Episode Details
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The Rat Man: Otto Orkin and the Birth of the Modern Pest Control Industry
Description
Welcome to Episode 5 of the Preferred Shares Podcast.
Lawrence Hamtil, of Fortune Financial Advisors, and Douglas Ott, of Andvari Associates, were the primary researchers for this episode.
In this episode
* Immigrating to the Unites States
* Pest control on the family farm
* Experimentation with poisons
* Winning early clients
* Lucky breaks
* Family squabbles
* The first leveraged buyout
* Rapid, sustained growth
* Reflections on seemingly unstoppable industry dynamics
Episode resources
* Q3 2023 Letter: Introducing Rollins, Douglas Ott, 11/7/2023
* Orkin Exterminator Company Gives You Surety Bonded Guarantee, The Atlanta Constitution, Vol 80 Iss 330, 1948
* Chain Store Exterminator, Fortune, Vol 45 Iss 5, 1952
* Termite Swarming Is a Warning—Call Orkin for Free Inspection, The Atlanta Constitution, Vol 82 Iss 271, 1950
* Otto Slays 'Em on TV, Broadcasting Telecasting, 1955
* So you think there are bugs in your approach?, Sponsor, 1956
* Spot removes a stigma, Television Age, 1957
* Otto the Orkin Man, TV ad, 1950s
Additional reading
Along with the resources above relating to episode 3, below are some pieces we’ve written independently that we think you’d like:
Peter Lynch’s Blossoms in the Desert, Lawrence Hamtil, 9/20/2018
British American Tobacco: Identity Crisis, Devin LaSarre, 12/10/2023
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Disclaimer
All opinions expressed by Preferred Shares hosts and guests are solely their own opinions and