real world retail
Commune Of Sound When a long-running local car audio shop began to decline, Prestige Car Audio and Marine became a refuge for former employees looking to continue the relationships they already had. With that foundation, the store would quickly become a community landmark and 12-volt powerhouse. WORDS BY TED GOSLIN
D
isasters are caused by many things. Earthquakes, tornados and volcanoes are on the list. Some cause buildings to collapse, cities to burn and lives to be lost. Others, like hurricanes, are known to cause flooding. When a flood occurs, the water in the area rises and often damages homes, equipment and vehicles. In Metairie, La., a city that is part of the greater New Orleans area, rainfall is common, as is the threat of hurricanes. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck land
36 Mobile Electronics January 2016
in New Orleans and caused over $180 billion worth of damage and took an estimated 1,836 lives, with 1,577 of those taken in Louisiana alone. Needless to say, residents of Louisiana take storms very seriously. Such was the mood when a storm hit in Metairie in 1990, causing a fair amount of flooding. While no lives were lost during this particular storm, many vehicles were damaged. Interested in a career fixing cars, Cory Himel offered to replace carpet in his neighbors’ damaged
vehicles, working out of his garage. Soon enough, more work came in, and before long he had enough to purchase some alarm systems, which he flipped into enough money to purchase a small building and start a business. That business would become Prestige Car Audio and Marine, a Top 12 Retailer of the Year for 2015.
Safe and Sound After opening his first store in the town of Harahan, just southwest of Metairie,