For 33 years, the Crutchfield name has been synonymous with information on consumer electronics products as well as exceptional customer service. Founded by Bill Crutchfield in 1974 in Charlottesville, VA with just $1,000, the company today sells more than 6,700 automotive and home audio/video products through it catalogs, call centers, website and two retail stores in Virginia. In 1995, Crutchfield Corp. became the first consumer electronics retailer to launch an e-commerce site. It also recently entered the Canadian market with the establishment of Crutchfield Canada.
A native of Virginia, Crutchfield graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce in 1965. He then served in the United States Air Force until 1970 as a commander of a Titan II missile crew and as a Strategic Air Command senior instructor. Crutchfield was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his distinguished service and achieved the rank of Captain.
Bill Crutchfield came up with the idea for the Crutchfield catalog while pursuing a hobby, the restoration of classic sports cars. In 1974, while preparing an old Porsche 356 coupe for sale, he decided to add a modern audio system. However, he was unable to find a car stereo specialist in Charlottesville or a mail order company in popular automobile and "do-it-yourself" magazines. The need for a national business to serve this niche seemed obvious to him. The Crutchfield catalog was aimed at providing a nation-wide solution to the shortage of specialty direct retailers for car stereo equipment.
Following a difficult first year of sales, he decided to mail a questionnaire to his catalog subscribers and customers. Bill Crutchfield found that many customers lacked a solid understanding of car stereo. In response to this, he developed what is regarded as the world’s first “magalog”—a hybrid between a magazine and a catalog. Since then, the Crutchfield catalog and website have provided consumers with information on, as well as access to specialty car stereo equipment and other consumer electronics products. Catalog Age magazine has honored the Crutchfield catalog and website with 17 awards for design excellence. Crutchfield Corp. has been awarded BizRate’s Circle of Excellence Award for seven consecutive years. And Crutchfield Corp.’s two call centers are recognized as J.D. Power and Associates Certified Call Centers.
Bill Crutchfield continues to be influential in Virginia. He served as Chairman of the Alumni Advisory Board and was the 1992 Executive-in-Residence for the McIntire School of Commerce. In 1997, Governor George Allen appointed him to the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors (Board of Directors). Governor James Gilmore reappointed Crutchfield in 2001, and throughout his two terms he served on numerous committees of the Board. Various governors have appointed Bill Crutchfield to numerous state commissions. In 2004 he was awarded the William “Billy” Gitchell Award by the Central Virginia Chapter of the American Heart Association because of an effective corporate wellness program that he pioneered.
Crutchfield Corp. is a model of how consumer education and dedicated customer service can propel a company to success.