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October 18, 1648
- Boston shoemakers, barrel makers, and tub makers formed first
U.S. labor organization.
1774
- Johann Adam
Birkenstock registered as "subject and shoemaker" in church archives in small German village; 1897
- Konrad Birkenstock (grandson) designed first shoe with contoured insole to be used by shoemakers in production of
custom footwear; 1902
- developed first flexible arch support; 1964
- introduced Birkenstock sandal; 1966
- Margot Fraser began
Birkenstock Distribution USA, Inc. in California;
April 13, 1976
- Birkenstock Orthopadie Gmbh registered "Birkenstock" trademark
first used December 30, 1774 (first used in commerce December
15, 1962 - footwear-namely, sandals, shoes, and shoe insoles).
May 1, 1794 -
Group of shoemakers joined forces in Philadelphia in battle for
wages and workplace amenities; christened themselves Federal
Society of Journeymen Cordwainers; move to unionize due to shift
from "economic clientage" to open wage system that occurred in
America during late 18th century; workers joined forces to
legitimize wage scales, guard against competition from
bargain-basement priced labor, craftsman.
1804
- Thomas and Amos Evans ran small shoe business attached to
general store in South Reading, VT (cut leather parts for their
shoes); supplied all uppers, soles, counters, heels, farmed shoe
making process among local citizens (shoemaker-farmers assembled
shoes, sewed by hand whenever spare time could be found);
1832 - James
Madison Evans entered business;
1841 - Lucius Bolles (L.B.) Evans
(younger brother of James Madison) started his own shoe business
(became founder of present L.B. Evans Company);
pre-1880 -
Harvey B. Evans (son) beaome partner;
1905 - incorporated as the L.B. Evans’
Son Company; came to specialize in high quality men's slippers
(leather, suede, wool); May
29, 1956 - L.B. Evans’ Son Company registered
"Evans" trademark first used in January 1915 (men's ad boys'
shoes and slippers); February
2000 - acquired by Daniel Green Company;
December 2001
- Daniel Green, L.B. Evans, Woolrich lines acquired by
Elan-Polo, Inc. (formed Daniel Green Enterprises, LLC).
July 9,
1808 - Samuel Parker, of Billerica, MA, received
a patent for "Tanning", a leather splitting machine.
1816 - Johann Scheer started making shoes in Vienna, Austria;
second half of 19th century - Rudolf Scheer (grandson) built
business; renamed Rudolf Scheer & Sohne; 1878 - named "imperial
and royal shoemaker to the court" (Austro-Hungarian imperial
court); post WW II - Carl Ferdinand Scheer assumed control;
mid-1990s - Markus Scheer (Carl's grandson, 7th generation) took
over.
1825 -
Cyrus Clark started tanning sheepskin rugs in Street, Somerset,
UK;
1830 - he and James (brother), introduced sheepskin slippers; developed reputation
for making 'foot friendly' shoes; 1950 - Nathan Clark
introduced 'Desert Boot'; April 3, 1951 - C. & J. Clark Limited registered "Clarks"
trademark in U. S, (boots, shoes, and slippers for men, women,
and children); 2005 - sales of 955 million pounds, 12,700 employees, manufactured 41
million pairs of shoes.
Cyrus Clark
- C&J Clark International
(http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Bclark.jpg)
1850 - William
J. Dudley, master craftsman schooled in classic tradition of
English shoe making, established William J. Dudley Shoe Company
in Newark, NJ home; sent
pair of handmade shoes
to Millard Fillmore, 13th President of
United States; 1880 - James Johnston, Newark
businessman, became Dudley's partner; 1881 - Dudley died, Johnston assumed
control, renamed company James Johnston Company;
1884 -
William A. Murphy, another prominent Newark businessman from
distinguished family (his brother became governor of state)
formed partnership with Johnston; name changed to Johnston &
Murphy; 1895 -
Murphy interest acquired by Herbert P. Gleason, company's former
top salesman; 1951
- acquired by General Shoe Corporation, now Genesco Inc.;
April 5, 1955 -
Johnston & Murphy Corporation registered "Johnston & Murphy"
trademark first used in 1911 (leather boots and shoes);
1971 - opened first
retail shop bearing its name in Schaumburg, IL.
