Micro Center

Micro Center is an American computer department store, which has its headquarters in Hilliard, Ohio. It is one of the top 200 of America's largest private companies.

Micro Center
Private
FoundedColumbus, Ohio
1979 (1979)[1]
FoundersJohn Baker and Bill Bayne[2]
Headquarters
Hilliard, Ohio
,
U.S.
Number of locations
25
Key people
ProductsComputers, Consumer Electronics & Accessories
Revenue$2.4 billion (2015[6])
Number of employees
2,750 (2016[6])
ParentMicro Electronics, Inc.
Websitemicrocenter.com
The former Micro Center store in Houston, Texas, which was replaced with a newly constructed 32,000 square foot store in 2015.[7]
The Micro Center store in Columbus Ohio.
The Apple department in Micro Center Queens, New York

History

Micro Center was founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1979 by John Baker and Bill Bayne, two former Radio Shack employees, with a $35,000 investment.[2][8] The first Micro Center store was established in a 900 sq ft (84 m2) storefront located in the Lane Avenue Shopping Center in Upper Arlington, Ohio. The store benefited from its proximity to Ohio State University and the scientific think-tank Battelle Memorial Institute, which provided a large customer base and a source of computer-literate salespeople.[9] Their goal for the first year was $30 million in sales, and they achieved $29.9 million.[8] In 2009, Micro Center developed an "18-minute pickup" service where customers who order merchandise on their website can pick it up from the store in 18 minutes.[10]

As of 2019 there were 25 Micro Center stores nationwide in 16 states, including California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.[11]

Corporate structure

Micro Center is a subsidiary of Micro Electronics, Inc., a privately held corporation headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio.[12]

Stores are sized up to 60,000 sq ft (5,600 m2), stocking about 36,000 products across 700 categories, including major name brands and Micro Center's own brands.[13] Micro Center has had Apple departments in all stores since 1982, and has included "Build Your Own PC" departments, "Knowledge Bars" for service and support, and "Knowledge Theaters" for free classes on weekends since 2007.[2][14]

Public profile

Micro Center was the first retailer in the United States to sell the DJI Mavic Pro drone, launching it by hosting a three-day demonstration in their Columbus store's parking lot which was open to the press and the public.[10]

In a 2015 interview, Micro Center CEO Rick Mershad described how their product line is changing: the STEM movement is driving students and adults to make their own creations, and Micro Center is focusing on Arduino projects and Raspberry Pi, which require more consultative selling.[15]

Media reception

Joan Verdon of The Record noted that meeting customer's needs with a high level of service and skilled salespeople are Micro Center's "claim to fame". She also quoted Doug Olenick, editor at TWICE, a major consumer electronics trade publication, who said that the store's salespeople, compared to others in the industry, are extremely well trained.[9]

Awards and rankings

In 2014, Micro Center was ranked number 93 in the list of 100 hottest retailers in the US, compiled by the National Retail Federation.[16] In 2015, the industry trade journal Dealerscope ranked it as the 18th largest consumer electronics retailer in the United States and Canada.[17] In 2016, Forbes magazine ranked it 195th among America's largest private companies, with 2,750 staff and annual revenue of US$2.4 billion.[6]

In October 2016, Micro Center stores won first and second prizes in Intel's annual "Score with Intel Core" competition, and donated their prize money to local schools.[18][19] In 2019, Micro Center stores won first and third prizes, making two more prize money donations to local schools.[20][21]

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See also

According to the American business research company Hoover's, the major competitors to Micro Center's parent company Micro Electronics are:[13]

References
  1. Eaton, Dan (2014-01-16). "Micro Center opening stores in Brooklyn, Queens". Columbus Business First. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  2. Franklin, Peter D. (November 4, 1990). "The Miracle on Lane Avenue". The Columbus Dispatch.
  3. "For Profit Corporation Annual Report" (PDF). www.sos.ks.gov. September 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  4. "Peggy Wolfe at Micro Electronics, Inc.: Chief Operating Officer". leadferret.com. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  5. "Trademark/Service Mark Application, Principal Register". tsdr.uspto.gov. August 16, 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  6. "Micro Electronics on the Forbes America's Largest Private Companies List". Forbes. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  7. "S&P selected to build new Micro Center store near Galleria". Houston Chronicle. April 21, 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  8. Columbus Dispatch DFAS Magazine, "Doing the Right Thing Right" December 1995, p.12
  9. Verdon, Joan (March 16, 2007). "Service is their password - Computer chain to open N.J. store". The Record. Hackensack, NJ. p. B01. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  10. Micro Center (November 18, 2016). "Micro Center First Retailer to Host DJI Mavic Pro Experience". News Channel 10. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  11. "Store Locations". Micro Center. Micro Electronics. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  12. Hoover's Incorporated (March 2001). Hoover's Handbook of Private Companies. Hoover's, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-57311-067-9.
  13. "Company Profile - Micro Electronics Inc". Hoover’s (a subsidiary of Dun and Bradstreet). Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  14. Verdon, Joan (April 27, 2007). "Steady as she grows". The Record. Hackensack, NJ. p. B01. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  15. Adafruit Industries: Interview with Microcenter CEO Rick Mershad on YouTube
  16. Malone, JD (August 2, 2014). "Columbus companies among top retailers". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  17. Spinale, Laura (2015). "Top 101 CE Retailers: Retailers Post Modest Increases in a Turbulent Marketplace". Dealerscope. North American Publishing Co. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  18. (Press release) (October 11, 2016). "Micro Center® to Present $45,000 in Donations from Intel to Local Schools". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  19. McGowan, Mary Kate (October 24, 2016). "Computer store to donate $10,000 to Powers Ferry Elementary". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  20. Brubaker, Paul. "Intel, Micro Center Bolster District's One-to-One Device Initiative with Donation of $25,000 to Buy 40 Dell Chromebooks" (PDF). Paterson Public Schools. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  21. "Score with Intel Core". East Meadow School District. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
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