Gerald Farnsworths grandaughter takes over the family business at age 44.

Following the family tradition in the 4th generation, Anji started counting resistors during the summers at the age of 9, after she outgrew racing her big wheel. She loved listening to records and pretending to be a rock star with a Shure microphone, but fiercely claimed she'd never work for the family business because it was boring. After graduating from Cedar Falls High School and attending college in Des Moines, Anji and Travis, moved back to Cedar Falls to be with family and friends. Looking for a full-time job, she asked her dad for a loan, and he said no.
That's how, in January of 1992, Anji started working part time at Farnsworth Electronics until 'something else came along...'  Well, let's just say, the rest is history!


Pictured to the right - Anji on her big wheel along with Anji posing with Nikki, a Playboy bunny and a autograph like customers would receive at Farnsworth Stereo Open House events.

Two months later, April 1992, she added a computer to the business. 
In 1993, Anji and Travis married.
When Anji found some old copies of Jim’s monthly newsletters in a drawer one day, she started her own, The Farny Flyer. She'd mail out monthly newsletters to customers for about 3 years, but then postage got a little too expensive, however change was coming fast!

In 1995, FarnsworthElectronics.com was the new URL to the World Wide Web. 
It's always been more of an informational source rather than an online ordering platform until recently.


Pictured to the left - Anji working at her desk, Anji's 'The Farny Flyer' new Newsletter and Jim's old Newsletter along with Gerald and Anji at her wedding.

During the 1990's, Anji would run the business while Jim and Robyn were drag racing. It actually worked out well because it gave her the opportunity to spend more time with her brother, Jamie. She learned the basic inn's and outs of business along with learning about Electronics. She took some courses at Hawkeye Community College for Accounting and she'd also continue to maintain the ever-changing Farnsworth Electronics website.

The hype of Y2K (Year 2000) was over and Anji started getting more familiar with the products customers were buying so Jim introduced her to the purchasing role. She'd stay busy with sales and maintaining the website as well. She enjoyed creating sites so much, she was the webmaster for the
Dirt 'N The House BMX track along with others. 

Pictured to the right - Anji working hard at her desk over the years.

Her focus however, has always been to give in store customers the best shopping experience possible.
Farnsworth Electronics is a member of Grow Cedar Valley and Friends of Community Main Street Cedar Falls.
Anji's philosophy is simple. She won't just sell anything in the shop. "People can buy anything online. We're not just selling products, we're selling brands. Brands we trust because we use some of these products as well. I want customers to come in and see the wide variety of components we have and realize, WOW! I could have been shopping there all along!"
Buying local is really important, especially around the Cedar Valley. When a machine is down, you don't have time to wait, until even tomorrow sometimes. So when you have that emergency need, you call the local electronic experts first.


Pictured to the left - Farnsworth Electronics updated Logo and a 2005 Cedar Valley Saver advertisement

Anji started advertising again, like Jim once did.
In 2006, Farnsworth Electronics teamed up with KWWL and ran their first and only television commercial.
In 2008, they shifted to newspaper advertisements.
Anji and Jim were featured in the Cedar Valley Image Magazine when given the question "Who Inspires You?" 
Anji's answer - "My dad inspires me every day..."
Then in November of that same year, she had an article in the Cedar Valley Monthly magazine talking about technology.


Pictured to the right - Anji and Jim pose for the Cedar Valley Image magazine along with the article along with the November article

In 2016, after purchasing the business from Jim, Anji moved the business to Cedar Falls.

Continuing to evolve, in 2017, a shop within the Reverb platform was created called 'Anji's Gear Shop' and the business turned 95 years old! Farnsworth Electronics was a sponsor to FRC (Fiercely Uknighted Nation) Robotics Team for three years, 2017-2020.

In 2018, Anji moved the business back to Waterloo, to their now new permanent location at 2806 Falls Avenue. A revised Logo was also added!
You might recognize a familiar face back at the shop- we welcome back Mallory cat! 
Also in 2018, Jim and Anji were able to go on a very unforgettable daytrip. Flying with other veterans aboard the Cedar Valley Honor Flight traveling to Washington D.C. to visit the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and Vietnam Memorial. A truly memorable event!
Unfortunately, in 2019, Clare, the gray cat, passed away, however in 2020, Philmore (Philly) joined the team as Mallory's new assistant.


Pictured to the left - Anji's business cards, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the Cedar Valley Chamber in 2016. In 2017 the business was featured in the local newspaper. The robotics team along with the outside of the new location with the refreshed logo. Mallory poses showcasing the vintage giant light bulbs, Anji & Jim in Washington D.C., Clare enjoys a snack and Philly, well she's a handful!

Adapting to change in 2020, due to Covid-19, Anji purchased a Smart Locker system so customers could pick up their orders 24/7/365. No need to make an appointment, just place your order and you can pick up your parts on the way to the jobsite at 4 AM or 11:30 PM! A computer generated code will be emailed or texted to you. Stop by the shop, enter the code, the locker opens, grab your order and off you go! It's just as easy at using an ATM machine. Conveniently located at the front of the building.

Anji worked hard to earn the Targeted Small Business Certification with the State of Iowa
in 2021. She also opened a store within SHOP IOWA.

2022 was a big year for Anji and Farnsworth Electronics-The business celebrated its 100th Anniversary, Anji her 50th birthday - and together they celebrated 30 years of Anji with the company!

Pictured to the right - Smart Lockers, Iowa Certified Targeted Small Business logo, Shop Iowa store, Farnsworth Electronics 100th Anniversary along with Anji & Jim sharing the day together.

Anji worked even harder for the Certification as a Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) with the Small Business Administration, she received in 2023.
Besides working at the shop (a lot), Anji's hobbies include being an avid Formula 1 fan (there might be a small Fernando Alonso obsession), photography, gardening and she's a big animal lover. She's also been a Miranda Lambert fan for almost 20 years. You can still hear the music playing pretty loud at the shop sometimes!
You might notice that the Farnsworth Electronics website is a little different than others. All the header pictures were taken by Anji along with developing the entire website. If you find a typo or any sort of error, please let us know! We hope you enjoy it as much as she enjoys maintaining it.#IBeatRadioShack

Anji's story isn't over yet, she hopes to be your #1 source for all your electronic parts & supplies for many more years to come!


Pictured to the left - Anji along with the Women Owned Small Business Certified logo,
Anji's business card and the business storefront.

Continuing a Legacy, Anji Barnard

The first to know!

Thank you!

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