Vizio Inc. Chief Executive William Wang steered the seller of flat TVs through another strong year despite worries about slumping consumer demand.
In 2009, Vizio estimates it sold around 6 million TVs, up from 3.6 million in 2008. Vizio saw about $2.5 billion in revenue last year, up from about $2 billion a year earlier.
For the first six months of 2009, Vizio was the biggest seller of liquid-crystal display flat-screen TVs in the U.S. by shipments, beating out other household names such as Samsung Group, Royal Philips Electronics NV and Sony Corp.
South Korea’s Samsung took the top spot from Vizio in the third quarter, according to data from iSuppli Corp., an El Segundo-based market tracker.
Fourth-quarter figures haven’t yet been released.
Wang also expanded Vizio into new products last year, adding Blu-ray DVD players, speakers and cables. The company also started selling in Canada and Mexico.
“What’s great about William is that he is the product visionary,” said Laynie Newsome, cofounder and vice president of marketing communications. “I know he takes great pride in helping us define the product roadmap and the details of the products in terms of the look and the feel.”
Vizio broadened its marketing last year to appeal to women and environmentally conscious shoppers with new advertising campaigns.
It’s running commercials during “Des-perate Housewives,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Supernanny” and other shows that appeal to women.
In April, Vizio opened up a customer support and sales office at the old South Dakota stomping grounds of Irvine-based PC maker Gateway Inc., now part of Taiwan’s Acer Inc.
Vizio sells low-priced, liquid-crystal display and plasma screen TVs through retailers such as Costco Wholesale Corp., Target Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Sears Holdings Corp.
The TVs are designed in Irvine and made in Asia.
Wang, a native of Taiwan, started Vizio in 2002.
