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Headquarters:
One Dell Way
Round Rock, TX 78682
Employees: 88,200
CEO: Michael Dell
Stock Symbol: DELL
Website: http://www.dell.com
Dell is one of the world's leading maker of personal computers. It also makes and sells servers, printers, monitors and flat-screen TVs. Dell sells and ships its products directly to customers and bypasses stores. The company does most of its business via its website and advertises heavily on TV, magazines and its own catalogs.
Most computers are built and shipped according to customer specifications. Dell is known for selling quality hardware at reasonable prices. Most of the company's sales are through corporations, government, education, hospitals and small businesses. The company began selling computers in 2007 through Wal-Mart that have already been built.
Dell shut down kiosks in 140 malls around the country to concentrate on selling in stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Staples in the U.S.; Tesco and Dixon's Stores (DSGi) based in the U.K. and Carrefour based in France. More than 10,000 retail stores worldwide now offer Dell products.
The company held the lead in total shipments for several years but has been overtaken by HP in 2006.
In April, Dell announced it would close a computer manufacturing plant in Austin and lay off 900 workers. The company could cut at least 8,800 jobs by the end of the year.
In fiscal 2008, Dell reported revenues of $61.1 billion, up 6% from the previous year. Desktop computers made up 32% of revenue and laptops 28%.
History
Michael Dell founded his company in 1984 while a student at the University of Texas. He was fascinated with the inner-workings of computers and started a business where he could build his own computers and sell them directly to customers.
In 1985, Dell introduces the first computer system of its own design; the Turbo, featuring an Intel 8088 processor running at eight megahertz. In 1987, Dell opened a UK subsidiary and also became the first computer company to offer next-day, on-site product service.
The company went public in 1988 and in 1989 introduced its first notebook computer.
In 2001, Dell eclipsed Hewlett-Packard to become the No. 1 seller of computers worldwide.
The company operates manufacturing centers in Austin, TX and Nashville, TN. It announced plans to construct a third facility near Winston Salem, NC this year. The 527,000 square-foot facility is expected to employ 1,500 workers and will produce Dell's OptiPlex and Dimension desktop computers.
Benefits
Dell offers a comprehensive employee benefits package that lets workers choose from a selection of health, dental and vision plans or build their own. The company also offers flexible spending accounts and life insurance coverage.
401(k)
Under Dell's current 401(k) retirement plan, employees may invest
up to 25% of their annual pre-tax salary through convenient payroll
deductions. Dell will match the first 3% of savings dollar-for-dollar.
401(k) investments from previous employers may be rolled over
into this account. All employees are eligible to participate
in the Dell 401(k) Plan as of their start date with Dell.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Employees are able to purchase company stock at a 15% discount
through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. (In fact, the discount
could effectively be much more than this, if the stock price
increases during a set six month period.) An employee can participate
through paycheck deductions up to 15% of their eligible earnings.
Full-time employees are eligible for the program after completing
90 calendar days of employment with Dell.
In addition to the benefits mentioned above,
Dell offers:
- Paid vacation based on years of service
- Paid holidays, including an extended week for Christmas/New
Years, to most employees
- Personal Business Allowance (PBA) Dell offers paid time off
for personal reasons such as; illness, medical appointments,
closing on a home, and childcare obligations.
- Leave of Absence Dell provides eligible employees with up to
12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave in a rolling 12-month
period for certain qualifying conditions in accordance with the
federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). Dell also
provides Military Leave and, under certain circumstances, Company
Discretionary Leave.
- "Friends For Hire" (Employee Referral Program)
- Adoption Assistance
- Discounts on Dell Products
- Employee Fitness Center
Updated April 3, 2008