1851 -
Carl Franz Bally, Fritz Bally established Bally & Co. in Schonenwerd,
Switzerland; 1854 - first factory; late
1850s - brother left business, name changed to C. F.
Bally; first stores opened in Basel, Bern, Zurich; shoes
exported to South America; 1860s - over 500
employees; 1870s - production almost entirely
mechanized; 1892 - son took over; name changed to
C. F. Bally & Sons; 2 million shoes per year produced;
1907 - company went public; 1916 - 3.9
million pairs of shoes sold; 7,159 employees; September 6,
1927 - Chaussures Bally Societe Anonyme de Fabrication
registered "Bally" trademark first used October 31, 1907
([boots,] [shoes,] [sandals, moccasins, and bath slippers made
of leather, rubber, fabric, or combinations thereof]);
1977 - majority ownership of company by non-family
members; 1990s - acquired by Texas Pacific;
2000s - 200 single-brand stores around world.
Carl Franz Bally
- Bally Shoes
(http://www.petervoellmy.ch/
bally2.jpg)
July 6, 1858
- Lyman R. Blake, shoemaker from South Abington, MA, received a
patent for "Improvement in Sewing-Machines" ("an improved
machine for sewing a sole on a boot or shoe"); first shoe-sole
machine (mechanized shoemaking); revolutionized the shoe
industry and helped establish Plymouth County as the nation's
shoe manufacturing capital.
1863 - John
A. Frye, well to do shoemaker from England, founded shoe
business; ran business for nearly 50 years; worn by soldiers for
both sides of America's Civil War, soldiers in Spanish- American
war, Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders; 1911 -
died, family continued to run company until 1945;
May 18, 1976
- John A. Frye Shoe Company, Inc. registered "Frye" trademark
first used January 1, 1952 (boots and shoes of leather and/or
synthetic materials); 1998
- acquired by Jimlar Corp.; oldest continuously operated shoe
company in United States.
1870 -
John Morland bought tannery in historic town of Glastonbury, UK.
January 24, 1871
- Charles Goodyear, Jr. received a patent for a "Machine for
Sewing Boots and Shoes"; Goodyear Welt construction.
1873
- Thomas Church, his three sons (Alfred, William, Thomas Jr.)
founded Church's Shoes in Northampton, UK;
1881 - first shoemaker to introduce
concept of “left” and “right” in shoe pairs;
1921 - opened first
shop in London; 1999
- acquired by Prada Group; April 2003 - 55% equity interest acquired by Equinox
Management Co. (private investment fund);
December 2006 - 55% interest owned by
Equinox reacquired by Prada Group.1876 - George
Henry Bass purchased half interest
in E. P.
Packard and Co., boot and shoe manufacturer in Wilton, ME;
1877 - acquired Packard's interest; 1880
- sold tannery; renamed shoe business to G.H. Bass & Co.;
1906 - incorporated.
1879
- James Crockett & Charles Jones established in Northampton, UK
(Detroit of British shoe industry); specialized in making
Goodyear-welted shoes; fifth generation.
February 3, 1880 -
Black American inventor, Joseph W. Waller of Baltimore, MD,
received patent for a "Shoemaker's Cabinet or Bench"; design
combined a cabinet and a calf-skin seat with compartments and
divisions for boxes, jars and bottles; pockets for holding
various tools; provided with a lamp for heating purposes and a
groove for stones for sharpening tools; entire assembly could be
shipped as a compact box.
