| PRESS RELEASE: CRUTCHFIELD LAUNCHES CUSTOM CAR ACCESSORIES PROGRAM | |
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For Immediate Release
CRUTCHFIELD LAUNCHES CUSTOM CAR ACCESSORIES PROGRAM Charlottesville, VA (May 1, 2002) — Crutchfield Corporation, the national consumer electronics retailer, today announced the launch of its Custom Car Accessories initiative, which features car products geared toward sport car and truck enthusiasts. At www.crutchfield.com/customcar, a special section of the Crutchfield website will offer a wide variety of accessories, including corner and taillight lenses, shift knobs, pedals, gauges, accent lights, and more from a variety of nationally-known vendors. "28 years ago, I founded Crutchfield to provide do-it-yourself car stereo shoppers with the best selection of products, the most complete information and the finest service. By faithfully following this strategy, we have become one of the nation's premier direct retailers," said Bill Crutchfield, founder and CEO of the company. "In marketing these exciting new products, we will apply these same principles — selection, information and service." Products will be available online at crutchfield.com/customcar, and in a 16-page supplement to Crutchfield's Summer 2002 Audio/Video catalog. Crutchfield retail stores in Charlottesville, Virginia and Harrisonburg, Virginia also will carry custom car accessories, so customers can get a firsthand look at the options for their vehicles. Major vendors include American Products Company, providing headlight and taillight lenses; Toucan Industries' Eurolite brand, making replacement colored bulbs, valve stems, lights, gauge inserts; Toucan's Ractive brand and Ichibahn Motorsports, producing a variety of pedals, shift knobs, boots, brake handles, and other accessories; and Varad and StreetGlow, makers of colored interior lighting devices. Inspired in part by the movie "The Fast and the Furious," the sporty car market reached $14 billion last year as hobbyists accentuated their Honda Civics, Ford Mustangs, Ford Focuses, Dodge Neons, trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles. "We're eager to enter this market because we can offer consumers great products and prices, along with all the information they need," said Tom Bancroft, Crutchfield's manager of car merchandising. "Smaller retailers can't stock all of the styles and models because of space limitations, but we will have large assortments stocked in Crutchfield's warehouse. That way, consumers can get the style and color they want quickly." Crutchfield Product Advisors and Tech Support staffers are undergoing special training so they can help customers take the guesswork out of what fits their vehicles, Bancroft added. Crutchfield Corporation is the nation's largest direct integrated marketer (catalog, call center, and Internet) of consumer electronics products. It offers full-service shopping and unsurpassed expertise and information to buyers of car and home audio/video products. Crutchfield is an authorized retailer for all lines it carries, including major car brands such as Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, Rockford Fosgate, Alpine, JVC, MTX, Panasonic, Blaupunkt, and Kicker. ### |
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