Jasco has large global impact

Tucked away at the corner of Edmond is a booming family business whose low-key exterior may not always reveal the size and reach of its tremendous global impact. After all, how can you truly appreciate a hidden gem like this 60-acre sprawling economic center from your car at a stoplight?

This campus now employs 128 Edmond-area residents as part of their 400+ employees across the globe. Jasco supplies products to nearly 50-60 manufacturers worldwide, while their headquarters near our hometown leads to plenty of economic wealth, employment, and community charity for Edmond.

While some employees work in Bentonville, Arkansas, near the home base of Wal-Mart, and others work near Charlotte, North Carolina to be close to the Lowe’s headquarters – the majority of Jasco employees are right here in Oklahoma, at the edge of Edmond.

Online and in big-box retailers

One of those Edmond executives is Vice President of Digital Marketing and E-commerce Jeff Cato, who has been with Jasco for a little more than three years.

“We’re having our best year ever. Online sales continue to be a huge area of growth for us. We look for that growth to continue into the future too,” Cato said. “A lot of people are fixing up their homes in 2020, and the movement to work from home has been big for us.”

If you scrolled through Target.com or even Amazon to click and tap your way through this pandemic, you might have been purchasing a product whose design and distribution was sourced right from your own backyard, near Edmond, Oklahoma! 

Jasco has over 3,000 products that you might commonly purchase through Best Buy, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, or Target. In fact, the team at Jasco is more than a distributor of products. They are the trusted manufacturer for over a dozen well-known brands, such as G.E., Energizer, Honeywell, and Phillips.

“Jasco designs and develops innovative products to simplify your life and connect your home,” said Cato. “The company leads the market in lighting fixtures, lighting controls, consumer electronics, power protection, and charging products. We market our products under some of the world’s most recognizable brand names and distribute them through virtually every major retailer.”

The next time you’re standing in a big-box retailer looking to purchase a Smart Switch that allows your home to communicate directly with Google or Alexa, you can probably thank Jasco. Their name may not be on the Home Depot building in neon lights; their name may not even be printed on the General Electric package, but Jasco is there every step of that product’s journey.

Challenges in 2020

During the unique challenges 2020 has brought us here in Edmond, Jasco has kept our supply chain going. They’ve been busy designing and distributing everything, including consumer electronic goods, landscape lighting, timers, remotes, antennas, and TV mounts. They supply the cabling for your computers and even the colored, decorative, braided extension cords you used to brighten up your new home office space.

The 75,000 square-foot offices and a 600,000 square-foot distribution center is a huge employer for Edmond and probably impacts dozens of products you plug in or turn on at your home or office every day.

Jasco’s Chief Financial Officer, Greg Shuler, also an Edmond resident, said, “We’ve made some significant investments in inventory which allows us to be a top-of-the-line supplier that assures our customers never run out of product. If an Edmond consumer goes to any number of retailers in our city – including Big Lots, Costco, Sam’s, Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart, they can count on our product being there.” 

Their products are truly all over Edmond! According to Shuler, “Within just a five-mile radius around Jasco, there’s no less than 10 places you can shop and find our products.” Those who are life-long Edmondites may remember that Jasco took over the old Fleming warehouse property off Santa Fe and Memorial Road, but do you know the impact Edmond sees from this 45-year-old family business?

History of Jasco

Steve Trice started the company in 1975, and now his sons, Cameron Trice and Jason Trice, both serve as company chief executive officers. Both Cameron and Jason grew up in Edmond Public Schools when they were young. “They’ve got great leadership that sees where the industry is headed,” said Cato. “We don’t just see it, but we can do it at Jasco!”

One of the things Cato enjoys about working with the company is how the leadership team shows their caring culture. “They think about the employees first and foremost,” Cato said. “They provide a lot of tools and resources for us, such as a 6% matching 401k, as well as Dave Ramsey courses, and marriage retreats. Jasco also gives people a chance to serve, like with the Regional Food Bank or Habitat for Humanity. They even financially match or double match employee giving to charities.”

Jasco gives away 50% of its net profit to charitable causes, making a significant impact on communities. “I love the high integrity to do the right thing,” said Cato. “Every purchase on our website www.byjasco.com helps charitable initiatives that change and save lives around the world. People will notice they can direct their purchases toward helping with Food, Water, or even Natural Disaster Relief.” 

Shuler confirmed the enthusiasm. “We have a friendly culture with excellent benefits. It’s my favorite place I’ve ever been,” he said. After six years working with Jasco, Shuler loves the company perks, like the on-site fitness center. And as CFO, he also highlights the fact that “Jasco has a $15 minimum wage, along with a monthly bonus plan that allows most people to make at least $18 dollars an hour or more.”

To learn more, visit the Jasco website or follow Jasco on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on their latest innovations.