BLW announces main distributor going out of business?

[JoeD]

Got a troubling email from BLW...It says that their main distributor and supplier where the bulk of their reservations have been placed has just closed their doors and going out of business???  I know about the China thing, but this is new.  Any ideas?

Thanks

Joe

[mu26aeh]

Someone on a FB post mentioned Portman Hobby Distributors but that they had let it be known well in advance of the closing.

[bbussey]

Portman has been winding down for the last two years and announced back then to its suppliers and customers when they were closing, so this isn’t a surprising development.

[Point353]

Warren Portman passed away late last year.
https://www.craigfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Warren-Portman/#!/Obituary

[bbussey]

Different Portman. Portman Hobby Distributors was the name of the company, not the proprietor.

[Point353]

Different Portman. Portman Hobby Distributors was the name of the company, not the proprietor.

So the information in the obituary is incorrect?

[bbussey]

Probably not. But the deceased was not affiliated with the company in question.

[MK]

He founded it so now I'm confused!   

In 1980, he founded Portman Hobby Distributors Inc., a distributor of model railroad equipment and hobby supplies, headquartered in Peekskill, New York. He and his wife, Nancy, moved to St. Augustine in 1991, where he continued until his death to work with his distribution company and to manage his other investments, which include St. Augustine's Portman Plaza.

[bbussey]

He was not involved with the day-to-day operations in Peekskill NY. The person running the company announced his pending retirement to his suppliers (of which ESM was one) two years ago, so they could adjust accordingly.

[MK]

Ah, thanks.  Got it!