Element Electronics
{{Short description|American consumer electronics company}}
{{notability|Companies|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Element Electronics
| logo = File:Element electronics logo.png
| logo_caption = Element Electronics logo as of Nov 2020
| type = Private
| location = 392 US Hwy 321 Bypass South, Winnsboro, South Carolina, U.S. 29108
| key_people = Mike O'Shaughnessy, Founder / CEO
Vlad Kazhdan, President
| industry = Consumer electronics
| products = 4K UHD TVs, LED TVs, QLED TVs, monitors, soundbars, appliances
| homepage = {{url|http://elementelectronics.com}}
}}
Element Electronics is a privately held American consumer electronics company in South Carolina.
History
Element Electronics is a private company specializing in the sale of affordable televisions, monitors, soundbars, and a diverse range of appliances. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in Winnsboro, South Carolina. Element Electronics has expanded its presence, with additional offices located in Minnesota, Arkansas, and Georgia.
In a significant development in 2012, Element Electronics inaugurated its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Winnsboro, South Carolina, covering a 315,000 square feet (approximately 29,300 square meters).{{cite news |title=Element Electronics Establishing New Television Production Facility in Fairfield County |url=https://www.sccommerce.com/news/element-electronics-establishing-new-television-production-facility-fairfield-county |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=August 22, 2013}}{{cite news |title=Element Electronics: Reinvesting In American Jobs |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/element-electronics-reinvesting-in-american-jobs-220711711.html |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=August 22, 2013}} This milestone marked Element Electronics as a distinctive player in the consumer electronics industry, as it became the only major television company assembling televisions in the United States.
Manufacturing
Element Electronics is recognized for their contribution to the American job market, employing nearly 500 individuals across various locations in the United States.{{Cite news|url=https://www.twice.com/news/entering-its-element-exclusive-qa-mike-oshaughnessy-63176|title=Entering Its Element: An Exclusive Q&A With Mike O'Shaughnessy|date=2016-10-07|newspaper=Twice|access-date=2017-02-10|language=en}}
In 2018, Element Electronics supported a tariff on products from China as they compete against low-cost televisions from China. Eventually, the tariff extended to internal parts of televisions such as liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels and circuit boards that Element Electronics import from China.{{cite web |last1=Borak |first1=Julia Horowitz and Donna |title=This small company liked Trump's tariffs. Now it's fighting to keep its factory open |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/24/news/companies/element-electronics-tariffs/index.html |website=CNNMoney |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=24 August 2018}} This led to an initial plan to close the Winnsboro plant and lay off 126 employees.{{cite web |last1=Horowitz |first1=Julia |title=This company is laying off almost all its workers because of tariffs |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/08/08/news/companies/tariff-job-cuts/index.html?iid=EL |website=CNN Money |publisher=Cable News Network |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=8 August 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Wilks |first1=Avery |title=Fairfield losing another 126 jobs after TV-maker closes plant, citing Trump tariffs |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article216196580.html |website=The State |publisher=McClatchy Media Network |access-date=7 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241107182918/https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article216196580.html |archive-date=November 7, 2024}} However, Element Electronics was later granted a tariff exclusion and canceled its plans to close its Winsboro plant.{{cite web |title=Element Electronics wins tariff exclusion, won't close plant |url=https://columbiabusinessreport.com/element-electronics-wins-tariff-exclusion-wont-close-plant/ |website=Columbia Business Report |publisher=BridgeTower Media |access-date=7 November 2024 |date=19 September 2018}}
Element Electronics has been criticized by the Alliance for American Manufacturing for misrepresenting its actual extent of American manufacturing content, and has filed a petition with the Federal Trade Commission in 2014 over its fraudulent advertising claims.{{cite web |last1=Brotherton-Bunch |first1=Elizabeth |title=Element Electronics Isn't the Trade War Victim It's Pretending to Be |url=https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/element-electronics-isnt-the-trade-war-victim-its-pretending-to-be/ |website=Alliance for American Manufacturing |date=9 August 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Brotherton-Bunch |first1=Elizabeth |title=AAM Files FTC Petition Against Element Electronics |url=https://www.americanmanufacturing.org/blog/aam-files-ftc-petition-against-element-electronics/ |website=Alliance for American Manufacturing |date=12 November 2014}}
Campaigns
Heisman Trophy winner and Fox Sports analyst Matt Leinart starred in a national TV campaign for Element Electronics in the fall of 2016. The campaign included an Element-branded, on-air integration on Fox Sports called "Right Moves with Matt Leinart", featuring Leinart breaking down the best college football plays of the week. This was Element Electronics' first national TV campaign.{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160901005425/en/Matt-Leinart-Brings-Action-Home-Campaign-Element|title=Matt Leinart Brings the Action Home in New Campaign for Element Electronics {{!}} Business Wire|website=www.businesswire.com|date=September 2016 |language=en|access-date=2017-02-10}}
Products
Element Electronics offers a wide range of televisions integrated with Xumo, Google TV, and Roku TV smart streaming platforms. Their televisions range in size from 19” to 86”.{{cite news |title=Element Electronics TVs |url=https://elementelectronics.com/tv/shop |access-date=16 October 2023}} They also offer monitors, sound bars, and major appliances: refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, ranges, microwaves, and air conditioners.
In 2020, Element Electronics expanded its product portfolio by entering the appliance market. They introduced a line of refrigerators and freezers, further diversifying their offerings.{{cite news |title=The Element Family Grows with Addition of Appliances. |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200806005683/en/The-Element-Family-Grows-with-Addition-of-Appliances |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=August 6, 2020}}{{cite news |title=The Element Family Grows with Addition of Appliances |url=https://apnews.com/70632e8237e04725afdf392de65c05df |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=August 6, 2020}}
In 2022, the company launched a noteworthy product – an Outdoor Roku TV, specifically designed to withstand various weather conditions. This product catered to outdoor entertainment enthusiasts and further solidified Element Electronics' presence in the smart TV market with the first outdoor Roku TV.{{cite news |title=Element Debuts the First Roku TV Made for the Outdoors |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/element-debuts-the-first-ever-roku-tv-made-for-the-outdoors |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=May 19, 2022}}{{cite news |title=Element launches first Roku TV meant for outdoor viewing |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/element-roku-outdoor-tv-ncna1295529 |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=May 19, 2022}}
In 2023, Element Electronics formed strategic partnerships with Xumo and Google TV. This collaboration led to the introduction of the 300, 400, and 500 Series Element TVs, providing consumers with a wider range of options for their home entertainment needs.{{cite news |title=Xumo Expands Smart TV Portfolio with Element Line of 4K Ultra HD TVs in 2023 |url=https://corporate.comcast.com/press/releases/xumo-world-class-entertainment-operating-system-element-smart-tvs-2023 |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=January 5, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Comcast-Charter streaming JV tunes in Element Electronics as smart TV partner |url=https://www.lightreading.com/video-broadcast/comcast-charter-streaming-jv-tunes-in-element-electronics-as-smart-tv-partner |access-date=16 October 2023 |date=January 5, 2023}}