The Fossil Group is an international company that specialises in the design, manufacturing, and sale of clothing and accessories.
A major focus of the brand’s product range is on watches and jewelry, but the range includes a variety of other fashion products as well.
In addition to selling products under the Fossil brand name, the group also owns and operates a number of well-known brands, including Relic, Abacus, Michele Watch & Now Coach NY, Skagen, and Zodiac Watches. The Fossil brand was named after the nickname given by the two founder brothers to their father.
Company History
Fossil was originally founded in 1984 under a different name: Overseas Products. Founders Tom and Kosta Kartsotis (one a former Texas A&M student, the other a merchandising executive and Sander Harris) noticed the gap that existed in the local market at the time for high-quality retail goods that were also in a particularly affordable price range.
The pair realised the potential for profit that could be gained by importing such goods from the Far East (where they could be bought more cheaply) and marketing them to local customers. Fashion watches were a particularly effective product to serve this business model, and would become the cornerstone of the Fossil brand.