Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of more than $13 billion, 68,000 employees and nearly 50 manufacturing and technology centers around the globe. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Brastemp, Bauknecht, Consul and other major brand names to consumers in more than 170 countries.
Whirlpool Corporation also is a significant supplier to Sears Holdings Corp., which owns and controls the Kenmore brand name.
Mission Statement/Guiding Principles
Every Home...Everywhere with Pride Passion and Performance
Ticker Symbol
WHR; Whirlpool Corp. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
2004 Financial Highlights
(millions of dollars, except per share data)
Net sales
$ 13,220
Earnings from continuing operations
$406
Net earnings (loss)
$406, or $5.90 per share on a diluted basis
Shares outstanding (in 000's at 12/31/04
66,604
Number of employees (at 12/31/04)
68,000
Leadership
Over the last decade, Whirlpool Corporation has transformed itself from a regional manufacturing and trade-focused business into a global, consumer-driven enterprise. Now the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, the success of Whirlpool's global business is driven by its ability to truly understand and fulfill customer needs, develop highly innovative branded solutions, effectively serve trade partners and continuously improve productivity and quality. These capabilities define Whirlpool's differentiated value creation strategy and give the company the advantages it is using to effectively manage the challenges of the global marketplace today and in the years ahead.
Customer Loyalty
Creating unmatched customer loyalty for our brands is the cornerstone of our strategy. This simple idea is based on an in-depth understanding of our customers’ needs, wants and expectations, so that we can consistently deliver unique, innovative solutions to meet or exceed these expectations. The success of our strategy depends on knowing the rational and emotional drivers that build customer loyalty for a brand.
As a company, we are learning and building new skills that will enable us to better earn customer loyalty. In a rapidly changing global marketplace, our customers are more knowledgeable and have more choices than ever before. We understand this and believe our efforts to build unmatched loyalty for Whirlpool Corporation brands will make them the best choice for many customers and provide Whirlpool with a unique and differentiated value creation strategy.
Innovation
Delivering a continuous stream of innovation to consumers is central to our business strategy because it ensures that we are providing a brand experience unmatched within the appliance industry. To accomplish this, our people at every level are harnessing creative thinking and turning it into market realities. Innovation is ingrained in Whirlpool’s culture, with more than 5,000 employees trained and actively involved in innovation initiatives.
Social Responsibility
At Whirlpool we strongly believe in the principles of Corporate Responsibility - of achieving success in ways that honor ethical values and respect people, communities and the natural environment. Equal to protecting the health and safety of our employees, we consider environmental stewardship among our most important business responsibilities. This belief is only reinforced as our operations extend to virtually every corner of the globe.
2005 Awards
* One of 100 Best Corporate Citizens (Business Ethics
magazine)
* One of Top 20 U.S. Companies for Leaders (Chief Executive
magazine)
* One of 25 Noteworthy Companies for Diversity (DiversityInc
magazine)
* 2005 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year
* Partner in Progress Award (Sears Holdings Corp.)
* 2005 Impact Player and Master of Design (awarded to
Whirlpool Corp.” vice president for global consumer design
by Fast Company magazine)
* One of Top 100 Employers for College Graduates (Black
Collegian magazine)
* Honorable Mentions for Best Corporate Careers Web site
and Most Innovative Recruiting Process or Departmental
Structure (Electronic Recruiting Exchange)
* Industrial Design Excellence Award for the new Whirlpool®
Fabric Freshener (BusinessWeek magazine and the
Industrial Designers Society of America)
Every Home, Everywhere…with pride, passion and performance.
