Tom Kartsotis

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Tom Kartsotis (born 1959) is an American entrepreneur, best known as 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 was also known as the founder and the president of Fossil from 1984 until 2010. [3]

Contents

Career

Tom Kartsotis (left) gives U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez a tour of a new Shinola location. L-14-12-03-B.071 (15940283845).jpg
Tom Kartsotis (left) gives U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez a tour of a new Shinola location.

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. [4] Kartsotis re-founded defunct shoe polish brand Shinola as Shinola Detroit and re-positioned it as a wristwatch brand. [5]

Bedrock Manufacturing Co., established in 2005 [6] by Tom Kartsotis—the founder of Fossil Inc.—is a privately held brand development firm based in Plano, Texas. The company functions as a platform enterprise, nurturing and scaling design-led consumer brands. Its notable portfolio includes Shinola, a Detroit-based lifestyle brand, and Filson, a Seattle-based outfitter specializing in outdoor apparel and accessories .

Controversy

In June 2016, the US Federal Trade Commission 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." [7] Kartsotis responded with an open letter which noted that the regulations defining "Made in America" for cars are not the same as for watches. [8]

Other brands

Kartsotis has also invested in American designer Steven Alan and outdoor goods brand Filson. [9] Kartsotis has served on the Board of Directors of Burton Snowboards since 2004. [10]

Personal life

Kartsotis is of Greek parentage. [11] He shuns media attention and is rarely photographed. [12] His brother, Kosta also served as CEO & chairman of Fossil, replaced Tom's position from 2010 through March 2024.

References

  1. ↑ bloomberg.com Tom Kartsotis
  2. ↑ "Making it in America: Mo' time for Motown". The Economist . February 5, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Fossil CEO Kartsotis cuts his stake in the Texas-based fashion brand". 19 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Company Overview of Bedrock Manufacturing Co". bloomberg.com. September 24, 2016.
  5. ↑ 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)
  6. ↑ "Shinola parent company Bedrock Manufacturing appoints new CEO". 8 December 2021.
  7. ↑ NICHOLAS MANOUSOS, FTC Takes Action Against Shinola, Suggests 'Where American Is Made' Slogan Be Dropped HODINKEE, JUNE 17, 2016
  8. ↑ Tom Kartsotis, An Open Letter From Shinola Founder Tom Kartsotis In Response To The FTC's Most Recent Action hodinkee.com JUNE 17, 2016
  9. ↑ businessoffashion.com Tom Kartsotis
  10. ↑ simonequity.com Tom Kartsotis
  11. ↑ "Tom Kartsotis - The Greek behind the coolest brand in America". www.ellines.com. Retrieved 2021-12-10.
  12. ↑ LAUREN SHERMAN, How Tom Kartsotis Is Banking on America businessoffashion.com MARCH 22, 2016
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