Industrial Revolution was named eleventh on the Puget Sound Business Journals list of the fastest-growing private companies in Washington state. Basing the ranking on percentage change in revenue from 2004 to 2006, the list was announced in October 2007. The Journal reported that IR's compounded annual growth rate was 127.4%, with a 415.2% change in revenue from 2004 to 2006.
This growth has occurred under the leadership of owner, Keith Jackson, who also acts as president. Fiscally, he will continue to focus on steady growth. Socially, Industrial Revolution has partnered with the Leave No Trace organization to further its mission of responsible enjoyment of the outdoors.
Jackson purchased the UCO Candle Lantern Company in 2005. In 2004, UCO had introduced a new product to the market, the Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker. That year, approximately 10,000 units were sold. Jackson formed Industrial Revolution, Inc. in 2005 as a holding company to cover the ice cream maker and the UCO line of products. Retailers and consumers responded, pushing a surge in sales to over 200,000 units in 2006. In two years, Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker sales grew 1000 percent.
Jackson also expanded the scope of Industrial Revolution by pursuing several European companies that were seeking North American distributors such as Light My Fire from Sweden, Swiss Spice from Switzerland and Grilliput from the German company nuardis.
