Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc. Continues Strong Growth; Makes Philadelphia 100 List of Fastest-Growing Companies For Third Consecutive Year
Chester, PA-based firm adds new jobs, new products and new division
CHESTER, PA, November 11, 2002 -
While scores of companies in the Philadelphia region were laying off workers in 2001-2002, Chester PA-based Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc. was hiring and expanding their company.
Over the past year, Educational Directories Unlimited has expanded its workforce by one-third, added a new division, launched two major new products and posted a nearly million-dollar boost in revenues. Any one of those achievements would have pleased most companies in the current moribund economy, making Educational Directories Unlimited's accomplishment all the more noteworthy.
As a result, the seven-year-old firm, which is the leading provider of online academic recruiting tools, recently made the annual Philadelphia 100 for the third consecutive year. Sponsored by the Wharton SBDC and the Entrepreneur's Forum, the Philadelphia 100 is an annual ranking of the fastest-growing privately owned businesses in the region.
"Healthy and sustained growth has been our goal since we launched StudyAbroad.com in 1995," said EDU founder and president Mark Shay. "Our consistency in the face of uncertain economic conditions is one of the things that truly sets us apart. We continue to prosper because we deliver quality and cost effective services to our academic customers."
Educational Directories Unlimited's (www.edudirectories.com) revenue rose from $1.5 million in 2000 to an estimated $2.3 million in 2001, an increase of 45 percent. Educational Directories Unlimited has seen traffic on its Web sites increase from 11.3 million unique visitors in 2001 to an estimated 15.4 million in 2002.
The firm now has over 100,000 active student registrations on its Web sites, which include StudyAbroad.com, GradSchools.com, and EducationforAdults.com. Due to the growing popularity of the sites, and in order to meet the increased demand from its clients, which include universities in the U.S. and abroad, Educational Directories Unlimited doubled its sales force and added new staff members in its operations and programming departments.
In addition to expanding its staff this past year, Educational Directories Unlimited launched EducationforAdults.com to serve the growing adult student population, capitalizing on a significant market in which institutions compete for the tuition dollars of working adults with a paycheck. In its other major release this year, Educational Directories Unlimited created a directory of undergraduate full degree programs overseas called CollegeAbroad.com.
In addition, Educational Directories Unlimited opened a consulting division created in response to institutions seeking help in transforming their Web sites into more effective recruiting tools. Educational Directories Unlimited helps colleges and universities improve their Web site content, design and marketing, as well as develop capabilities that make it easier for students to find information and request further information from the school.
"At a time when the economy is uncertain, we continue to expand and increase our hiring. We are thrilled to be named to the Philadelphia 100 for the third year in a row," said Shay. "At a time when marketing dollars are being watched more closely than ever, our longtime advertisers are increasing their online presence, and new advertisers continue to subscribe. That proves to us that we have a product line that offers outstanding ROI to colleges and universities around the world."
Rankings in the 2002 Philadelphia 100 are based solely on the two-year revenue percentage growth rate of regional, private companies between the fiscal years of 1999 and 2001. Educational Directories Unlimited finished 29th in 2000 and 31st in 2001.
Educational Directories Unlimited, committed to the region, will remain headquartered in Chester. "It's a central location with a good regional workforce," said Shay. "Now with the new, exciting projects coming into Chester - such as Rivertown, which will convert an old power plant into Class A office space - we feel we're on the leading edge of Chester's revitalization."
About Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc.
Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc. (http://www.edudirectories.com)
is a unique college-oriented marketing firm that achieves a dynamic blend of academic purpose and commerce. Among Educational Directories Unlimited's computer-based recruiting tools are several comprehensive directories: GradSchools.com (http://www.gradschools.com); StudyAbroad.com (http://www.studyabroad.com); EducationforAdults.com (http://www.educationforadults.com); CollegeAbroad.com (http://www.collegeabroad.com); Distance.GradSchools.com (http://distance.gradschools.com); Business.GradSchools.com (http://business.gradschools.com) and StudentProspector.com (http://www.studentprospector.com). The Educational Directories Unlimited systems design provides a unique utility for prospective students, advisors, and educational administrators. Since its inception in 1995, Educational Directories Unlimited and its directories have captured a significant share of the "educational shoppers" market by providing students a wealth of information in an easy to use directory format.
For more information on Educational Directories Unlimited, please contact Matt Ulmer by phone at 484-766-9200, via e-mail at mulmer@edudirectories.com.