1881 - Daniel
Green, shoe salesman, found that company manufacturing felt for
pianos had also fashioned some slippers used by factory workers
to keep their feet warm; Green, his brother acquired license to
market felt slippers, set up Daniel Green Company at their home
in Canastota, NY, sold "Original Comfy Slipper Company";
late 1920s -
advertised nationally; 1960s
- manufactured wider variety of slippers, shoes for women and
men; 1987 -
James Riedman joined company, acquired 35% interest (through
Riedman Corporation insurance company); 1996 - became chairman,
chief executive officer;
mid-1980s - as many as 700 employees (reducecd
to 300 by 1998); June 1999
- all footwear manufacturing outsourced overseas (Spain, China,
Mexico), income of $1.5 million on sales of $15 million in 1999;
February 2000
- acquired number of brands from L.B. Evans & Son Company
Limited Partnership (oldest footwear manufacturer in United
States, established in 1804; leader in men's slippers);
April 2000 -
acquired Penobscot Shoe Company for $17.8 million (publicly
traded importer of women's footwear, owner of Trotters brand);
January 2001 -
Riedman Corporation acquired by Brown & Brown Inc. for $62
million; December 2001
- Daniel Green, L.B. Evans, Woolrich lines acquired by
Elan-Polo, Inc. (formed Daniel Green Enterprises, LLC); focused
on fast-growing Trotters, SoftWalk brands;
May 2002 -
name changed to Phoenix Footwear Group, Inc.;
August 2003 -
acquired H.S. Trask & Co. (produced Western-style boots in
exotic materials such as bison, longhorn, elk leather);
October 2003 -
acquired Royal Robbins brand for $11.5 million;
July 2004 -
acquired Altama Delta Corporation, boot manufacturer.
1883 - G. A.
Krause, Fred Hirth (uncle) founded shoe making company;
1906 -
incorporated as
Hirth-Krause
Company; 1914 - selected Wolverine brand name for
shoes made of Wolverine horsehide leather; called "1000 Mile
Shoes"; 1921 - name changed to Wolverine Shoe and
Tanning Corporation; 1957 - Victor Krause,
Chairman, developed oxford shoe that utilized new technology in
tanning process of suede; first truly casual shoe; July 1,
1958 - registered "Hush Puppies" trademark first used
May 21, 1957 (shoes); name suggested by Jim Muir, company
salesman; had dined at friend’s home in Tennessee; enjoyed
Southern dish of fried corn dough called "Hush Puppies"; told
that any remaining corn dough was fed to dogs to keep them from
barking (common to refer to aching feet as "barking dogs");
1964 - name changed to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.;
1997 - acquired Merrell brand, began process of
developing leading global brand in performance outdoor footwear;
2003 - acquired Sebago, authentic American brand
featuring hand sewn dress casual and performance marine
footwear; 2005 - sales topped one billion dollars
for first time.
G.A. Krause
- founder Wolverine World Wide
(http://www.wolverine.com/%7EUploaded/Assets/WBRV/images/img1.jpg)
March 20, 1883
- Jan E, Matzeliger, of Lynn, MA, received patent for a
"Lasting-Machine"; shoe-lasting machine; May 19, 1885
- began the first U.S. mass production of shoes, in Lynn, MA.
1892 -
Milton Florsheim, Sigmund
Florsheim
(father), began producing shoes in small factory in Chicago, IL;
April 26, 1910 - Florsheim Shoe Company registered
"The Florsheim Shoe" trademark first used January 1890 (cloth
and leather boots and shoes); 1952 - acquired by
International Shoe Company (Interco); 1962 - sales
of $350 million, 70% of men's dress shoe market, more than half
of Interco's earnings; 1964 - Thomas Florsheim Sr.
bought $750,000 of stock in
Weyenberg
Shoe Manufacturing Company (later called Weyco); joined company;
1987 - son joined Weyco; 1994 -
second son joined; 1991 - Interco filed for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection; 1992 - majority
stake acquired by Apollo Investment Fund; Florsheim spun off as
public company; May 2002 - acquired by Weyco Group
(Glendale, WI) for $45 million; back in Florsheim family.
August 29, 1893 - Whitcomb Judson,
mechanical engineer from Chicago, received a patent for a
"Clasp Locker or Unlocker for Shoes" ("for automatically
engaging or disengaging an entire series of clasps by a single
continuous movement"; a slide fastener; launched Universal
Fastener Company to manufacture new device; public debut at the
1893 Chicago World's Fair, met with little commercial success.
August 24, 1894
-
Tomáš (18), Anna, Antonín Bata
registered
T.&A.
