Fossil Group

For the astronomical classification, see Galaxy group § Fossil Groups.
Fossil Group, Inc.
Public
Traded as NASDAQ: FOSL
Industry Recreational Goods
Founded 1984 (1984)
Founder Tom Kartsotis[1]
Headquarters Richardson, Texas, United States
Number of locations
 364[2]
Key people
 Tom Kartsotis, Chairman
Kosta N. Kartsotis, CEO
Michael Barnes , COO
Dennis R. Secor , CFO
Products Watches, Wallets, Designer Jewelry, Designer Fragrance (Men's & Women's 1984), Women's Handbags, Various Leather Products: Computer Bags, Backpacks, Belts, and much more!
Revenue
  • Increase US$ 3,259.971 million (2013) [3]
  • Increase US$ 2,857.508 million (2012) [3]
  • Increase US$ 561.596 million (2013) [3]
  • Increase US$ 488.84 million (2012) [3]
  • Increase US$ 378.152 million (2013) [3]
  • Increase US$ 343.401 million (2012) [3]
Total assets
  • Increase US$ 2,230.414 million (2013) [4]
  • Increase US$ 1,841.989 million (2012) [3]
Total equity
  • Decrease US$ 1,075.367 million (2013) [4]
  • Increase US$ 1,240.464 million (2012) [4]
Number of employees
 10,500 (2010)[5]
Website www.fossil.com
Fossil store, Oxford Street, London, 2016

Fossil Group, Inc. is an American fashion designer and manufacturer founded in 1984 by Tom Kartsotis and based in Richardson, Texas. Their brands include Fossil, Relic, Abacus, Michele Watch & Now Coach NY, Skagen Denmark and Zodiac Watches. Fossil also makes licensed accessories for brands such as Adidas, Emporio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Burberry, DKNY, Diesel and Armani Exchange.

CEO Kosta Kartsotis owns approximately 12% of Fossil stock. The company name represents the nickname the brothers had for their father.[6]

Company history

Fossil was founded in 1984 as Overseas Products International by Tom Kartsotis, a former Texas A&M University student living in Dallas from a suggestion by his older brother, Kosta Kartsotis, a merchandising executive at Sanger-Harris. Kosta told his younger brother about the potential large profits that could be made in importing retail goods made in the Far East, specifically in importing moderately-priced fashion watches.[1] Their main product was fashion watches with a retro look. In 1990, they introduced leather goods under the Fossil brand, and the Relic line of watches.

Fossil had its initial public offering in 1993.[1][7]

Zodiac Watches was a Swiss brand that had been operating since 1882 when Fossil acquired it from Genender International in 2001 for $4.7 million.[8] Fossil's desire to establish a Swiss presence led to the purchase of the Zodiac Watch brand and a complete retooling of that line to reflect a retro modern 1970s style in a higher end watch. The 2004 purchase of Michele Watch completed the cycle by offering a high-end Swiss watch with a designer flair.

In September 2007, Fossil was accused of infringing a patent owned by Financial Innovations Systems, LLC, in a lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Texas. The case was settled for an undisclosed amount and dismissed shortly thereafter.[9]

The Watch Station International chain was purchased from Luxottica/Sunglass Hut in December 2007.[10]

Fossil has manufacturing facilities in China and Switzerland and distribution centers in Dallas, Germany, and Asia.[11]

In 2012 Fossil, Inc. agreed to purchase Skagen Designs, Ltd. and some of its partners for approximately $225 million in cash and 150,000 Fossil shares. The total value paid by Fossil would be approximately $236.8 million.[12][13]

In early 2013, Fossil introduced their upscale and more expensive "Fossil Swiss" line of watches which are made in Switzerland.[14][15]

In November 2015, Fossil acquired Misfit for $260 million, with plans to incorporate Misfit's technology into traditional-looking watches.[16]

License business

Previous logo for the Fossil Group.

