FirstTech: World’s first Apple reseller is closing its doors after 37 years of history

Employees of FirstTech, located in Minneapolis (in the US state of Minnesota), were informed yesterday (3/19) of the closure of the company’s activities, which has accumulated 73 years of activity. The final act of the first Apple reseller in the world has a date: March 29.

FirstTech

Although FirstTech’s history begins in 1941 (its origins go back to the company Z Radio, founded by Maury and Betty Zuckman), it joins that of the Cupertino firm in 1977, when it started to market Apple personal computers (starting with the Apple II ). According to the website TwinCities.com, after 37 years working in the personal computer market, the company that celebrated its 35th anniversary as an Apple reseller in 2012 will close the activities of its 2 stores and fire a team of 75 employees due to a significant reduction in business margins.

According to Fred Evans (product manager), the company cannot face domestic distributors that often offer machines with prices below cost.

These salespeople are basically willing to sell computers below cost, in search of a national trade service. There has been a huge shift in the market, particularly in recent years.

Another determining factor for the end of FirstTech was the expansion of Apple Retail Stores. To give you an idea, only in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul area, where it is located and company, Apple has five official stores. According to Evans, the relationship between the giant and the reseller was “friendly and productive”, with indications by Apple for customers who wanted to repair older Macs.

The article also points out some interesting stories about the company, such as that of Pete Paulsen, responsible for the sale of her first computer and who quickly became FirstTech’s first general manager; and that of the first buyer of the Apple II, also the first buyer of the Lisa and the first Macintosh – a customer of the company to this day.

The company is now running a promotion to close activities with discounts on all products. If a trip to Minneapolis is on your agenda, be sure to visit FirstTech and get to know a little bit of Apple’s history.

[via ifoAppleStore]