Bata Shoe Company in
Zlin, Czechoslovakia;
1895 -
Tomas Bata assumed leadership; 1897 - introduced
'Batovka' (first fabric shoe), mechanized production; 1905
- 250 employees produced 2,200 pairs per day; 1917
- 5,000 employees produced 2 million pairs per year; 1925
- “Bata system” organized operations in autonomous workshops
with employee profit sharing (introduced in 1923); Bata School
of Work founded, provides rigorous education, practical
training to future Bata managers; early 1930s -
world’s leading footwear exporter; 1932 - Jan Bata
(uncle) took over after death of Tomas; 1939 - 60
million pairs sold per year in more than 30 countries;
1966-
Thomas Bata Sr. (son) gained control; 1984 -
Thomas Bata Jr. (grandson) took over as president/CEO of Bata
Ltd.; 1993 - replaced; 2001 -
returned after succession difficulties resolved by new ownership
structure.
Anna, Tomáš,
Antonín Bata
- Bata Ltd.
(http://www.darius.cz/bata/anne_tomas_antonin_bata.gif)
1895
- Joseph William Foster founded J.W.
Foster and Sons Limited in Bolton, Lancashire; made shoes by
hand for top runners; developed international clientele of
distinguished athletes (1924 Summer Games celebrated in film
"Chariots of Fire"); 1958 - two grandsons left
family business, started rival company, Reebok (named for
African gazelle); 1979 - Paul Fireman, partner in
outdoor sporting goods distributorship, spotted Reebok shoes at
international trade show; negotiated for North American
distribution license, introduced three running shoes in U.S.
($60, most expensive running shoes on market); April 22,
1980 - registered "Reebok" trademark first used in
February 1965 (shoes for use in athletic sports); 1981
- Reebok's sales exceeded $1.5 million; 1982 -
Reebok introduced Freestyle athletic shoe, first designed
especially for women, aerobic dance exercise; explosive growth
followed; 1984 - acquired by group of investors
led by R. Stephen Rubin of Pentland Industries and Paul Fireman;
January 2006 - acquired by Adidas-Salomon in $3.8
billion transaction.
April 1898
- Walter C. C. Snyder, William A. Donmoyer, B. F. Reider formed
partnership named Sasucony Shoe Co. in Kutztown, PA as
manufacturer of children's and infants turn shoes and sandals
(Native American name means "mouth of a creek or river"; Saucony
Creek ran through Kutztown); January 2, 1902 - incorporated as Saucony Shoe
Manufacturing Company; John R. Gonser elected first president;
1968 -
acquired by A.R. Hyde & Sons (founded in 1910 by Abraham Hyde);
February 17, 1981
- Saucony Shoe Manufacturing Company, Inc. registered "Saucony"
trademark first used in June 1976 (shoes);
May 1992 - Consumer Reports gave
Saucony's Jazz 3000 shoe its 'best buy' rating; sales of Saucony
line rose from $11 million to $47 million, number of stores that
carried Saucony shoes increased 25%, Hyde's share of American
athletic shoe market doubled to 6.6%;
January 1998 - Hyde Athletic Industries,
Inc. reorganized, renamed Saucony Inc.;
September 2005 - acquired by Stride Rite
Corporation for $170 million.
May
30, 1899
- Humphrey O'Sullivan, of Lowell, MA. received a patent for a
"Cushion-Heel" ("...improvement in cushion-heels bor
boots and shoes, and more particularly to an improved form of
cushion-heel provided with nail or screw-head chambers...made of
rubber or other elastic material"); rubber sole to ease his
aching feet as he stood all day.
February 15, 1905
- Charles H. Beckman founded Red Wing Shoe Company in a tiny
corner shop in Red Wing, MN; first boot sold for $1.75;
1907 - produced 100 pairs per day; 1915 -
produced 200,000 pairs annually; 1921 - J. R.
Sweasy became president; 1985 - produced 2 million
pairs annually, over 150 styles.
