and managed business, along with a wide range of product selections. And, we offer service after the sale.