Fossil has financial success with its own brands and this success has led a number of deals for licensed watch lines. In 2001, Fossil collaborated with designer Philippe Starck to create the Starck with Fossil watch collection. The collection features ultra-modern designs and unique movement. Other licensed watch lines that Fossil designs, manufactures, and distributes include Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Columbia Sportswear, Diesel, Frank Gehry, Karl Lagerfeld, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Callaway Golf, Davis Cup, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Skagen Designs, Michele, and Adidas. When referencing Fossil's watch lines, they are generally regarded as a "manufacturer"; Fossil also designs and manufacture their own movements under the Fossil Twist Line.[17]

Special products

The Fossil Wrist PDA released in 2003, which runs Palm OS

In addition, the company produces collectibles, some of which are based on popular films or pop culture characters. Previous designs include: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Elvis Presley, Pirates of the Caribbean, Flash, Green Lantern, Snoopy, Pokémon, Star Wars, Chronicles of Narnia, Cars and The Matrix.

In 2003, the company released the "Fossil Wrist PDA" wristwatch computer which is a tiny Palm OS-based PDA worn like a watch. In 2006, Fossil released a Caller ID watch.[18]

In 2006, Fossil teamed up with the National Football League in the United States to make the official watch collection for each team.[19] Fossil also caters to special markets that seek to customize products.[20]

Awards

Fossil won awards for "Most Effective Use of Online Creative" and "Best of Show" awards for the 6th Annual DFWIMA Excellence in Interactive Marketing (in 2006).[21] Fossil has also been voted one of the Top 100 Best Companies to work for in the U.K in 2013 and 2015.[22][23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Fossil Company History", Funding Universe
  2. ↑ Fossil 2010 Annual Report
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fossil Group, Inc. 2013 Annual Report Form (10-K)" (XBRL). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. February 26, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "Fossil Group, Inc. 2014 Q1 Quarterly Report Form (10-Q)" (XBRL). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. May 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Profile: Fossil", Hoover's
  6. ↑ McHugh, Josh, "Wrist-Top Revolution: How fashion watchmaker Fossil teamed up with Microsoft and Palm to change the face of wearable computing", Wired, Issue 11.04, April 2003
  7. ↑ Wood, Sean, "Watchmaker Plans IPO to Fund Acquisitions, Expansion", Dallas Business Journal, February 7, 1992, p. 3.
  8. ↑ "QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 : For the quarterly period ended: October 6, 2001"
  9. ↑ "Docket: Defendant: Fossil Inc"
  10. ↑ http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/opic-cipo/trdmrks/srch/vwTrdmrk.do;jsessionid=0001svBozC48VoFgqklv-VQJduw:-1080N6R?lang=eng&fileNumber=879321 https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/883569/000119312512089155/d265438d10k.htm
  11. ↑ Halkias, Maria, "Fossil watches empire grow: Popular company marks 20th year", The Dallas Morning News, January 8, 2005
  12. ↑ Thompson, Steven R., "Fossil to acquire accessory maker for $225M", Dallas Business Journal, Tuesday, January 10, 2012
  13. ↑ "Fossil to acquire accessory maker for $225M", Yahoo! Finance, Zacks Equity Research, Wed, January 11, 2012
  14. ↑ "Introducing Fossil Swiss", Fossil corporate blog, February 2013.
  15. ↑ Steigrad, Alexandra, "Fossil Adds Swiss Men's Watches", Women's Wear Daily, February 7, 2013
  16. ↑ "Fossil acquires wearable maker Misfit for $260 million", The Verge, November 12, 2015.
  17. ↑ FOSSIL Watches, Handbags, Wallets & Clothing: About
  18. ↑ Segan, Sascha, "Fossil To Sell Caller ID Watch", PC Magazine, September 28, 2006
  19. ↑ "Fossil to make NFL watch". 2006-10-04.
  20. ↑ "Fossil Special Markets Division", Fossil corporate
  21. ↑ "Excellence in Interactive Marketing Awards (EIMA)", DFW Dallas-Fort Worth Interactive Marketing Association
  22. ↑
  23. ↑

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