Home of Economy

Home of Economy is a chain of retail stores with seven locations in North Dakota: Grand Forks, Grafton, Devils Lake, Minot, Williston, Watford City and Jamestown. Home of Economy sells a variety of goods: clothing, work wear, home furniture, housewares, automotive goods, tools, farm supplies, hardware, lawn and garden supplies, paint, pet supplies, hunting and fishing equipment, and sporting goods.

Home of Economy
TypeFamily Owned
IndustryRetail
Founded1939 by M.W. "Bob" Kiesau and Jean Kiesau
HeadquartersGrand Forks, North Dakota, USA
ProductsAmish furniture, clothing, footwear, farm equipment, automotive parts, sporting goods, housewares, lawn & garden supplies, hunting & fishing equipment, toys.
Websitewww.homeofeconomy.com

History

Founded in 1939 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota by Bob Kiesau and his wife, Jean, Home of Economy was originally an auto parts wholesale business. In February 1940, Bob started a store in Grand Forks, North Dakota, recapping used tires at night and selling them during the day. In the years since, Home of Economy has grown to include stores in other North Dakota cities, including Grafton, Devils Lake, Minot, Williston, Watford City and Jamestown.

Home of Economy is considered by many to be the first discount store. Prior to Home of Economy's discount program, free-trade laws required retailers to sell at high, fixed prices, and only fleet operators with five or more machines could receive discounts. In 1950, Bob Kiesau sent his employees to every county seat in the trade area to copy names and addresses of each taxpayer who had listed three or more tractors or combines. He assumed each farmer would have at least one car and one truck that would not be listed on the tax report. From this list, a fleet identification card was mailed to every farmer, enabling them to buy at fleet discounts.

Home of Economy store in Jamestown, North Dakota

On December 3, 1987, fire destroyed the store in Grand Forks. The store was back in operation in three separate temporary locations less than a week after the fire began.

Their company's motto is (variously):

  • "Be wise, Economize"
  • "The friendly store where your dollar buys more."

Locations

References
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