Foss Audio, a six store Washington-based retailer, became overnight last month, one of the largest independent brick and mortar car audio retail chains in the country (measured in storefronts and volume). This occurred when its parent, Sound Distributions, purchased the assets of 16 Car Toys locations in Colorado and Washington.
The new locations will continue to be called “Car Toys” and eventually, all Foss Audio locations will operate under the Car Toys name. Additionally, the chain expects to add more stores over the next two years, expanding the now 22- store chain.
Heading up merchandising, sales and marketing for the new Car Toys is newly appointed president Jim Warren. He had previously served as head of merchandising for the former Car Toys chain (from 1997 to 2005 and from 2010 to 2017) and now returns, reporting directly to the owners of Sound Distributions, Ed Weber and Angela Carroll.
Most recently Warren was Executive Director at Lucas Lighting and prior to that, he was Executive Director of the Elite Distributor Alliance.
Sound Distributions now owns the trademark Car Toys as well as the Car Toys website, www.cartoys.com. *** Other buyer groups will operate independently using the CAR•TOYS trademark under licenses granted as part of the Chapter 11 sale.
Warren noted, “Car Toys is certainly one of the best-known names in our industry, and with the public, earns number one market share in all of the markets we serve. We will continue to grow responsibly the Car Toys brand along with the vendors with whom we partner. Foss Audio and Car Toys together is a pretty awesome combination – I’m excited be a part of it.”
To our knowledge, other independent car audio chains top out at 20 or 21 stores, making the new Foss/Car Toys chain one of the largest. Additionally, the chain may add as many as four new locations in the Boulder, CO area, in addition to more stores in greater Seattle, said Warren.
An industry source said the new chain is seeing sales volumes of close to $3 million per store.
Other changes are underway at the new Car Toys locations. The company expects to convert some of the store space to installation bays to accommodate more window tinting, an area of strong expertise at Foss.
We asked about Jeremy Boyd, the former Car Toys executive who joined Foss earlier this year. Warren said, “Jeremy Boyd has a key role within our organization with broad responsibilities managing store locations, as well as key input into merchandising decisions. We are very fortunate to have Jeremy on our team. Note, though, Jeremy is not alone. I’m convinced that when you combine Foss and Car Toys talent, we likely have the most talented pool of installation technicians in the country.”
The former 47-store Car Toys chain completed Chapter 11 bankuptcy in October, and sold off the assets of 35 stores to other retailers or former employees. Foss/Sound Distributors took the bulk of those store locations.
Sound Distributions was founded in 2000 by Weber and Carroll. It launched a distribution company in 2019. Both Foss and the distribution company (and now Car Toys) operate under Sound Distributions.
*** Corrected after publication
Congratulations! Car audio and electronics are alive and well. Can’t wait to see this empire kick into gear.
Great to spend time with you all last week. We look forward to a great partnership!!!
Tracy, great spending time with you all last week as well! We’re excited about what we’re building together and looking forward to a strong, partnership for success!