Well, let me tell ya ’bout them Fossil watches, ya know, the ones young folks like to wear.
Fossil Watch: Where Did It All Begin?
It all started back in, what was it, 1984? Yeah, 1984. Some fella, Tom Kart-something, he was tired of his boring ol’ job. Can’t blame him, workin’ in them stores, same thing day in, day out. So, this Tom, he up and went to Hong Kong. Hong Kong! Can you believe it? All the way over there.
He went and got himself a whole bunch of them old-timey looking watches, you know, the kind your grandpa mighta wore. Retro, they call it. He brought ’em back and started sellin’ ’em. And wouldn’t you know it, people liked ’em. They liked ’em a lot.
- The Start: 1984
- The Founder: Tom Kartsotis
- The Place: Richardson, wherever that is
- The Idea: Retro-looking watches
Now, this Tom, he wasn’t alone. He had a brother, Kosta, I think his name was. Two brothers, workin’ together, sellin’ watches. Sounds like a good deal to me. They started this whole Fossil thing, makin’ watches for folks who wanted somethin’ stylish, somethin’ different. Not them fancy gold watches that cost a fortune, but somethin’ everyday folks could afford.
They weren’t makin’ them watches themselves, though. Not at first, anyways. They were importin’ ’em, gettin’ ’em from overseas. Probably cheaper that way, I reckon. Smart fellas, those Kartsotis boys. They knew how to make a buck.
Fossil Watch: Gettin’ Big and Fancy
Then things started gettin’ bigger. Fossil, it went public, which means, I guess, anybody could buy a piece of it. Like buyin’ a chicken at the market, but instead of a chicken, you get a little bit of a watch company. Don’t make much sense to me, but that’s how them city folks do things.
And they didn’t just stick to them retro watches. They started makin’ all kinds of watches, fashion watches they call ’em. For men, for women, for young folks, for old folks. And they got real big, real successful. A real American success story, they’d probably say on the TV.
Fossil, it wasn’t just about watches neither. They started makin’ other stuff too. Purses, wallets, jewelry. All sorts of things. They even bought another company, Skagen, I heard. Must be doin’ somethin’ right if they’re buyin’ up other companies.
Fossil Watch: The Fancy Stuff They Don’t Talk About Much
Now, most folks think Fossil watches are just, you know, pretty watches, stylish watches. But they got some fancy ones too, I heard. Automatic watches, they call ’em. Made in Switzerland. Expensive ones. Real expensive. Hundreds of dollars, some of ’em. Eight hundred dollars! Can you believe that? Who’d spend that much on a watch? Crazy, I tell ya.
But I guess some folks like ’em. And if it means somethin’ to you, well, that’s all that matters, right? That’s what my grandson told me the other day, when he bought some beat-up old record player at a yard sale. “It means somethin’ to me, Grandma,” he says. Well, alright then.
Fossil Watch: Still Around After All These Years
So, that’s the story of Fossil watches, as far as I know. Started by a couple of brothers, became a big company, and still makin’ watches today. From cheap ones to expensive ones, they got ’em all. And people still buyin’ ’em, so they must be doin’ something right. Even after all these years.
It’s funny, you know? A company that started with old-fashioned watches is still around, selling watches to young folks. Maybe them young folks like the old-fashioned stuff, just like Tom Kartsotis did way back when. Who knows? The world’s a strange place, that’s for sure.
Anyway, that’s all I know about them Fossil watches. Hope it made some sense to ya. Now, where did I put my glasses…?
