The History of Orkin
The original Orkin company was founded by Otto Orkin, a Latvian immigrant to the Unites States. He started his business venture as door-to-door salesman in Pennsylvania.
Early 1900’s
1901
Otto Orkin starts pedaling rodenticides.
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”.
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.
1930
After concentrating for years on rodents and eventually insects, Orkin begins to advertise termite services.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1989
The Orkin Exterminator Robot advertising campaign makes its national debut.
1991
Orkin becomes the first recognized corporate sponsor at the Smithsonian Institution through the O. Orkin Insect Zoo.
1993
Orkin opens the O. Orkin Insect Zoo at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
1998
The animated “Orkin Man” dethrones the Exterminator Robot as the face of Orkin in advertisements.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2008
Orkin launches three key initiatives:
(1) Fight the Bite, partnering with the United Nations Foundation’s global non-profit Nothing but Nets to fight malaria in Africa,
(2) Junior Pest Investigators series designed to teach children to think “green” about pests and pest management.
(3) New innovative domestic pest control offerings include Dry Zone (a moisture control service for crawl spaces), bird and wildlife services, and Orkin Heat (a more environmentally friendly alternative to fumigation).
2009
Orkin now has international franchises in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dominican Republic, Honduras, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Costa Rica, Panama, and Mexico.
2011
Orkin launches Cities Lists
2014
Orkin partners with DonorsChoose.org to put STEM school supplies in teacher’s hands to cultivate a curiosity and love of learning that will last a lifetime.Using the latest technology and unparalleled training we can protect people’s homes with an effective plan suited to specific needs. Simply put, Orkin has Pest Control Down to a Science®.
2019
Orkin launches OrkinServes as a united effort to aid their local communities. Each year, Orkin branches across the country set aside time specifically for giving back in their local areas. Since the program started, Orkin employees have donated hundreds of hours of volunteer service to residents and organizations in the U.S. We believe in people helping people and showing small acts of kindness for our customers and communities.
2020
Orkin and 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.