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]

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

Controversy

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]

Other brands

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]

Personal life

Kartsotis shuns media attention and is rarely photographed.[9]

References
  1. bloomberg.com Tom Kartsotis
  2. "Making it in America: Mo' time for Motown". The Economist. February 5, 2014.
  3. "Company Overview of Bedrock Manufacturing Co". bloomberg.com. September 24, 2016.
  4. 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)
  5. NICHOLAS MANOUSOS, FTC Takes Action Against Shinola, Suggests 'Where American Is Made' Slogan Be Dropped HODINKEE, JUNE 17, 2016
  6. Tom Kartsotis, An Open Letter From Shinola Founder Tom Kartsotis In Response To The FTC's Most Recent Action hodinkee.com JUNE 17, 2016
  7. businessoffashion.com Tom Kartsotis
  8. simonequity.com Tom Kartsotis
  9. LAUREN SHERMAN, How Tom Kartsotis Is Banking on America businessoffashion.com MARCH 22, 2016
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