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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Mike Pratt, the founder of OGIO International, seems like a lucky guy. After all, he invented the Original Locker Bag and with it founded a successful company. But Mike will tell you, "Luck's got nothin' to do with it." In fact that statement has become his company's slogan.
Back in 1987, Mike found inspiration for his product after working out at a local Salt Lake gym. He pieced together materials to construct a bag that carried like a duffle and worked like a locker. It was an idea that soon caught on.
Major retailers began placing orders and the company quickly grew. However, business soon leveled off and the focus shifted from "keeping up" to "gearing up." And that they did. Mike and his team at OGIO developed a product line that included duffle bags and backpacks complemented by the company's Chump brand t-shirt collection.
As an innovator, Mike saw new opportunities in the resurgent popularity of golf. And it wasn't long before OGIO broke ground with a product unlike anything the golf industry had known. They called it the Rig because of its Swiss-Army-Knife-like reserve of surprises. It was and remains the only travel-to-cart golf bag on the market.
With the Rig's success, designers at OGIO soon found that it was the unexpected that caught attention. They developed bags with translucent panels, neoprene pockets and ski-pole style grab handles. It brought them more success. They introduced their TOURoOGIO collection of stand bags, and now produce 80 percent of all Callaway golf bags, as well as golf bags for other major companies. In fact, based on production figures, OGIO is now the world's largest golf bag manufacturer.
The daypack and duffle division also grew with the company and continued to introduce new and cutting-edge designs with each model year.
With its success, OGIO has relocated to a new 64,000 square foot facility in Bluffdale. Its partners in manufacturing and supplies are worldwide. And it's a name now known by anyone looking for the best in a sport bag. Yes, Mike, luck had nothing to do with it.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
