EarthQuaker Devices

Akron, Ohio-based, hand-crafted effects pedal manufacturer EarthQuaker Devices, top-six in the U.S. and one of the top-10 in the world, create products that are available in over 865 retail locations in approximately 50 countries. Its key retailers include Guitar Center, Sam Ash, Sweetwater and Thomann. The company has sold approximately 250,000 units. The company's current workforce reaches over 50 individuals, and has been praised for its commitment to inclusion, diversity and cooperation with other pedal manufacturers by Best Guitar Effects. The company also has an in-house global marketing team fluent in seven languages (Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Czech, and Polish), and, in 2018, rolled out a live dealer training program, which has been completed in 31 cities. EarthQuaker Devices also has recent distribution partnerships with Yamaha Australia and Yamaha Asia. The company also sponsored a week long, mid-May tour of Japan including legendary punk/metal crossover act Boris, Crypt City, Ohio's Lisa Bella Donna, and Stillman's band, Relaxer. The tour offered attendees an opportunity to play and purchase EarthQuaker products. Stillman also holds a U.S. patent (Patent no: US9,.899.013BI, issued February 20, 2018) pertaining to an effects pedal implementing a switching mechanism between forward and reverse delay effects. On May 6, EarthQuaker Devices founder and president Jamie Stillman and his wife, Chief Executive Officer, co-owner Julie Robbins, received honors as Exporter of the Year 2019 from the U.S. Small Business Administration during an awards ceremony at the National Institute of Peace. The presentation was part of the U.S. Small Business Administration's National Small Business Week activities. National Small Business Week is a national recognition event to honor the country's top entrepreneurs. EarthQuaker Devices was selected for this national award amidst candidates from each of the 50 states, as well as District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.