Serengeti (sunglasses brand)
 | |
| Subsidiary | |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Founder | Corning Incorporated |
| Headquarters | 9200 Cody, Overland Park, Kansas - United States |
Key people | Zaki Mustafa |
| Products | Eyewear and sunglasses |
| Owner | Bushnell Corporation |
Number of employees | 52 |
| Website | http://www.serengeti-eyewear.com/ |
Serengeti Eyewear is a high-end sunglasses designer brand owned by Bushnell Corporation. Their main focus is eye protection, of which the company researches and develops state of the art technology such as photochromic lenses, polarized lenses, spectral control, among other.
Overview
The brand was developed by Corning. In 1984, Corning considered closing its Serengeti division due to poor financial performance. However, entrepreneur Zaki Mustafa convinced the board that he could save the brand. He attributed product-centric focus, poor marketing, anemic customer service, and inefficient asset management as the causes of poor sales. [1] With only fifty-two employees, he successfully raised sales from $5 million in 1985 to $62 million in 1992.[2]
In 1995, Corning decided to sell the sunglass business. Vivian Gernand became the director and brought in a team to re-position the brand as more high end.. The re-position included the introduction of the Signia line for younger consumers, increased sports line and updated materials and changes for the Driver line. Gross profit increased as a percentage of sales, from approximately 35% for the three months ended September 30, 1996 to approximately 54% for the same period in 1997, primarily as a result of product mix. Approximately 73% of the 1997 sales consisted of premium Serengeti products that carry gross margins significantly higher than the company's non-premium products that comprised substantially all of the company's sales in 1996.
The Serengeti brand was acquired by Bushnell in September 2000.
Technology
Serengeti sunglasses include photochromic technology that enables quick adjustment of lens to light variations, spectral control technology that gives high-definition contrast and color enhancement, and polarization technology that reduces glare and blocks ultraviolet rays.[3]
Media mentions
Pope Benedict XVI was seen wearing Serengeti's Classic model sunglasses in 2006 and 2009.[4][5] Hollywood star Val Kilmer has also been seen wearing Serengeti sunglass.[6] In 2007, actor Patrick Dempsey signed a contract to endorse Serengeti sunglasses. He used a few models in the 2008 film Made Of Honor.[7] Actor Jack Nicholson was spotted wearing several Serengeti sunglasses, among them, the Serengeti Rieti during the 90's.[8]
References
- ↑ Donald W. Huffmire, Jane D. Holmes (2006), Handbook of effective management, Libraries Unlimited, p. 149, ISBN 9780899309231
- ↑ Thornberry, De Neal (2006), Lead like an entrepreneur, McGraw-Hill Professional, p. 198, ISBN 9780072262353
- ↑ Technology, Serengeti Eyewear, retrieved 2009-05-19
- ↑ "Mystery of Pope's night-time visits to his old haunts" by Hilary Clarke, Telegraph.co.uk, 14 Jan 2006. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ↑ "The Nuns’ Story" OpEd by Maureen Dowd, The New York Times, October 25, 2009 (Oct. 26, 2009 p. WK9 of NY ed.). Retrieved 2009-10-27. Dowd also mentions the red shoes that were mentioned (by name as Prada, there) in the 2006 report, making it seem as if there was no new reporting in 2009. Dowd cited no source.
- ↑ "Discreet endorsement: Pope Inc. A dedicated follower of fashion" by Peter Popham, The Independent, 27 April 2006. Retrieved 2009-10-27. This later article says the issue of the red shoes being Prada is unresolved. The Pope is extremely private about labels, having logos, like Adidas' in another example given, removed as well. The Independent article cites a Wall Street Journal article also of 2006. The Journal article did not show up in a non-subscriber search at WSJ.com for "pope benedict serengeti."
- ↑ http://www.crushable.com/2007/09/13/entertainment/patrick-dempsey-serengeti-sunglasses-photoshoot/
- ↑ http://www.firmoo.com/answer/question/7674.html