Tom Kartsotis
Tom Kartsotis is the founder of the brand development firm Bedrock Manufacturing Co.,[1] which is named for The Flintstones hometown and was founded in 2003.[2] Kartsotis is the founder of Fossil Inc. in 1984 and served in roles including Director, President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman from 1984 to January 2010.[3] Kartsotis re-founded defunct shoe polish brand Shinola and re-positioned it as a wristwatch brand and global lifestyle company.[4] In June 2016, the FTC ordered Shinola to stop using 'Where American is made' as a slogan because "100% of the cost of materials used to make certain watches is attributable to imported materials."[5] Kartsotis responded with an open letter which noted that the regulations to claim "Made in America" for cars are not the same as for watches.[6]
Kartsotis has also invested in American designer Steven Alan and outdoor goods brand Filson.[7] Kartsotis has served on the Board of Directors of Burton Snowboards since 2004.[8] Kartsotis shuns media attention and is rarely photographed.[9]
References
- ↑ bloomberg.com Tom Kartsotis
- ↑ "Making it in America: Mo' time for Motown". The Economist. February 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Company Overview of Bedrock Manufacturing Co.". bloomberg.com. September 24, 2016.
- ↑ STACY PERMAN, The Real History of America's Most Authentic Fake Brand: A mogul from Texas is using the country's least aspirational city as the backdrop for his next global lifestyle company--a $225 million experiment in manufactured authenticity Inc. (magazine)
- ↑ NICHOLAS MANOUSOS, FTC Takes Action Against Shinola, Suggests 'Where American Is Made' Slogan Be Dropped HODINKEE, JUNE 17, 2016
- ↑ Tom Kartsotis, An Open Letter From Shinola Founder Tom Kartsotis In Response To The FTC's Most Recent Action hodinkee.com JUNE 17, 2016
- ↑ businessoffashion.com Tom Kartsotis
- ↑ simonequity.com Tom Kartsotis
- ↑ LAUREN SHERMAN, How Tom Kartsotis Is Banking on America businessoffashion.com MARCH 22, 2016