If the competition among pilot supply companies was not fierce enough, one general aviation pilot decided there was room for one more!
Neil Glazer founded the Internet retail business “Pilot Mall” in 1998 at Stewart Airport in the Hudson Valley of New York. He was 21 and had just graduated from The State University of New York with a degree in economics. He relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida in 2005 and established the Pilot Mall Aviation Superstore at Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland, Fla. in 2009. That same year Glazer took over all on-site retail operations for Sun ‘n Fun.
In 2012, Glazer acquired AvShop, the industry’s first Internet-based pilot supply retailer. He also acquired iPilot.com to offer Pilot Mall customers free educational resources, flight planning tools, an electronic logbook and a classified ad and message service. Glazer moved his headquarters to Lakeland Linder Regional Airport in 2013.
An innovator in his field, Glazer has brought humor and the younger generation’s perspective to aviation marketing. For instance, “Bubba,” Pilot Mall’s office dog, is a featured pitchman. Bubba’s own weekly specials are billed as “Paw-Tested and Bubba-Approved.”
The success of Pilot Mall has enable Glazer to own a 2008 Mooney Ovation III, which he uses for business and to help others.
Glazer, who holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate with instrument and multi-engine ratings, is one of 11 U.S. Bahamas Flying Ambassadors working with the Islands of the Bahamas to promote and facilitate pilot tourism. In 2011, Glazer teamed with air tourism operator Air Journeys to organize GA relief missions, transporting post-hurricane supplies to the islands. In 2012-2013, Glazer administered “The Bahamas Pilot Challenge,” a contest for those landing at a minimum of 12 of the 20 Bahamas airports of entry.
Pilot Mall offers more than 5,000 items of pilot supplies and equipment, aviation gifts and educational resources at www.pilotmall.com, and at its Aviation Superstore in Lakeland, Fla.