Headsets.com
Type of site
Headset Retailer
Available inEnglish
OwnerMike Faith
URLheadsets.com
Current statusActive

Headsets.com is a San Francisco based ecommerce business founded by Mike Faith in 1997.[1][2] The website specializes in wireless and corded office headsets, and has been listed among the Inc. 5000 since 2004.[3]

History

Headsets.com was founded by Mike Faith in 1997 after Faith had trouble shopping for headsets for the company he was with at the time.[4][5] By 2000, the company's revenue was at $3 million, which grew to $11 million in 2003, and $32 million in 2005.[6] During this time the company purchased the domain name Headsets.com and the phone number 1(800) HEADSETS.[6] Today Headsets.com generates over $30 million in sales annually with over 1,000,000 customers.[7][8]

Culture and daily operations

Headsets.com has a turnover rate of 15% in an industry where the average is over 50%.[2] Faith attributes this to incentives he implemented including a $1,500 annual training stipend, a one-month paid sabbatical after three years of service, and a free trip to Sydney—in which employees are sent to vacation to work with a voice coach.[2][7][8] Employees frequently visit other innovative online companies (such as Zappos, StubHub, and others), to inspire new ideas.[9]

The company's strategy uses customer service as their competitive advantage.[9] The company employs voice coaches and psychologist to train their call center representatives.[6][7][9] In 2006 Headsets.com won the Stevie Award for "Best Customer Service Team."[10] According to the company, Headsets.com representatives do not use scripts to encourage genuine conversations.[9][10]

The company was named among San Francisco Business Times' "100 Best Companies to Work for in the Bay Area".[10]

Marketing

Headsets.com has periodically earned media attention through marketing tactics and stunts.[7][11] In 2009, as a response to a new hands-free cell phone law in California, the company offered a headset giveaway for anyone who was ticketed under the new law.[12] Faith offered a free cellular headset to anyone who sent the company proof of their ticket.[12] That same year, the company offered free headsets for life to anyone who tattooed the company's name on their body.[7]

In 2012, Headsets.com won the right to legally change the last name of entrepreneur Jason Sadler to "Jason HeadsetsDotCom."[7] The investment generated $250,000 in new sales and over $6 million in media coverage.[13][14][15]

References

  1. ^ Zimmerman, Eilene. "Real-Life Lessons in the Delicate Art of Setting Prices". The New York Times.
  2. ^ a b c Tharasook, Ingrid. "Headsets.com's recipe for happy customers". CNN Money.
  3. ^ "Company Profile: Headsets.com". Inc.
  4. ^ "Mike Faith, Headsets.com". BBC. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  5. ^ Campanelli, Melissa (13 February 2007). Open an Online Business in 10 Days. Entrepreneur Magazine. ISBN 9781599180847. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Headsets.com: Online retailer calls up huge revenue growth". San Francisco Business Times.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Kavilanz, Parija. "For $45,500, he's Jason HeadsetsDotCom". CNN Money.
  8. ^ a b "Mike Faith - Headsets.com". The Business Makers.
  9. ^ a b c d Spragins, Ellyn. "No Mumblers!". Fortune.
  10. ^ a b c "How to get a Headsets.com Start on the Competition". Small Business News. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  11. ^ Demery, Paul. "How Headsets.com tunes into customers". Internet Retailer.
  12. ^ a b Wuorio, Jeff. "Ramp Up Marketing in a Downturn". Entrepreneur.
  13. ^ Note: according to a study by Universal Information Services
  14. ^ Horgan, Richard (February 11, 2013). "Bay Area Firm Claims Last Laugh with Jason Headsets.com Gambit". Fishbowl LA. Archived from the original on 2013-02-16. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  15. ^ "How a Guy's Last Name Generated $250,000 in Sales and $6,000,000 in Media Impressions for One Lucky San Francisco Company". The Sacramento Bee.[permanent dead link]

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