INDIANAPOLIS (June 9, 2008)—Since 2001, Klipsch—a global manufacturer of premium sound solutions and one of the first U.S. loudspeaker companies—has hosted an annual summer pilgrimage, honoring its most passionate audiophile fans. The 2008 weekend event will take place June 20 and 21.
If the past is any indication, this year’s celebration of everything Klipsch will bring a significant number people from around the country—and from outside it—to the company’s headquarters, located on the northwest side of Indianapolis, Ind. While it’s exciting for those who visit here, it’s equally so for Klipsch employees, who voluntarily donate time and a lot of effort to make the event a success.
Audiophiles Abound
Typically, pilgrimage guests are members of the klipsch.com online forum community, currently made up of over 29,000 registered users. And often times, the company gets return crusaders year after year.
“Much like the Grateful Dead generated a tightly knit community of ‘Deadheads’ through its concert experiences, we’ve inspired our own set of dedicated cult-status followers by way of our on-line forum,” said Amy Unger, klipsch.com forum moderator. “For many of these forum members, visiting Klipsch is like visiting the ‘promised land’.”
At this event, attendees are treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Klipsch Engineering and Technology Center, which is one of the most advanced audio research facilities in the world. Fans also interact with Klipsch staff, including executives, to learn the impact that Klipsch’s patented horn-loaded technology has made on the audio industry, and how it will influence the future of home entertainment products. And last but not least, pilgrims get to participate in new product listening sessions, where they are encouraged to provide feedback to engineering staff.
After attending last year’s Pilgrimage, forum member Chad Miller of West Lafayette, Ind. posted, “Wow. What a great day! Many thanks to the Klipsch team … Great facility, great people and great products. First class all the way around …”
A Pilgrimage that began with Hope
The annual Klipsch Pilgrimage began in February of 2001, when a small group of devout audiophiles toured the company’s Hope, Arkansas manufacturing facility, which at that time housed the engineering department. After engineering functions were relocated to Indianapolis, the event resumed and has been a staple on the Klipsch calendar ever since.
“In 2000, I was working tech support in Hope, taking calls from end users,” noted associate engineer Trey Cannon, who has been a part of every Pilgrimage. “Through that experience, I got to talk to lot of our customers. They expressed an interest in visiting the plant. I sent a request to chairman and chief executive officer Fred Klipsch, received his blessing and the Pilgrimage began—though it was first called the Hope Tour.”
For Steve Phillips, home theater customer service specialist, the event has special meaning, too—he attended the Hope Tour before joining the Klipsch staff in 2002. He has been a willing volunteer since he’s been here: “There’s a lot of work that goes into the room and system set ups; I help Trey after hours on my own time, because I really am dedicated to the success of the event and the fact that its meant a lot to me personally.”
In Touch with our Heritage
Klipsch manager of engineering operations, historian and seven-year Pilgrimage veteran Jim Hunter sees it as a way to acknowledge the company’s heritage. “I think it hearkens back to when we were a much smaller company. In those days, customer service was a part of engineering and we talked to our customers regularly, so we were close to them. These guys were—and are—rabid sound fanatics. And through the years, they’ve had impact on our products.”
For these and other company volunteers, the annual trek Klipsch customers make to Indianapolis has become a much-anticipated event. And thanks in part to their efforts, Klipsch has maintained its remarkable customer loyalty for over 60 years.