Living Direct
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2019) |
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| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 as Richlund Ventures Inc. |
| Founder | Rick Lundbom |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas, |
| Parent | Ferguson Enterprises |
| Website | www |
Living Direct is a product development and support company for the brands Edgestar, Koldfront, Avallon, and Landmark and is and subsidiary of Ferguson Enterprises. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Before a reorganization in 2017, Living Direct was an online retail company, specializing in consumer appliances, indoor air quality products, and lawn and garden furniture. It operated e-commerce websites including CompactAppliance.com, LivingDirect.com, PortableAirShop.com, Kegerator.com, SimplyDehumidifiers.com, HotWaterSource.com and WineCoolerDirect.com.
History
[edit]Living Direct, previously known as Richlund Ventures, was founded in 1999 by Rick Lundbom to market hard-to-find appliances for modern, small-space living. The company started in his home with no outside investors and Lundbom as the sole employee.[1]
He began by launching Living Direct's first retail website, CompactAppliance.com. It was followed by PortableAirShop.com in 2004 and HotWaterSource.com in 2007. In 2008, LivingDirect.com was launched. Kegerator.com, SimplyDehumidifiers.com, WineCoolerDirect.com, IceMakerDirect.com, AirPurifierPro.com, OpenBoxDirect.com and EdgeStar.com were later added.
In October 2015, Build.com / Ferguson Enterprises acquired the company.[2]
In 2017, Living Direct shed the retail portion of the company and began to focus solely on product development and support for the Living Direct brands: Edgestar, Koldfront, Landmark, and Avallon.[3]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Living Direct was ranked in the Internet Retailer Top 500 Guide of America’s largest e-retailers.[4]
Entrepreneur selected Living Direct as a 2007 Hot 500 Fastest Growing Business.[1]
In 2008, Living Direct was listed in Inc.com's "5,000 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America".[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Entrepreneur Magazine's Hot 500 Fastest Growing Businesses". Entrepreneur. August 1, 2007.
- ^ Brohan, Mark (October 9, 2015). "Build.com reportedly signs a deal for Living Direct". Digital Commerce 360.
- ^ "Living Direct Brands to Fit Your Lifestyle". Living Direct.
- ^ Wiley, Jonathan A. (October 2015). "Are E-commerce Fulfillment Centers Valued Differently Than Warehouses And Distribution Centers?" (PDF). NAIOP.