- Firebox.com
Infobox_Company
company_name = Firebox
company_
company_type = Private
company_slogan =
foundation =1998
location_city = London
location_country = UK
num_employees =
industry =Online Retail
Founders =Michael Acton Smith andTom Boardman
revenue =
net_income =
homepage = [http://www.firebox.com Firebox.com]Firebox.com is an
electronic commerce based in London, England that began life early in 1998 as hotbox.co.uk, an internet retailer founded by university friendsMichael Acton Smith andTom Boardman . Their inventory covers anything from house wares and books to gadgets and gizmos.History
Two friends in college, Michael Acton Smith and Tom Boardman decided that they had a great idea for an original new drinking game – the Shot Glass Chess set. The idea prompted them to create a completely online company where people could purchase this and other obscure but “cool” products. The basic idea was to create a site where the culture and society could meet with original and niche products. They began in Cardiff, Wales as hotbox.co.uk, then in 1999 moved to London and relaunched as Firebox.com.
Michael Acton Smith is also the founder of
Mind Candy makers ofPerplex City , analternate reality game based on puzzles, a missing artifact and a fictional city.Products
*T-shirts
*Gizmos
*Gadgets
*Home & Office
*Computing
*Electronics
*Books
*Exotic EdiblesMost of the products sold on Firebox.com are skewed towards people who are into obscure or abstract items that are unique and hard to come by otherwise. The site states: “We're very selective though - so only the most original, most exciting products get picked.”
US Site
Firebox.com recently launched a US site and has set up a US based distribution center.
Rankings
* [http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack2002/migration/dbIndex.asp?siteID=1&searchName=&yr=2004&sort=num&area1=99/ Firebox reaches # 13 on the Fastrack 100]
* [http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/fasttrack2002/migration/dbIndex.asp?siteID=3&searchName=&yr=2005&sort=num&area1=99/ TechTrack 100 ranks Firebox No. 47]Awards and Recognition
* [http://www.egremontgroup.com/articles/article02.php/ Egremont Group mentions Firebox.com amongst others for their Growth and Innovation in Retail]
DTI Ecommerce Awards 2004
*Highly Commended - E-Trading Business of The YearDTI Ecommerce Awards 2004
*Highly Commended - Best Use of BroadbandParcelforce Small Business Awards 2004
*Finalist - Best Small BusinessOrange Small is Beautiful Awards 2004
*Finalist - Best Customer ServiceHitwise Competitive Intelligence (2003)
* No. 1 Most Visited Gift Retailer (UK), December 2003Revolution Awards 2002
*Highly Commended - Best Online RetailerSunday Times E-League 2001
*Top 100 European E-businessesVISA Etail Awards 2000
*Winner - Pain Free ShoppingExternal links
* [http://Firebox.com/ Firebox.com]
* [http://MindCandyDesign.com/ Mind Candy Design (Founded by Michael Acton Smith)]
* [http://PerplexCity.com/ Perplex City Website (Created by Mind Candy)]
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