Skooba Brings Proporta iPod Cases To U.S.

John Laposky -- TWICE, 6/30/2009

Rochester, N.Y. - Skooba Design has announced an exclusive partnership with U.K.-based Proporta to co-market its line of Proporta-branded iPod and handheld device cases and accessories in the United States.

Skooba is now the sole sales and marketing agent for Proporta in the U.S., initially making the products available exclusively on the Skooba Web site.

Proporta designs and manufactures cases for all current and recent iPod and iPhone models. The company is best known for its aluminum-lined leather cases that offer the screen protection of a hard case with a slimmer profile. Proporta also offers faux-leather cases, silicone skins, clear polycarbonate hard shells, pouches and other designs.

This limited launch on the Web is intended to give Skooba the opportunity to establish the products here and fine-tune the assortment for domestic consumers, the company said. After the initial rollout period, the company plans to expand the assortment and retail distribution nationwide.

"We've been in contact with Proporta for years," Skooba CEO Michael Hess said in a statement, "and have been huge fans of everything from their product designs and meticulous craftsmanship to their ingenious packaging. We've also been impressed that they do so much - at such an exceptional level of detail-at prices that represent a great value to the customer."

Hess said that this is the first time Skooba has ever sold anything other than its own branded products, so it wasn't a small decision. "But we saw their incredible success overseas, as well as the great product fit and chemistry between the companies, and we knew the time was right to bring Proporta across the pond."