improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . learn how and when to remove these template messages this article needs additional citations for verification . please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . unsourced material may be challenged and removed . november 2009 learn how and when to remove this template message a major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject . it may require cleanup to comply with wikipedia s content policies particularly neutral point of view . please discuss further on the talk page . june 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message this article needs to be updated . please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information . october 2015 learn how and when to remove this template message skullcandy inc. type public acquisition by incipio pending traded as nasdaq skul industry audio action sports founded 2003 founder rick alden headquarters park city utah products headphones audio equipment audio accessories website http www.skullcandy.com skullcandy inc. is a park city utah based company that markets 1 headphones earphones hands free devices audio backpacks mp3 players and other products . 2 the company was founded in 2003 . 3 skullcandy s products are targeted at the outdoor action sports demographic snowboarders skateboarders etc. and general consumer market . 4 skullcandy products are sold through retailers specialty outlets and their online store . contents 1 company history 2 partnerships 2.1 sponsored athletes 2.2 non profit 2.3 promotions with artists 3 products 4 references 5 external links company history edit skullcandy s park city headquarters features a mini ramp for employees skullcandy was founded by rick alden in 2003 . the first skullcandy product the skullcandy portable link was introduced at the 2003 international consumer electronics show ces in las vegas nevada . the link system combined headphones with hands free cellular technology allowing users to both listen to music from a portable audio device while making and receiving calls through their cell phone . in 2003 alden sold the first products to milo snow & skate an action sports shop in utah . the skullcandy logo was designed by jef ingram . alden was named one of vspring capital s top 100 venture entrepreneurs of 2008 5 and holds a patent for technology that integrates mobile phones and music players link technology . 6 in december 2008 the company was named the world s coolest ear bud by fortune magazine . in addition the company received local standing in 2008 placing in the utah business fast 50 featuring the top 50 best and most innovative companies throughout the state . 7 the company has quickly jumped to its place as the third most sold headphone in the u.s. marketplace . 8 in 2005 the company had 1.3 million in annual sales while its 2009 ranking puts it in place to hit the 100 million mark . as quoted by the salt lake tribune we re gunning for no. 1 said andrus skullcandy s president . in april 2011 skullcandy purchased fellow headphones manufacturer astro studios astro gaming . the reason for doing so was to exchange information for the planned second generation of skullcandy gaming headsets . on january 28 2011 skullcandy filed for initial public offering with the securities and exchange commission . 9 this announcement was met with some criticism from financial press . 10 11 on june 24 2016 incipio a maker of phone cases wireless speakers and other accessories announced plans to acquire skullcandy for 177 million . 12 partnerships edit sponsored athletes edit known for its relationships with various action sports industries skullcandy currently sponsors professional athletes in snowboarding skiing skateboarding wakeboarding motocross and the biking communities . working with athletes such as terje hakonsen louie vito clay marzo balaram stack mark frank montoya kevin durant and derrick rose has spawned some of skullcandy s signature action sports pieces including the terje nine and mfm pro . they have also released a wide range of nba color themes and are sponsoring several nba teams . in 2012 supermodel kate upton was recruited to help promote their various sports lines and has been largely successful with promoting the company . 13 non profit edit this section needs to be updated . please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information . october 2015 rick alden ceo and founder of skullcandy making the largest one time donation to boarding for breast cancer . skullcandy is involved in supporting boarding for breast cancer b4bc a nonprofit youth focused education awareness and fundraising foundation designed to increase awareness about breast cancer the importance of early detection and the value of an active lifestyle . skullcandy announced their 2007 donation of 36 723.80 to boarding for breast cancer at the 2008 snowsports industries america sia snow show making their contribution the largest one time donation the organization has yet to receive . a b4bc supporter since 2006 skullcandy donates 5 % of all pink products sold to support the organization s efforts . citation needed promotions with artists edit skullcandy features artists that endorse their products with special designs . they worked in partnership with jay z to design roc nation aviator headphones advertised mainly by uk singer rita ora and also produced two designs of skullcrushers featuring rapper snoop dogg themed designs . skullcandy collaborated with metallica in conjunction with the band s ninth album release death magnetic released two variants of limited edition themed headphones hesh and lowrider model and a card with an access code to legally download the album from a website developed by the band s label warner brothers . products edit skullcandy has a wide range of headphones including over ear headphones to on ear headphones docks for iphones ipads and ipods pipe and vandal gaming headsets and sub woofers . references edit gardiner bryan 2010 08 24 . the secret scam of cheap earbuds . gizmodo . retrieved 2015 08 27 . johannes amy 2008 02 20 . rymax marketing partners with skullcandy for incentive products . promo magazine . retrieved 2008 04 05 . investor relations . skullcandy . retrieved 2015 08 27 . skullcandy adds scot carlson as vice president of finance . globalsurfnews.com . 2008 04 01 . retrieved 2008 04 05 . marketwire 2008 03 16 . vspring capital releases its list of the 2008 top 100 venture entrepreneurs . sys con publications . retrieved 2008 04 06 . cannon karl r. 2007 04 03 . 20 patents include core brace . deseret news publishing company . retrieved 2008 04 06 . dead link copeland michael 2008 12 30 . the world s coolest ear buds . cnn . retrieved 2010 05 23 . skullcandy feeds your head . salt lake tribune . 2008 04 20 . retrieved 2009 04 20 . form s1 for skullcandy inc. . sec.gov . 2011 01 28 . retrieved 2011 02 15 . berman dennis 2011 02 01 . skullcandy ipo check your head . wallstreetjournal.com . retrieved 2011 02 15 . the game skullcandy ipo is a headscratcher . the wall street journal . 2011 02 01 . o kane sean . incipio is buying skullcandy to expand its accessory empire . retrieved 2016 06 24 . peterson tim . kevin durant takes kate upton to work in skullcandy ad . adweek . retrieved 14 january 2013 . external links edit corporate site retrieved from https en.wikipedia.org w index.php title skullcandy & oldid 733240883 categories companies established in 2003manufacturing companies based in utahheadphones manufacturerscompanies listed on nasdaqpark city utah2003 establishments in utahhidden categories all articles with dead external linksarticles with dead external links from august 2015articles needing additional references from november 2009all articles needing additional referenceswikipedia articles with possible conflicts of interest from june 2015wikipedia articles in need of 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