1000Bulbs.com
Privately Held | |
Industry | Online Retail |
Founded | 1994 |
Headquarters | Garland, Texas |
Key people | Kim Pedersen, CEO |
Products | Light bulbs, Christmas lights, home and decor lighting and other lightning products. |
Number of employees | 200+ |
Website |
www |
1000Bulbs.com is a privately owned, Texas-based online retailer, providing light bulbs and related lighting products. The company was launched by CEO and Founder Kim Pedersen in 1994.[1][2] The company is internet-based and one of the early adopters of online retailing. The company has won multiple awards for its customer satisfaction and line of products.[3]
1000Bulbs.com distributes to consumers nationally across America including Alaska and Hawaii, but also ships internationally to countries such as Canada, England, and Australia.
History
In 1979, Kim Pederson responded to a newspaper ad for a lighting sales position and sold lighting door-to-door throughout the Midwest. Soon after, he moved to Texas to work for a national lighting distributor.[1][2]
Although the company went out of business, Kim saw a great opportunity to advance his career. With inventory already in hand, he decided to take the opportunity to start his own business. He funded his new business with a small amount of personal savings and created an office in his back room. Self-employed and with no additional staff, Kim sold by day and invoiced by night. In his first year, he made $180,000.[2]
In 1995, Kim began researching the World Wide Web as the new buying experience, and with only two employees, Service Lighting and Electrical Supplies, Inc. was launched a year later.[1][2] Due to limited online competition, the company grew 60% in its first year. Two years later, the company began accepting payments online and had its first million dollar year in sales. In 2007, the company’s name was changed to 1000Bulbs.com.[3]
In 2012, 1000Bulbs.com opened a two new product lines starting with home interior décor and following up later in the year with hydroponics equipment. Initially 1000Bulbs.com started their hydroponics section with grow lights, but their selection has expanded into everything from hardware to nutrients.[4][5]
Current status
Today, 1000Bulbs.com enjoys annual sales of eight figures along with double digit sales growth and now employs over 200 people. Although its biggest competition is brick and mortar hardware stores who also sell light bulbs,[2] the company has won numerous awards for its work. These accolades include being placed on the Dallas 100 by the Cox School of Business at SMU for recognition of being a fast growing, privately held company.[6]
Location
1000Bulbs.com is located northeast of Dallas in Garland, TX, occupying 220,000 sq. ft. of office and warehouse space.
Awards and recognition
- Inc. Fastest Growing Companies #1115 - 2008
- Inc. Fastest Top Consumer Products Companies #57 - 2008
- Inc. Fastest Top Businesses in Dallas-Fort Worth #52 - 2008
- Inc. Fastest Growing Companies #912 - 2009
- Inc. Fastest Top Consumer Products Companies #62 - 2009
- Inc. Fastest Top Businesses in Dallas-Fort Worth #33 - 2009
- Inc. 5000 Ranked #81 in Retail - 2011
- Ernst & Young-Southwest Area Entrepreneur of the Year – Consumer Goods - 2010[7] - Kim Pedersen
- Dallas 100 Winner - 2007,[8] 2008,[9] 2009,[10] 2010,[11] 2011,[12] 2012,[13] 2013,[14] 2014[15]
References
- 1 2 3 "Info-Mr. Kim Pedersen". zoominfo.com. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Mitra, Sramana. "From 0 To 31 Million Dollars With Search Engine Marketing & Inventory Financing: Kim Pedersen, CEO of 1000 Bulbs". www.sramanamitra.com/. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- 1 2 "BBB Business Review-1000bulbs.com". bbb.org.
- ↑ "1000Bulbs.com Continues a Steady Growth of Hydroponic Supplies and Grow Lights". www.prweb.com. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ↑ "SYSPRO, Leading ERP Provider, is True Business Partner, Says Analyst". businesswire.com. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "1000Bulbs.com Honored by Dallas 100 Award from SMU Cox School of Business". www.newsday.com. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
- ↑ Jurado, Aimee. "Finalists for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2010 awards in the Southwest Area – North (North Texas/Arkansas/Oklahoma) announced". EY. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "The 2007 Dallas 100 AwardsTM Winners.". cox.smu.edu. Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "The 2008 Dallas 100 AwardsTM Winners.". cox.smu.edu. Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "The 2009 Dallas 100 AwardsTM Winners.". cox.smu.edu. Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "The 2010 Dallas 100 AwardsTM Winners.". cox.smu.edu. Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "The 2011 Dallas 100 AwardsTM Winners.". cox.smu.edu. Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "2012 Dallas 100 Winners". cox.smu.edu. Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ↑ "The 2013 Dallas 100 Awards Winners". Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
- ↑ "The 2014 Dallas 100 Awards Winners". Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 16 December 2014.