As promised earlier today, Otterbox CEO Brian Thomas has shared an exciting announcement during his keynote address at the annual CTIA tradeshow on the iZone Innovation Stage powered by iPhone Life magazine.
Thomas announced that Otterbox—a leading protective case makers for global handheld devices—has acquired LifeProof, another top company in its class that specializes in waterproof gear.
According to iPhone Life magazine CEO David Averbach, this announcement has huge implications for the future of not only the company, but of the industry.
“This move adds substantially to the Otterbox legacy and solidifies the company’s hold on the case market,” said Averbach.
iPhone Life invited Thomas to speak about the remarkable growth Otterbox has undergone since its beginnings in 1998, now making up 23 percent of market share among case makers. Thomas shared how he and founder and chairman Curt Richardson grew the company from less than 100 employees in 2010 to more than 600 in 2013, and how they developed and adapted to become one of the leading manufacturers of iPhone and iPad cases.
Thomas said the strategy behind acquiring the San Diego-based LifeProof is to focus on meeting demand for fully waterproof cases.
"Over the last 15 years, we've been successful by listening to our customers and meeting their needs, going where they want us to go," said Thomas.
Both LifeProof and Otterbox are well known for making heavy-duty, durable cases. As Otterbox shares on its website, its cases are “dedicated to all the klutzy, spontaneous, chaotic, graceless individuals who have broken a device or valuable due to their active lifestyle and like our customers, we've been there too!”
During the presentation, Thomas explained how the company culture and focus on treating employees well translated into financial success.
“We believe if you do the right thing, the right things happen,” Thomas said.
Just days before this announcement, Otterbox was recognized for experiencing 238 percent growth from 2010 to 2012. Headquarted in Fort Collins, Colo., Otterbox was awarded as the fastest growing private companies in the area by the Northern Colorado Business Report.
