| PRESS RELEASE: TOP 100 E-Business |
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For Immediate Release
Crutchfield Recognized as Top 100 E-Business CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- December 13, 1999, -- Crutchfield, the leading Internet and catalog retailer of consumer electronics, has won Information Week�s first annual E-Business 100 Award, which is given to companies that achieve overall excellence in E-Business initiatives. Nominations for the award were evaluated by analysts from Hurwitz Group, a consulting and research firm specializing in strategic E-Business and IT initiatives, as well as Information Week researchers and editors. Hurwitz Group specifically reviewed these companies� E-Business strategies for their ability to execute their vision and meet objectives, the level of business and technology integration, as well as overall innovation in E-Business. "The ultimate goal of E-Business is to seamlessly integrate a company�s interaction with customers, employees and partners," said Fern Halper, director of Hurwitz Group�s E-Business Applications practice. "It�s a huge transformation, involving almost every area of the organization. This list is a chance to recognize those companies who have made significant progress in one or more of these areas." "We are very pleased to accept this award," said Dan Hodgson, Senior Vice President of Merchandising for Crutchfield. "Crutchfield has been in the consumer electronics business for more than twenty-five years. We've built our reputation upon providing consumers with an unmatched amount of helpful information and premium customer service. The Internet allows us to exercise these core values even more dynamically." Crutchfield Corporation opened its online storefront in the summer of 1995, becoming the Internet�s first manufacturer-authorized audio/video retailer. Since then, Crutchfield has grown into the nation�s largest direct integrated marketer (catalog, call center, Internet) of consumer electronics products, providing a convenient, full service, one-stop shopping destination for buyers of car stereo and home entertainment systems. Crutchfield�s approach toward the Internet was to provide a seamless transition from the print catalog to the online catalog. Crutchfield took its successful catalog formula, carefully applied it to the Internet, and then expanded it. The ever-evolving catalog, a superior customer service center, and years of amassed information on consumer electronics provide a cornerstone for Crutchfield�s Internet business. The result is an interactive, online shopping experience that educates the consumer. The Crutchfield site consistently ranks among the top merchants reviewed by the competitive BizRate customer satisfaction site (www.bizrate.com) and has been deemed best of the Web for consumer electronics by U.S. News & World Report and Time magazine. Founded in 1974, Crutchfield Corporation is the nation�s largest direct integrated marketer (catalog, call center, Internet) of consumer electronics products, offering a convenient, full-service shopping destination to buyers of car and home audio/video products. Providing an unprecedented level of customer service, Crutchfield is noted for its high integrity, courtesy, product expertise, and technical support. The company offers more than 5,000 products and carries all major brand lines, including Sony, Kenwood, JVC, Pioneer, Panasonic/Technics, JBL, Rockford Fosgate, Yamaha, U.S. Acoustics, Clarion, Infinity, Bose, Aiwa, Polk Audio, and others. Mailed to approximately 6.3 million households, Crutchfield�s catalogs include comprehensive explanations of products and technology intended to help consumers make informed buying decisions. Crutchfield was the first authorized audio/video retailer on the Internet, launching its Web site www.crutchfield.com in the summer of 1995. ### |
