History

The Vision

It’s often said that great entrepreneurial stories begin in humble places, and our journey is no exception. The story of Clickstop commenced in the garage of Tim and Nicole Guenther, driven by two things:

Capitalizing on Emerging eCommerce Opportunities

Back in those early days, eCommerce was still in its infancy, but the Guenthers saw the potential. They recognized the opportunity to connect with customers in a way that would transcend traditional sales and deliveries.

Creating a Better Place to Work

Simultaneously, they aspired to build an organization that would be more than just a business; it would be a community, a place where employees thrived.

With a “nothing to lose” mindset, we took the plunge, and in August 2005, the US Cargo Control website was born. It was a leap into the world of eCommerce before it became a common strategy, allowing us to reach a wider customer base than ever before.

Our Rapid Growth and Expansion

The results were nothing short of remarkable. In just our first year, our revenue skyrocketed from $14,000 to an astounding $1 million. This early success opened the door to a world of opportunities.

Our journey quickly took us beyond our flagship brand of US Cargo Control. We reinvested our earnings back into the company, a pivotal choice that would drive transformation. As our operations outgrew the confines of the Guenther’s garage, we rented office and inventory space at a turkey farm nestled between Hudson and Cedar Falls, Iowa.

But by January 2007, the need for more space continued to be undeniable. We opened our Bing Miller Lane office but found ourselves quickly in need of a new home again.

Our permanent headquarters beckoned in Urbana, Iowa, just off Interstate 380. We constructed our office on Blue Creek Drive in 2011 with a warehouse expansion added on in 2013 as a result of exponential growth.

By June 2017, our headquarters blossomed into a sprawling 135,000-square-foot hub. This expansion wasn’t just about square footage; it was about creating an environment where employees and guests could experience enjoyment, foster connections, and encourage collaboration.

To maintain our commitment to delivering what our customers need when they need it, we embarked on strategic expansion efforts in 2021 and 2022, marked by two significant milestones:

Walking the Talk: An Ownership Mindset

Central to our journey are our unwavering mission and core values. We don’t merely proclaim these values; we live them. Our actions align with our values, creating a culture where we relentlessly pursue our mission while fostering meaningful growth for our team members. This alignment is the bedrock of our competitive advantage.

Although we don’t actively seek awards, the results achieved by our dedicated employee-owners have earned us local, regional, and national recognition, of which we are immensely proud.

A pivotal moment in Clickstop’s history was our transition to an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company. This transformative decision marked a new chapter for us and had several important implications:

  • It allowed our employees to reap the financial rewards of being part of a healthy, growing company.
  • It naturally resonated with our long-standing expectation of taking ownership of our work.
  • It provided another way to invest in our engaged employees, transforming the lives of individuals within our organization.

Throughout all the chapters of our history, one constant remains: our unwavering commitment to driving business growth and personal development, all in harmony with our mission — to create a business that is enjoyable, sustainable, and provides opportunities for those who seek it.

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