Micro Center

Micro Center
Private
Founded Columbus, Ohio
1979 (1979)[1]
Founders John Baker and Bill Bayne[2]
Headquarters Hilliard, Ohio, U.S.
Number of locations
 25
Key people
Products Computers, Consumer Electronics & Accessories
Revenue $2.4 billion (2015[6])
Number of employees
 2,750 (2016[6])
Parent Micro Electronics, Inc.
Website microcenter.com
The Micro Center store in Columbus Ohio.
The Apple department in Micro Center Queens, New York

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.

History

Micro Center was founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1979 by John Baker and Bill Bayne, two former Radio Shack employees.[2] The first Micro Center store was 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.[7]

As of 2015 there were 25 Micro Center stores nationwide in 16 states, including California, Massachusetts and New York.[8]

Structure

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

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.[9] 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][10]

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.[11] In 2015, the industry trade journal Dealerscope ranked it as the 18th largest consumer electronics retailer in the United States and Canada.[8] 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 "Score with Intel Core" competition, and donated their prize money to local schools.[12][13]

See also

According to the American business research company Hoover's, the major competitors to Micro Center's parent company Micro Electronics are:[9]

References

  1. ↑ Eaton, Dan (2014-01-16). "Micro Center opening stores in Brooklyn, Queens". Columbus Business First. Retrieved 2015-09-23.
  2. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 "Micro Electronics on the Forbes America's Largest Private Companies List". Forbes. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  7. ↑ Verdon, Joan (March 16, 2007). "Service is their password - Computer chain to open N.J. store"Paid subscription required. The Record. Hackensack, NJ. p. B01. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Spinale, Laura (2015). "Top 101 CE Retailers: Retailers Post Modest Increases in a Turbulent Marketplace". Dealerscope. North American Publishing Co. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Company Profile - Micro Electronics Inc.". Hoover’s (a subsidiary of Dun and Bradstreet). Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  10. ↑ Verdon, Joan (April 27, 2007). "Steady as she grows"Paid subscription required. The Record. Hackensack, NJ. p. B01. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Malone, JD (August 2, 2014). "Columbus companies among top retailers". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  12. ↑ (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.
  13. ↑ McGowan, Mary Kate (October 24, 2016). "Computer store to donate $10,000 to Powers Ferry Elementary". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved 2 November 2016.

External links


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