| PRESS RELEASE: CRUTCHFIELD NAMED "TOP 10" IN E-CUSTOMER SERVICE | |
|
For Immediate Release
CRUTCHFIELD NAMED "TOP 10" IN E-CUSTOMER SERVICE CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, January 21, 2002 — Crutchfield Corporation has been named one of the country's top 10 retailers for e-commerce customer service as part of a nationwide survey of major retailers. Crutchfield, a leading consumer electronics catalog and online retailer, received the recognition as part of the National Retail Federation's meeting last week in New York City. "We are very honored to be selected as one of the nation's top 10 retailers for e-commerce customer service," stated Bill Crutchfield, CEO and Founder. "Since our company's beginning 28 years ago, providing the finest customer service has been one of the driving principles that has made Crutchfield so successful." The study of service, conducted between November 15 and January 12 by Customer Growth Partners, a retail consulting firm, included 140 of the nation's most recognized retailers. Among them were North America's top 75 store-based retailers with web stores, 40 leading Internet-focused retailers, and 25 major direct marketer/catalogers. The analysis evaluated retailers on speed of response, customer focus, and convenience. The 10 best retailers were Crutchfield, Lands' End, IBM, Quill, Coldwater Creek, Omaha Steaks, The Company Store, Tiffany's, Priceline, and Saks. "Companies whose CEOs are committed to building long term customer relationships provide the best customer service," said Craig Johnson, CEO of Customer Growth Partners. Johnson noted that half of the winning sites were catalog companies, which "long ago learned the benefits of building lifetime customer loyalty." Crutchfield has been recognized often for outstanding service. Forbes selected Crutchfield as one its "Best of the Web" retailers. Bizrate named Crutchfield one of the 20 "Best of the Best" from 1500 online stores. Smart Money and Time both named Crutchfield as among "the best shopping sites." The Direct Marketing Association ranks Crutchfield service as among the very best in their annual consumer survey. Founded in 1974, Crutchfield Corporation is the nation's largest direct integrated marketer (catalog, call center, and Internet) of consumer electronics products. It offers a convenient, full-service shopping destination to buyers of car and home audio/video products. Providing a superior level of customer service, Crutchfield is noted for its high integrity, product expertise, and technical support. Mailed to approximately 7 million households, Crutchfield's catalogs include comprehensive explanations of product and technology intended to help consumers make informed buying decisions. Crutchfield was the first vendor-authorized audio/video retailer on the Internet, launching its web site (www.crutchfield.com) in the summer of 1995. ### |
|
