Minneapolis' FirstTech, Apple's First Reseller, to Close Its Doors March 30 [feedly]

  

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Minneapolis' FirstTech, Apple's First Reseller, to Close Its Doors March 30
// MacLife

Apple's retail stores have spread like wildfire over the last few years, but we don't often get to hear about the resellers who sometimes get pushed aside in the process. Today the oldest, Minneapolis's First Tech, announced that it'll close its doors on March 30 after 73 years in business. Even more noteworthy, the closure will occur after it sold Apple's first batch of Apple IIs in 1977, effectively making it Apple's first reseller.

FirstTech, which currently claims 70 employees, isn't that small of an operation as far as resellers go, and some of its employees have worked for the company for more than 25 years. But the pressures have been rough. According to its website, "Over the last two years in particular, the market changes in our industry have been rapid and dramatic. Competition has increased and margins have decreased making it more and more difficult to run our business profitably and still provide the high level of service we are known for."

Source: KARE 11

Much of that competition comes from Apple itself. In 2010, Apple opened a retail store just blocks up the road from FirstTech. The reseller tried to keep its head above water by diversifying into services like repairs and technology consulting, and offering educational products like digital whiteboards.

With the opening of a second store in nearby Rochester, Minnesota in 2013, it tried to secure a hold for itself outside the influence of Apple's five Minneapolis-area retail stores. The bid didn't work, however, and the second store shut down this week.

FirstTech's relationship with Apple run deep, and until now, its fortunes have risen and fallen with Apple's own slumps and resurgences. Even Pete Paulsen, who sold that first Apple II, later became FirstTech's general manager and co-owner. It also enjoys loyal customers.

"The person who bought that first Apple II also bought our first Lisa (computer) and our first Macintosh," said Product Manager Fred Evans in an interview with the Twin Cities' Pioneer Press. "To this day, he is still our customer."

Follow this article's writer, Leif Johnson, on Twitter.

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