RS Components

RS Components is a global trading brand of Electrocomponents plc. The company supplies electronic components; electrical, automation and control, and test and measurement equipment; and engineering tools, and consumables via e-commerce, catalogues, and trade counters.[1]

RS Components
Subsidiary
IndustryElectronic components
Founded1937
HeadquartersCorby, United Kingdom
Area served
UK, Europe, Asia, Americas
ParentElectrocomponents
Websitewww.rs-components.com

History
Key Dates[2]
1937 Founded as Radiospares
1954 Re-focused on industrial sector
1971 Re-branded as "RS Components"
1984 Corby distribution centre opened
1995 CD-ROM catalogue introduced
1995 Nuneaton distribution centre opened
1998 E-commerce web site launched[3]

J.H. Waring and P.M. Sebestyen founded the business in 1937 in London under the name Radiospares, supplying radio repair shops with spare parts – replacement electronic components and mechanical components for radio receivers and transmitters.[2] When television sets became popular, Radiospares' added television parts to their product list. By the end of World War II, the company had evolved into a large national distribution company. In 1954, the founders of Radiospares expanded the company's focus from shops and home users to the industrial sector and began selling electronic components to manufacturers. The company rebranded as RS Components in 1971. RS now has operating companies in countries worldwide, including France, Italy, and Germany, and as far afield as New Zealand and China.[4]

Operations
RS Trade Counter in Leeds.

RS Components is part of the Electrocomponents group, and has historically traded in Europe and Asia. In April 2019, RS Components launched into North America with a focus on electronic components. Electrocomponents also has an industrially focused business in the Americas: Allied Electronics. The group distributes more than 500,000 products, including electronics, automation and control components, engineering tools and consumables, to over one million customers.[5]

Electrocomponents has operations in 32 countries. The company uses a variety of channels to market including selling via e-commerce, catalogues, and trade counters.[6] The group has distribution centres around the world.[7]

In 2003, RS Components was awarded 'E-Business Strategy of the Year' by the UK National Business Awards.[8] In 2011, the company was named 'Distributor of the Year' and 'Company of the Year' at the 2011 Elektra European Electronics Industry awards.[9]

In 2012, both RS and Allied became two of the main manufacturers and distributors for the Raspberry Pi.[10][11][12] The company provides free-to-use PCB layout software, DesignSpark PCB.[13]

References
  1. "Our brands - Electrocomponents". Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  2. Walko, John (12 November 2012). "A catalogue of success: How RS Components has grown to become a global distribution power". New Electronics. p. 20. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  3. Cotton, Bob (2003-10-31). E-Selling: Sales 12.3. John Wiley & Sons. p. 59. ISBN 9781841124995. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  4. "RS Components International". Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  5. "Electrocomponents Home"
  6. "Electrocomponents: Our channels to market" Archived 2013-02-13 at the Wayback Machine. Electrocomponents.com.
  7. "Supply chain". Electrocomponents.com.
  8. "RS Components Scoop Top UK Award for Online Investment". National Business Awards. Archived from the original on 2003-12-19. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  9. "2011 Winners: Business Awards". Electraawards.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2003-12-19.
  10. Parrish, Kevin (18 April 2013). "Raspberry Pi Now Shipping From RS Components, Allied". Toms Hardware. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
  11. Say, Mark (August 4, 2013). "RS Components launches Raspberry Pi bundles". TechRadar. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
  12. Morrison, Graham (6 August 2013). "'It would be fatal if we were still shipping the same Raspberry Pi in 2016'". Linux Format Issue 173. TechRadar. Retrieved 2013-11-20.
  13. Maxfield, Clive "Max" (2013-09-13). "Allied Who? RS Who? DesignSpark What?". EE Times. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
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