Early 1900's

1901

Otto Orkin starts pedaling rodenticides.

Early 1900's

1912

Otto Orkin, now known as “Otto the Rat Man” opens his first office in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Otto Orkin was a master salesman with a sales approach that included obtaining letters of recommendation from satisfied customers and sharing them with prospective customers to demonstrate the effectiveness of his work. He believed in advertising and creating a brand around “Otto, the Orkin Man”.

Early 1900's

1926

Orkin opens the Atlanta office of Orkin Exterminating Company, Inc. and begins establishing - operations in other major southeastern cities. The company introduces the Orkin diamond as its logo.

Early 1900's

1930

After concentrating for years on rodents and eventually insects, Orkin begins to advertise termite services.

Early 1900's

1936

Throughout the 1930s, Orkin coworkers built a strong foundation of exceptional customer service from Orkin. Letters between business leaders demonstrate Orkin’s dedication to providing outstanding service.

Mid-1900's

1941-45

The U.S. War Manpower Commission declares pest control as an “essential service”. Orkin provides pest control and fumigation for 150 military establishments. This was a turning point for Orkin, there were improvements in pest control technology during the war.

Mid-1900's

1954

First Orkin television ad airs, featuring Otto the Orkin Man, a singing spray can, with one of the most recognized jingles in advertising history.

Mid-1900's

1964

Led by O. Wayne Rollins, Rollins Broadcasting, Inc. (later know as Rollins, Inc.) acquires Orkin Exterminating Company for US$62 million, seven times more than Rollins revenues at the time.

Mid-1900's

1967

Orkin’s parent company, Rollins, Inc. moves its headquarters from Wilmington, Delaware to Atlanta, Georgia. Gary Rollins, son of O. Wayne Rollins and current Orkin president, COO, and chairman of the board, joins the company as an Atlanta pest and termite sales inspector.

Mid 1900's

1968

Rollins, Inc. (ROL) begins trading on the NYSE. Orkin opens new branches in Panama, Central America, Cleveland, Ohio and five branches to serve metropolitan Atlanta.

Late 1900's

1972

The Longest known Service Call

” in the history of the pest control industry for the American embassy in Moscow. An Orkin Man makes 11000-mile round trip to combat both German and Oriental roaches in the US embassy.

Late 1900's

1988

Forbes magazine recognizes Rollins, Inc. as the “Nation’s Number One Service Company’, due to the excellent reputation of Orkin and its sister companies.

Late 1900's

1989

The Orkin Exterminator Robot advertising campaign makes its national debut.

Late 1900's

1991

Orkin becomes the first recognized corporate sponsor at the Smithsonian Institution through the O. Orkin Insect Zoo.

Late 1900's

1993

Orkin opens the O. Orkin Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Late 1900's

1998

The animated “Orkin Man” dethrones the Exterminator Robot as the face of Orkin in advertisements.

Late 1900's

1999

The acquisition of PCO Services makes Orkin the largest pest management company in Canada.

Otto Orkin inducted posthumously into the Pest Control magazine’s Hall of Fame.

Early 2000's

2000

Orkin launches an extremely successful “Fake out” advertising campaign in which a roach appears to crawl across viewers’ TV screens.

Watch the commercial here

Early 2000's

2001-03

Award-winning state-of-the-art training center opens in Atlanta. 2 years later, it expands to include life-size models of commercial kitchens, hospital and hotel rooms, and other indoor and outdoor facilities typically treated by Orkin.

Orkin sponsors Atlanta Children’s Zoo to celebrate the 100th Anniversary.

Early 2000's

2004

Orkin partners with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to educate the public about pest-borne diseases in and around the home.

Orkin and the American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES) of the American Hospital Association launches a partnership that promotes more effective and environmentally friendly pest control practices in health care settings.

Early 2000's

2006

Orkin’s longest known free inspection

Orkin partnered with the Chinese government and traveled to the Forbidden city in Beijing to provide consultation and perform termite inspection on world’s highly revered Imperial Palace.

Early 2000's

2009

Orkin now has international franchises in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico.

Early 2000's

2020

Orkin and the American Red Cross join forces and launch a community service initiative against mosquitoes.

120 Years and Beyond

2022

Orkin elevates the Orkin Technician to the Orkin Pro and launches the Best in Pests campaign which has proven successful in driving sales and brand metrics.

Watch the commercial here

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120 Years and Beyond

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