OtterBox

Otter Products, LLC
Founder Curt Richardson
Headquarters Fort Collins, Colorado, United States
Area served
 International
Key people
 Curt Richardson, Peter Lindgren
Products Mobile phone cases and Screen protectors
Revenue $2 billion [1]
Number of employees
 550[1]
Subsidiaries LifeProof
Website otterbox.com

OtterBox is a privately owned consumer electronics accessory company based in Fort Collins, Colorado that produces water resistant, shock resistant, and drop resistant cases for mobile devices. The company was founded in 1998 as a manufacturer of water resistant boxes and device-specific smartphone and tablet cases for outdoor enthusiasts.[2] Since then, the company has specialized in protective cases for smartphones, both water resistant and not.

History

In 1991, Curt Richardson made his first “Otterbox”, a completely water resistant box, in his garage in response to an increase in the popularity of water sports.[3] Richardson launched a company based on his finished 1995 Otterbox in 1998.[4] He was strongly influenced by the 1985 book about business theories, E-Myth.[3] In 2001, the company began to produce iPod cases,[4] which were introduced in 2004.[5] OtterBox left the market in 2010 to focus on mobile devices and technologies.[4] As of 2012, the company provides protection accessories for battlefield military technology.[6]

By early 2009, OtterBox had approximately 70 employees.[3] The company opened a 10-employee Ireland office in 2010 to handle the European, Middle Eastern, and African markets,[3] a Hong Kong office in 2011.[7] and later, a small Dubai sales office.[4] In 2012, OtterBox had 363 employees.[8] Curt Richardson announced he would be stepping down as CEO and taking the position of Chairman in July 2012.[9] He was replaced by Brian Thomas.[9]

Three start-up businesses grew from OtterBox: Nerdy Minds, Wild Rock PR, and 1OAK Technologies.[10] All three founders of these businesses worked at OtterBox and now are backed by the company as they continue to develop their products and services.[10] On May 22, 2013, Otterbox acquired the San Diego-based smartphone and tablet case manufacturer LifeProof.[11] OtterBox made $347.5 million in revenue in 2011.[8]

In November 2014, the company announced the departure of CEO Brian Thomas. The company has appointed the company’s president Peter Lindgren to the role of CEO to replace Thomas.[12]

Products

As of 2015, OtterBox provides cases for products by Amazon.com, Apple, BlackBerry, Google (Nexus), HTC, LG, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, OnePlus, and Samsung.[13] The company has produced ten different lines of cases: the Achiever Series, the Defender Series, the Resurgence Series, the Symmetry Series, the Commuter Series, the Reflex Series, the Armor series, the Prefix Series, the Preserver series, the Profile series, the Strada series, the Statement series and the Drybox series. The Armor, Prefix, Reflex, Preserver, and Drybox series are no longer in production.[13]

The company also manufactures screen protectors under their "Clearly Protected" line.

Honors and awards

In 2012, the company was named one of the Best Medium Workplaces by Great Place To Work for its expanding workforce, "carefree and creative habitat", and 24 hours of paid time off for employee volunteer work. Their OtterCares foundation has donated over 3 million dollars since 2012, and primarily focuses on education for young children.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Otterbox on the Forbes America's Most Promising Companies List". Forbes. Forbes. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  2. ↑ April Joyner. "How I Reinvented My Business". Inc.com. Retrieved May 2012. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kristen Tatti (7–20 May 2010). "Richardson out of the garage for good". Northern Colorado Business Report. Retrieved 2 December 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Joyner, April. "How I Reinvented My Business". Inc. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  5. ↑ Dennis Lloyd (13 May 2004). "OtterBox announces oPod - water resistant case for iPod". iLounge. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "OtterBox-Arming the Military with Rugged Technology". OtterBox. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  7. ↑ "9 News".
  8. 1 2 "OtterBox". Inc. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  9. 1 2 "OtterBox Evolution Continues with New Executive Leadership". Reuters. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  10. 1 2 Armbrister, Molly. "Three new companies spring from OtterBox's success". Northern Colorado Business Report. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  11. ↑ http://media.otterbox.com/press-release/company/otterbox-acquires-lifeproof
  12. ↑ Ferrier, Pat. "OtterBox announces leadership change". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Products". OtterBox. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "#7 - Best Medium Workplaces: OtterBox", Great Place to Work Institute of the United States, San Francisco, 2012.
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