Ashford.com

Ashford.com is an online retailer of luxury watches and other luxury goods. The company is among the oldest online retailers with an initial launch in January 1997. At one point they were the largest luxury retailer online.[1]

Ashford.com
Available inEnglish
Founded1997 (1997)
Headquarters
Tribeca, New York City, New York
IndustryRetailer of luxury timepieces
ParentLuxi Group, LLC
URLwww.ashford.com
CommercialYes
Launched1997 (1997)
Current statusActive

History

Ashford is a retailer that went online in 1999, in Houston, Texas under the guidance of Rob Shaw. In 1999, the company was listed on NASDAQ under the symbol ASFD and underwritten by Goldman Sachs. At launch, the site featured Microsoft's E-Wallet technology alongside Dell, CDW, SkyMall and a handful of other participants. In 1999, Ashford entered into a partnership with Amazon.com, giving Amazon approximately 16.6% of Ashford.com's outstanding common stock.[2] Around this same time they acquired Timezone.com.

In 2000, Ashford acquired a $25,000,000 three-year loan from Congress Financial Corporation, which it used to acquire Jasmin.com. In 2001, they acquired Guild.com, Watchnetwork.com and renewed their partnership with Amazon.com as well as entering into an agreement with eBay to sell outlet watches. Also in March, a promotion with Amazon led to an accounting conflict that ended in Ashford being fined due to non-compliance with GAAP policies.[3]

In September 2001, Ashford was acquired by ecommerce service provider GSI Commerce (formerly Global Sports).[4] Years later in 2003, it was sold to Odimo Inc. who then sold it to the current owner Luxi Group in 2007.

As of 2012, Ashford was ranked #323 on the Internet Retailer Top 500, placing it among the largest web merchants in the United States.[5]

Collection

Currently, Ashford carries watches and luxury items from Cartier, Movado, Breitling, Baume & Mercier, Ebel, Corum, Rado, International Watch Company (IWC) and other luxury watch brands.

References
  1. Logo Design Workbook. Rockport Publishers. March 2006. ISBN 9781592532346. Retrieved 2004. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. "Amazon to invest in Ashford.com Locations". ZDBET. Retrieved 1 December 1999. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. "SEC settles dispute with Amazon, Ashford.com". USA Today. 11 June 2002. Retrieved 6 November 2002.
  4. "Global Sports To Acquire Ashford.com Inc". GSI. Retrieved 17 September 2001.
  5. "The Internet Retailer 2013 Top 500 Guide". Internet Retailer Magazine.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.