Charles H. Beckman
- Red Wing Shoe (http://www.redwing.com.sg/images/history/1905.jpg)
1906
- William J. Riley (33 year-old English waiter) built arch
supports that relieved pain suffered by people who spent all day
working on their feet; founded New Balance Arch Support Company;
1909 - listed in
Boston business directory under 'shoemaker';
1928 - designed
first running shoe for Boston running club (Boston Brown Bag
Harriers); success of shoe spread; 1934 - top salesman, Arthur Hall, made partner;
1941 - New Balance
created custom-made shoes for running, baseball, basketball,
tennis, boxing; 1956
- acquired by Eleanor and Paul Kidd (daughter Hall); 1960 - introduced
Trackster, first running shoe available in multiple widths
(became standard for New Balance); first running shoe made with
ripple sole; 1972 - acquired by Jim Davis; shoe
models identified by number, not name (emphasis on New Balance
philosophy, not particular shoe).
October 1906 -
William Ramsay, Hamilton McKellar introduced boot polish in
Melbourne, Australia; named ‘KIWI’ (tribute
to wife, New Zealand, home of KIWI bird, New Zealand's national
emblem); kiwi bird design looked good on small round tin, name
was easy to see, attractive to look at; June 29, 1908 - produced Dark Tan polish
(first stain polish able to restore, maintain, alter color of
faded leather; later introduced Light Tan, Brown, Ox Blood,
Black, patent leather polish);1910
- McKellar left company; 1916
- merged bAustralian parent, English subsidiaries, formed The
Kiwi Polish Company Pty. Ltd. (John Ramsay, father of deceased
William, as chairman); May 24, 1932
- KIWI Polish Company Proprietary Limited registered "KIWI"
trademark first used April 1908 (polishing preparations for
boots, shoes, and leather goods); 1984 - acquired by Sara Lee Corporation;
December 31, 2010 -
Sara Lee Corp.'s global shoe care business to be acquired by SC
Johnson for $328 million.
1907 - August
Johansson, formerly apprentice to local cobbler in area of
Bastad, in southern Sweden, started production of wooden clogs
in Troentorp, small village outside town of Bastad; wind-powered
lathe to carve clogs; 1942 - Borje and Stig Johansson (sons) took over clog factory;
July 24, 1979 - Troentorps Toffelfabrik AB Corportion registered "Troentorps" (Bastad-Toffeln
[Bastad-Clog] Anatomisk Botten [Anatomic Bottom] Troentorps Toffelfabrik [Troentorps Clog Factory]) trademark first used May
1959 (clogs).
1908 -
Marquis
Mills Converse started Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden,
MA; sold provided winterized rubber soled footwear for men,
women, children; 1910 - produced 4,000 pairs of
shoes daily, 1915 - diversified into tires;
1917 - created vulcanized rubber, canvas "All Star"
shoe, first sneaker designed for basketball (put rubber ankle
reinforcement patch on outside of sneaker with Converse star on
it - first brand-name logo on athletic wear); 1918
- Charles H. (Chuck) Taylor, All American high school player
(later played for original Celtics, Buffalo Germans, Akron
Firestones), put on his first pair of All Star shoes; 1921
- Taylor joined company as America's first
player/endorser; 1923 - "Chuck Taylor" signature
added to All Star basketball shoe; 1928 - fell
into receivership; 1929 - acquired by Mitchell B.
Kaufmann, former president of Hodgman Rubber Company (heart
attack in 1931); 1933 - acquired by Joseph, Harry,
Dewey Stone (from Kaufmann estate); 1937 -
introduced Jack Purcell tennis shoe; 1966 - added
color choices to the basic black and white "Chuck Taylor" All
Star basketball shoe; end of 1960s - 90% share of
basketball shoe market; 1972 - acquired by Eltra
Corporation; 1975 - "Dr. J" Erving signed with
Converse as testimonial; 1979 - acquired by Allied
Corporation; Larry Bird, "Magic" Johnson signed as testimonial;
1980 - acquired rights to be "official sports shoe
provider" of LA’s 1984 Olympic Games (promotional costs of about
$10 million); 1982 - acquired in management buyout
foe $100 million; 1983 - went public; 1986
- acquired by Interco. Inc.; 1987 - sales of $315
million; 1991 - 60% of stock acquired by Apollo
Advisors (Interco filed for bankruptcy); November 17, 1994
- spun off by Interco, controlled by Leon Black; renamed CVEO
Corporation; January 2001 - filed for bankruptcy
protection; April 30, 2001 - Converse name and
trademarks acquired in bankruptcy auction by Footwear
Acquisition, Inc.; May 21, 2001 - name changed to
Converse Inc.; September 3, 2003 - acquired by
Nike for approximately $305 million.
