JLab Audio is an American consumer audio brand founded in 2005.[1] The company began by making value priced in-ear headphones, but has since expanded to include premium in-ear and over-ear headphones, as well as wireless headphones and Bluetooth speakers.[2]
History
JLab was founded by Joshua Rosenfield in 2005 in Tucson, Arizona, where they operated until 2012 when they relocated to Oceanside, California.[3] This occurred after the company was purchased in January by a Dallas, Texas-based private equity group and leadership transitioned to current CEO, Winthrop Cramer. Winthrop lead the Company to a top 5 headphone brand in the US market and initiated a global sales plan to further accelerate growth. Winthrop was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2019, a top 40 under 40 in CE by Dealerscope.
After growing more than 250 percent from 2015 to 2017, JLab moved into a new facility in Carlsbad, California to support its growth.[4] JLab became the official audio partner of Major League Soccer in 2017.[5]
It was purchased in 2021 by Noritsu.[6]
JLab has made the INC 5000 list five times between 2010 and 2020[7] and two INC 5000 California regional awards as No. 131 each year (2020 and 2021).[8]
News
During the COVID-19 pandemic, JLab donated 3,000 headphones in its home county of San Diego to help distance learning. "At a time when many students are lacking the equipment necessary to successfully participate in distance learning while at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, local company JLab Audio has answered the need and donated 3,000 pairs of its neon on-air headphones to San Diego County students," according to the San Diego county office of education.[9] The company went on the donate more than 22,000 headphones[10] for remote learning to other communities including Los Angeles through their LA Galaxy partnership,[11] Atlanta United,[12] and New York.[13]
JLab became the No. 3 most innovative companies in Fast Company's consumer electronics sector for "for building a virtual fitting room for its best-selling, under-$100 wireless earbuds."[14]
References
- ^ Krueger, Christy (2011-01-16). "Interview with JLab CEO". Biz Tucson. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
- ^ "Headphones, Earphones, Earbuds, USB Laptop Speakers, Cases & Accessories". JLab Audio. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
- ^ PAT MAIO pmaio@nctimes.com 5 p.m.July 6, 2012 (2012-07-06). "JLab moves from Tucson to Oceanside to hire talented workers". UTSanDiego.com. Retrieved 2014-01-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "JLab Audio Moves to Larger Facility in Carlsbad". San Diego Business Journal. March 2017. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ "JLab music to the ears of MLS as league's first audio partner". www.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ https://ssl4.eir-parts.net/doc/7744/ir_material_for_fiscal_ym2/98779/00.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "JLab Audio". Inc.com. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ "JLab Inc 5000 listing". Inc.com. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ^ [1]"At a time when many students are lacking the equipment necessary to successfully participate in distance learning while at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, local company JLab Audio has answered the need and donated 3,000 pairs of its neon on-air headphones to San Diego County students," according to the San Diego county office of education.
- ^ JLab (8 January 2021). "JLab Audio Ambassadors & Partners Donate 22,000 earbuds". JLab. Retrieved 2021-04-01.
- ^ "JLab Audio and LA Galaxy extend partnership; JLab Audio to donate $100,000 in earphones to LA Galaxy Foundation". 2021-01-21.
- ^ "Atlanta United announces partnership with JLab Audio". December 10, 2020.
- ^ "New York Red Bulls Marketing Partners Hackensack Meridian Health and JLab Audio Give Back to the Community During the Holiday Season". 2021-01-21.
- ^ "The 10 most innovative consumer electronics companies in 2020". Fast Company. 2020-03-10. Retrieved 2021-04-01.