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JACKSONVILLE Hitting the bull's-eye Global Cache's hardware for 'smart' homes and offices in high demand By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 30, 2015 @ 4:44 pm Updated Jun 30, 2015 at 5:43 PM By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 30, 2015 @ 4:44 pm Updated Jun 30, 2015 at 5:43 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Unless you are a wired home guru or a consumer electronics geek, chances are you know little about Global Caché. Silicon Valley expatriates Walt and Robin Ford founded the firm in their Applegate Valley home in 2002, providing hardware for automated and remote-controlled system homes and offices. Global Caché moved its headquarters to a cottage on California Street in Jacksonville in January 2007 and consolidated front-office and manufacturing operations in September 2008, moving production from Stockton, Calif. The niche market the Fords sought to exploit after selling software firm GraphOn was relatively small. Most people desiring automated "smart" homes or offices were willing to pay $150,000 a decade ago. Global Caché positioned itself as a cost-efficient alternative, producing hardware components that allow users network control through Wi-Fi, Internet Protocol or Web enabled systems. "Even the incredibly high-end systems were not worth $150,000 to $200,000," Robin Ford said. "They were using systems that needed proprietary software. When we built our dream home in San Jose, we thought we could go to Fry's and cobble something together for much less." Selling to distributors who put their components in the hands of manufacturers and installers, the company grew modestly in the early years. Then Apple introduced the iPhone in June 2007 and the iPad in April 2010. Smartphones and tablets gave the masses a remote tool for home and office automation. "The day Apple introduced the iPad changed everything," Ford said. "Prior to that you could install a wall screen control for $10,000. All of a sudden, you could get as much done, if not more, with a less-expensive system. For $2,500, you could have it all." The market has been moving in Global Caché's direction ever since. "We thought it would be fun to have a boutique-type firm in Southern Oregon," Ford said. "But whenever you're dealing with high-tech, sometimes you hit the bull’s-eye." At the same time smartphones were changing the terrain, the financial world spun out of control. But that, too, ultimately played in the company's favor. "People weren't embracing open source systems, choosing to buy expensive hardware," she said. "When the recession hit, suddenly people started caring about how much they spent, and our products gave them functionality." It didn't take long to see the shift. "We had one quarter when sales went down in 2009, and that was kind of scary," Ford said. "Then we recovered very well." While the closely held firm doesn't share financial data, its annual revenue figure is well north of $10 million. The firm has 25 employees and 200 partners using its components worldwide and more than 800,000 units. "We're the glue that sticks everything together between that shiny flat-screen TV and the software," said marketing director Rusty Keller. "Everything is getting faster and smaller." Global Caché components are often part of brand-name products, although few people know it. "We find out after the fact a lot," Keller said. "Experience Music Project Museum has controlling devices in some of their displays and there are several hundred units in use in the Miami Dolphins' (Sun Life) Stadium." Ford said it's possible Global Caché will have another 10 to 15 employees in the next year and hopes to attract Oregon Institute of Technology graduates. "In the beginning we thought we were looking at higher-end systems with a smaller volume," she said. "The way our market is moving, we're looking at high volume." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or  [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at  www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at  www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge . By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Jun. 30, 2015 @ 4:44 pm Updated Jun 30, 2015 at 5:43 PM » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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