Popular appliance retailer Ollie Fretter dies at 91

Fretter Inc. founder Oliver Ollie Fretter, 91, died Sunday at his Bloomfield Hills home.

Fretter was perhaps one of metro Detroits most iconic retail spokesmen. He was known for his zany advertisements that included phrases like, Ill give you 5 pounds of coffee if I cant beat your best deal.

He founded Brighton-based Fretter in the early 1950s as a single appliance repair shop. Fretter acquired 182 Silo stores from Dixons plc in 1993, adding 182 stores to the 87 stores Fretter operated in nine states.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1996, after several years of declining sales and red ink amid competition from big box stores like Best Buy and Circuit City.

Fretter is survived by his wife, Elma; children Laura Fretter and Howard Fretter; and grandchildren Alexandra, Andrew and Catherine.

Visitation is 3 p.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday at A.J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home in Royal Oak, with services at 11 a.m. on Thursday.

The family is suggesting memorial tributes be made to the Beaumont Foundation.

Sherri Welch: (313) 446-1694, swelch@crain.com. Twitter: @sherriwelch

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Popular appliance retailer Ollie Fretter dies at 91