Fossil Inc. Definition | Apparel Search

Fossil, Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL) is a designer and manufacturer of clothing and accessories based in Richardson, Texas, in the United States. The company works primarily in watches and jewelry, and also makes sunglasses and wallets. Its own brands include Fossil, Relic, Abacus, Michele Watch and Zodiac Watch, and it also designs, manufactures and distributes licensed watch lines for a long list of fashion brands.

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Fossil, Inc. (NASDAQ: FOSL) is a designer and manufacturer of clothing and accessories, primarily watches and jewelry, but also sunglasses and wallets, based in Richardson, Texas, United States. Their brands include Fossil, Relic, Abacus, Michele Watch and Zodiac Watch.

Company History

Fossil was founded in 1984 as Overseas Products International. 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 an IPO in 1993

Zodiac was a Swiss brand that had been operating since 1882 when Fossil acquired it in 2001 to give them a higher end brand. 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.

License Business

Fossil has been very successful with its own brands and this success has led to companies coming to Fossil to create licensed watch lines. The licensed watch lines that Fossil designs, manufactures, and distributes include Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Columbia Sportswear, Diesel, Frank Gehry, Philippe Starck, Michael Kors, Callaway Golf, Davis Cup, Marc Jacobs and Adidas. When referencing Fossil's watch lines, they are generally regarded as a "manufacturer"; However, Fossil only assembles watches, using pre-made movements and only designing the cases and dials of the watch.

Special Products

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

The company released Wrist PDA which is a tiny Palm OS-based PDA worn like a watch. In 2006, Fossil released a Caller ID watch. Also in 2006, Fossil teamed up with the NFL to make the official watch collection for each team. Fossil also caters to special markets that seek to customize products.

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)

External links

Fossil Company Profile

The above definition about the clothing company Fossil, Inc. is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. The information source is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and was originally obtained from the following page address https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Group. The definition has been modified by the Apparel Search Company in June 2009. The rest of this page and other pages on Apparel Search are NOT under the free document license.

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Fossil, Inc.

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From Retro Fashion Watches to a Watch Group

Fossil began in 1984 as Overseas Products International, selling fashion watches with a retro look. Leather goods followed in 1990 under the Fossil brand, alongside the Relic line of watches, and the company went public in 1993. Two acquisitions then built a ladder of watch brands at different levels. Zodiac, a Swiss brand operating since 1882, was acquired in 2001 and completely retooled to reflect a retro modern 1970s style at a higher end. The 2004 purchase of Michele Watch completed the cycle by offering a high-end Swiss watch with a designer flair.

Alongside its own brands, Fossil built a substantial license business: other companies came to Fossil to create licensed watch lines, and Fossil designs, manufactures and distributes lines for Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Columbia Sportswear, Diesel, Frank Gehry, Philippe Starck, Michael Kors, Callaway Golf, Davis Cup, Marc Jacobs and Adidas. In watchmaking terms the company is generally regarded as a manufacturer, although it assembles watches using pre-made movements and designs the cases and dials itself.

Special Products and Collectibles

Fossil also produces collectibles, some based on popular films or pop culture characters, with previous designs including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Elvis Presley, Pirates of the Caribbean, Flash, Green Lantern, Snoopy, Pokemon, Star Wars, Chronicles of Narnia and Disney's Cars. Technology pieces have included the Wrist PDA, a tiny Palm OS based PDA worn like a watch, and a Caller ID watch released in 2006. Also in 2006, Fossil teamed up with the NFL to make the official watch collection for each team, catered to special markets that seek to customize products, and won Most Effective Use of Online Creative and Best of Show at the 6th Annual DFWIMA Excellence in Interactive Marketing awards.

Common Questions

What does Fossil, Inc. make?

Fossil is a designer and manufacturer of clothing and accessories, primarily watches and jewelry, but also sunglasses and wallets. Its brands include Fossil, Relic, Abacus, Michele Watch and Zodiac Watch.

When was Fossil founded and how did it grow?

Fossil was founded in 1984 as Overseas Products International, with fashion watches with a retro look as its main product. In 1990 it introduced leather goods under the Fossil brand and the Relic line of watches, and it had an initial public offering in 1993.

Which watch brands has Fossil acquired and licensed?

Fossil acquired the Swiss Zodiac Watch brand in 2001 and Michele Watch in 2004. Its licensed watch lines, which it designs, manufactures and distributes, include Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Columbia Sportswear, Diesel, Michael Kors, Marc Jacobs and Adidas, among others.

Fossil Inc.