| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics retail |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Headquarters | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Website | www.Crutchfield.com |
Crutchfield Corporation is a consumer electronics company specializing in many consumer electronics items, including mobile audio and video equipment for the automobile and televisions, speakers, and other electronics for the home. It was created in 1974 by William G. " Bill" Crutchfield, Jr., founder and CEO. It is based in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Contents |
The company was created during the restoration of classic sports cars by Bill Crutchfield. Unable to find anyone to upgrade the car stereo in a Porsche 356 coupe he was preparing to sell, he realized there was an opportunity to offer to car stereos to others interested in this type of DIY project.[1]
Over the years, the company has expanded and currently employs over 500 employees.[2] Bill has expanded the Charlottesville facilities to include a sizable headquarters, a main distribution center, and a secondary distribution and processing center. In addition, Crutchfield has a satellite facility in Norton, Virginia and retail storefronts in Charlottesville and Harrisonburg, Virginia.
On the Web, Crutchfield has upgraded their initial website by introducing the Crutchfield Community site, where customers may post to forums and read and comment upon blogs.[3] Additional improvements and innovations include the creation of the Crutchfield TV YouTube channel in June 2008[4] and the launch of the Crutchfield Signature[5] store in Fall of 2009.
In 2007, Bill Crutchfield was inducted into the Consumer Electronics Association Hall of Fame alongside Paul Allen and Amar Bose.[6] The company's website, Crutchfield.com, was the first vendor-authorized audio/video retailer on the Internet.[7] In addition, as of March 2010, Crutchfield was the only internet retailer to have won BizRate's Platinum Circle of Excellence Award eleven years in a row.[8] Crutchfield Corp.'s call center has been certified by J. D. Power and Associates' Call Center Certification Program for "meeting key expectations"[9] and "outstanding customer service experience."[10]