ZAGG Inc (NASDAQ: ZAGG) is a publicly traded company based in South Salt Lake, Utah. It is best known for its line of protective coverings for consumer electronics and hand-held devices under the brand name InvisibleShield.
History
The company's flagship product, the InvisibleShield, was created by Phillip Chipping, who then formed Protective Solutions, Inc. in March 2005 and started selling the InvisibleShield product online, and in locally owned gadget retailers. The company began in a back yard shed, selling $200 worth of goods per day. A few months later, in September 2005 (two weeks after Apple Inc. had released the first iPod nano) the company sent out a press release announcing their concept of offering full-body gadget protection with a patented, clear protective film as a new alternative to bulky cases. Due to the high level of response, the company began designing full-body InvisibleShields for many different types of electronic gadgets.
In January 2006, Chipping brought in Robert G. Pedersen II, a friend and mentor who previously acted in an advisory capacity, as a partner with the title of CEO, while Chipping retained the title of president and founder. Later that year, after buying out Chipping, Pedersen became the largest shareholder. In 2010, he was also named the Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year. In August 2012, Pedersen stepped down as CEO and Chairman following a margin call, and Randall Hales, previously President and COO, became interim CEO. In December 2012, Hales was named CEO by the Board of Directors. As of June 2013, the company has over 250 employees.
The company changed names to become ShieldZone Corporation in March 2006 and then again to ZAGG Inc in July 2007. The most recent name change coincided with a reverse merger that made ZAGG a publicly traded company on the OTC Bulletin Board exchange with ZAGG as its stock symbol. On November 10, 2009; it was listed on the NASDAQ Market. In 2011, the company acquired IFrogz.
Products
The InvisibleShield is the flagship product of the company. and is now sold in many countries. In 2008, it started selling its products in well-known retailers such as Best Buy and Carphone Warehouse. It is currently available in all four major wireless retailers: AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and T-Mobile.
In November 2008, the company launched a new audio product line, ZAGGaudio. It currently contains two types in-ear headphones, ZAGGsmartbuds and ZAGGaquabuds. Their former product, ZBuds, won a 2009 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase Honors award.
In 2011, the company launched the ZAGGmate, a dual-purpose case for the Apple iPad, that also serves as a wireless Bluetooth keyboard. The product won the Macworld 2011 Best of Show and was named an Honoree at the CES Innovations 2011. Later that year, the company announced a licensing and distribution agreement with Logitech., and also released two other iPad bluetooth keyboards for the iPad 2 and New iPad.
References
External links
- Official website