This year’s trade rollercoaster is creating headaches for Atlanta-based Cellairis, which has evolved in the last 25 years from a pure retailer of cell phone cases to a global company helping individuals and enterprises protect, repair and maintain their mobile devices.
Cellairis has more than 2,000 employees distributed around the world, including 120 across its metro Atlanta retail and warehouse operations.
The company, which started as Global Cellular with a kiosk at Perimeter Mall, has grown to more than 250 locations, including some international stores in Brazil, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and other markets.
In offering cases and repair services (introduced in 2011), Cellairis relies on a supply chain that has become increasingly difficult to manage amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war with China, where most of its 1,500 product SKUs are manufactured.
“We’ve worked hard to mitigate the effects by absorbing some of the costs ourselves and trying to minimize the impact on our customers,” CEO Taki Skouras told Global Atlanta’s editorial partners at Hypepotamus in a Get to Know the CEO interview. “Tariff uncertainty continues to be a challenge, but we’re doing everything we can to minimize price increases and keep our products affordable.”
Domestically, Cellairis has seen its newest product, Cyber Pouch, take off as states and districts continue to introduce legislation calling for device-free classrooms.
Cyber Pouch blocks incoming signals, allowing students to have their phones on them without enduring the distractions that come with constant notifications. Cellairis is distributing the product with partners like Lenovo, which reaches deeply into businesses, and Delcom, a tech integrator for K-12 schools.
Mr. Skouras told Editor Maija Ehlinger at Hypepotamus that uncertainty in the global economy is just the latest hurdle for a company that has weathered many twists and turns in the tech and hardware landscape since its founding a quarter-century ago.
“The sheer size and complexity of the wireless industry are always on my mind. We’re operating in a highly competitive market, and it’s critical that we stay ahead of trends and continue offering the best solutions to our customers. Whether it’s managing new technological challenges or adapting to changing consumer behavior, staying ahead of the curve is key. The uncertainty in global markets and supply chains also keeps me on my toes, but we’re committed to doing what it takes to maintain our leadership in the industry.”
Cellairis has repaired more than 1 million devices during its more than two decades in existence.
