DeLorme, a mapmaker based in Yarmouth, was sold to Swiss GPS giant Garmin in 2016. The company was started in 1976 by David DeLorme, who was frustrated by the existing maps he used to find his favourite fishing spots. DeLorme's Gazetteer was the company's signature product, and it is unclear whether Garmin intends to continue publishing it. While it is not known if DeLorme makes a map of New Brunswick, CN, the company did produce state atlases and topographic maps of other regions, including New York. New Brunswick, a Canadian province located in eastern Canada, has a rectangular shape and occupies a total area of 28,150 square miles.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Company | DeLorme |
Map Location | New Brunswick, Canada |
Map Features | Roads, lakes, rivers, cities, railroads, population centers, national parks |
Company News | DeLorme was sold to Swiss GPS giant Garmin in 2016 |
What You'll Learn
DeLorme's map store closed in 2016
DeLorme's map store in Yarmouth, Maine, closed in 2016 after the company was bought by Swiss GPS giant Garmin. The store, which sold maps, books, and travel items, was a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, who enjoyed browsing the wide range of products and taking in the world's largest rotating and revolving globe, named Eartha.
The closure of the store was met with sadness by its patrons, many of whom visited on its final day to bid farewell and take advantage of the 50%-off sale. The deal with Garmin was focused on acquiring DeLorme's inReach satellite communication device, a walkie-talkie-like technology that allows users to communicate by text and issue distress calls via satellite. This product was particularly popular with boaters, hikers, and hunters who often found themselves outside of cellphone range.
While Garmin kept on most of DeLorme's 92 full-time employees, the company decided to close the map store, laying off several workers. The fate of DeLorme's printed maps was initially unclear, but Garmin has since continued to publish the DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer, a collection of 78 maps and information that has guided outdoor enthusiasts for generations.
The closure of DeLorme's map store in 2016 marked the end of an era for map enthusiasts and adventurers, but the company's legacy lives on through its innovative products and the iconic Eartha, which remains open to the public.
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DeLorme was started in 1976 by David DeLorme
DeLorme, the company, was founded in 1976 by David DeLorme, a Maine native and outdoorsman. The idea for the company came to David while he was on a fishing trip at Moosehead Lake in the 1970s. He came to a fork in the road that his map did not show, and decided to create a better map of Maine.
David DeLorme created the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, printed as a large-format book with an initial printing of 10,000 copies. He sold these out of his car, and the Gazetteer quickly caught on with hunters, fishermen, hikers, and campers. The Gazetteer included a section that highlighted various sites to see and activities to do, such as hiking and bicycle trails, canoeing and kayaking trips, and museum and historic sites.
By the early 1980s, DeLorme had a staff of eight employees who continued to revise the Gazetteer and create new maps. By 1986, the company had expanded to 75 employees, working from a Quonset hut in Freeport, Maine, and producing maps for New England and upstate New York. In 1987, the company produced a CD with detailed topographic map data of the entire world.
In 1991, DeLorme began vending Street Atlas USA on a single CD-ROM, becoming the most popular street-map CD in the United States and one of the first mass consumer CD-ROM software products. By 1995, DeLorme had 44% of the market share for CD maps. The company continued to innovate and expand its product line, eventually branching into GPS hardware and satellite technology.
In 2016, DeLorme was acquired by Swiss GPS giant Garmin, which planned to focus on DeLorme's satellite communications devices and away from its traditional map expertise.
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DeLorme was sold to Swiss GPS giant Garmin
DeLorme, a Maine-based mapmaker and manufacturer of hand-held satellite communications, was purchased by Swiss-based GPS giant Garmin in 2016. The acquisition was announced on February 11, 2016, and was completed on March 3 the same year.
DeLorme was founded in 1976 by David DeLorme, who was frustrated by the lack of accurate maps of the Moosehead Lake region of Maine. The company's main product, inReach, combines GPS and satellite technologies, allowing users to send and receive text messages from anywhere in the world, even beyond cell phone range. inReach also enables users to issue distress calls via satellite, making it popular with boaters, hikers, and hunters who often find themselves outside of cell phone range.
Following the acquisition, Garmin retained most of DeLorme's 92 employees, who would focus on research and development, specifically on two-way satellite communication and cartographic solutions. The company's headquarters in Yarmouth, Maine, which features the world's largest rotating globe named Eartha, would remain open to the public. However, the deal did not include the DeLorme Map Store, which was closed, resulting in the layoff of several workers.
The acquisition by Garmin marked a shift in DeLorme's focus, moving from traditional map expertise to satellite communications devices. While the future of DeLorme's popular Maine Atlas & Gazetteer was uncertain, the company would continue to produce maps and its state-specific "Atlas and Gazetteer" series.
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Garmin kept on most of DeLorme's employees
In 2016, Garmin acquired DeLorme, a Maine-based company that designs and markets consumer-based satellite tracking devices with two-way communication and navigational capabilities. The acquisition was a strategic move by Garmin to leverage DeLorme's expertise in the development of innovative products, particularly the inReach series of affordable two-way satellite communication devices.
Garmin retained most of DeLorme's associates, with plans to continue operations at its Yarmouth, Maine location. The facility would primarily serve as a research and development office, focusing on satellite communication and cartographic solutions. This decision was influenced by the popularity of DeLorme's inReach products, which accounted for half of the company's $20 million in revenues the previous year.
While the acquisition resulted in the closure of DeLorme's map store and the layoff of several workers, it ensured the retention of most of the 92 full-time employees, who would now concentrate on research and development. The company's founder, David DeLorme, also ensured that provisions were made to keep Eartha, the world's largest rotating globe housed in the Yarmouth lobby, open to the public and tour groups.
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DeLorme's Maine Atlas and Gazetteer was one of their most popular products
DeLorme's Maine Atlas and Gazetteer is one of the company's most popular products. The Gazetteer is a detailed collection of 78 maps and information that has guided outdoor enthusiasts to remote hiking trails, fishing spots, and scenic sights in the state of Maine. The book is conveniently bound in book form and includes full-color topographic maps that provide information on everything from cities and towns to historic sites, scenic drives, trailheads, boat ramps, and prime fishing spots. The handy latitude/longitude overlay grid for each map allows users to navigate with GPS, and inset maps are provided for major cities and state lands.
The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer has received numerous positive reviews from customers, praising its detailed maps, ease of use, and comprehensive guide to Maine's backcountry. One customer review highlights that the Gazetteer is "perfect for planning your vacation to Maine", while another mentions that it is a "must-have" for safety purposes when exploring rural areas with limited cell service. The Gazetteer has been described as an "outstanding job of creating a very usable Atlas" and a "very useful atlas, highly recommended."
In addition to the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, DeLorme offers Atlas and Gazetteer products for other states, including New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, Alabama, Oregon, Alaska, and Ohio. These atlases provide similar levels of detail and information for outdoor enthusiasts and travellers exploring those states.
While the company was sold to Swiss GPS giant Garmin in 2016, the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer continues to be a trusted and valued resource for many individuals exploring the state of Maine.
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