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Oakley
by sandy bennettPublished: June 01, 2012
Oakley CEO Colin Baden
Regarded for its innovation, Oakley is recognized as one of the most coveted brands in performance technology and fashion. The Orange County-based company manufactures and distributes high-performance sunglasses, prescription lenses and frames, goggles, apparel, footwear and accessories. Among its design philosophies: “Deliver the unexpected.”
Jim Jannard, who opened a shop in his garage with $300 after having his ideas rejected, founded Oakley in 1975. Since then, the company has been awarded more than 600 patents and 1,100 trademarks for its market-leading technology. Today, Oakley’s fastest growing product lines are optical gear for all branches of the U.S. military and some foreign countries as well.
“We believe everything that has been made can and will be beaten,” Oakley CEO Colin Baden says. “Our mission is only to have to beat ourselves. We want our gear to be the best. That’s our connection with our customers.”
In 2007, the Italian luxury glasses manufacturer Luxottica purchased Oakley for $2.1 billion, providing a global platform to showcase Oakley’s brands. Today, Oakley’s products, worn by a number of high-profile athletes, are sold in more than 110 countries.
Development and manufacturing continue at Oakley’s 600,000-square-foot headquarters in Foothill Ranch, where many of the company’s nearly 5,000 employees work. The community is further supported through in-kind donations of Oakley’s premium products, direct financial support and employee volunteerism. “We strongly believe that the more real you are, the more sustainable you are,” Baden says.
THE 10 MOST TRUSTED BRANDS FOR 2012
Oakley ≈ Automobile Club of Southern California
Anaheim Ducks ≈ Goodwill of Orange County
South Coast Plaza ≈ Whole Foods Market
Stanley Black & Decker ≈ Wahoo's Fish Taco
Kaiser Permanente ≈ Discovery Science Center
About the study
10 Most Trusted Brands: The Alumni
While you're here, check out:
≈ OC METRO magazine's current issue and past issues ≈
≈ Our digital magazine ≈
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Oakley CEO Colin Baden Regarded for its innovation, Oakley is recognized as one of the most coveted brands in performance technology and fashion. The Orange County-based company manufactures and distributes high-performance sunglasses, prescription lenses and frames, goggles, apparel, footwear and accessories. Among its design philosophies: “Deliver the unexpected.” Jim Jannard, who opened a shop in his garage with $300 after having his ideas rejected, founded Oakley in 1975. Since then, the company has been awarded more than 600 patents and 1,100 trademarks for its market-leading technology. Today, Oakley’s fastest growing product lines are optical gear for all branches of the U.S. military and some foreign countries as well. “We believe everything that has been made can and will be beaten,” Oakley CEO Colin Baden says. “Our mission is only to have to beat ourselves. We want our gear to be the best. That’s our connection with our customers.” In 2007, the Italian luxury glasses manufacturer Luxottica purchased Oakley for $2.1 billion, providing a global platform to showcase Oakley’s brands. Today, Oakley’s products, worn by a number of high-profile athletes, are sold in more than 110 countries. Development and manufacturing continue at Oakley’s 600,000-square-foot headquarters in Foothill Ranch, where many of the company’s nearly 5,000 employees work. The community is further supported through in-kind donations of Oakley’s premium products, direct financial support and employee volunteerism. “We strongly believe that the more real you are, the more sustainable you are,” Baden says. THE 10 MOST TRUSTED BRANDS FOR 2012 Oakley ≈ Automobile Club of Southern California Anaheim Ducks ≈ Goodwill of Orange County South Coast Plaza ≈ Whole Foods Market Stanley Black & Decker ≈ Wahoo's Fish Taco Kaiser Permanente ≈ Discovery Science Center About the study 10 Most Trusted Brands: The Alumni While you're here, check out: ≈ OC METRO magazine's current issue and past issues ≈ ≈ Our digital magazine ≈ |
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