Marquis Mills Converse
(http://autonomieproject.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/converse.jpg)
Chuck Taylor
- Converse
(http://hoopedia.nba.com/images/c/c0/ChuckTaylorFirestone.jpg)
1909 - Ward Melville, Frank
Melville's son, joined father's company; 1916 - named
vice-president; 1922 - incorporated Melville Shoe company as
retail holding corporation; opened first Thom McAn's on Third
Avenue New York City (named after Scottish golfer, Thomas
McCann); low cost, high quality shoe retailer (few simple styles
of men's shoes at fixed price of $3.99); July 10, 1923 - Melville Shoe
Corporation registered "Thom McAn" trademark first used August
30, 1922 (Shoes of Combinations of Leather and Rubber and of
Rubber and Fabric); 1927 - Thom McAn chain
grown to more than 300 stores; 1970 - Melville ranked fifth
largest and most profitable U.S. shoemaker; operated 1,644 total
retail outlets; 1972 - ranked as 43rd largest retailing company
in United States (sales of $512 million, more than 15,000
employees.); 1974 - shoes still accounted for 71 percent of
Melville's $765 million in sales; 1976 - ranked 32nd largest
retailing company; 1978 - operated 3,812 stores, sales of $1.75
billion, shoes accounted for about 53 percent of total;
1995 -
announced sweeping restructuring, planned to spin or sell off
several businesses to focus primarily on most profitable unit,
CVS drugstore chain.; 1996 - name changed to CVS Corporation
(all retail chains sold).
Ward Melville
- Melville Corporation
(http://www.3villagecsd.k12.ny.us/Elementary/minnesauke/3villagehist/images/WardMe1.jpg)
1910 - Cobbler Abraham Hyde opened shoe store in Cambridge, MA;
first products were carpet slippers (crafted from carpet
remnants); 1912 - established A.R. Hyde and Sons; Maxwell C.
Hyde (son) joined company; expanded product line women's and
children's shoes; Worl War II - ceased production of civilian
shoes, manufactured boots for U.S. Army; only shoe company
awarded Army-Navy E Award for excellence in manufacturing; 1946
- returned to civilian production; concentrated on athletic
footwear; 1952 - name changed Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc.;
early 1960s - awarded NASA contract to supply footwear for first
astronauts; 1967 - annual revenues of $5.5 million; October 1968
- acquired Saucony Manufacturing Company; 1969 - revenues of
nearly $9 million; 1977 - Leonard R. Fisher (son-in-law) took
over; revenues of $21 million; leading consumer magazine gave
Saucony running shoes top rating; 1982 - Fisher and wife
(Phyllis) acquired controlling interest in company; suit forced
public offering, reduced Fishers' share to 41%; 1983 - revenues
of $44.5 million, net earnings of nearly $3 million; 1985 -
revenues rose to $54 million; acquired Brookfield Athletic Shoe
Company (included PF Flyer brand); 1990 - John Fisher (son) took
over; 1992 - Consumer Reports awarded Saucony's Jazz 3000 shoe
top rating and "best buy rating"; sales, led by Saucony line,
rose to $81 million, net earnings of nearly $3.5 million;
January 1998 - Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc. reorganized,
renamed Saucony Inc.; September 2005 - acquired by Stride Rite
Corporation for $170 million.
1916 - U.S. Rubber Company introduced Keds,
first national athletic, lifestyle footwear brand; January 2, 1917 - registered "Keds" trademark first used July 14, 1916
(rubber, leather, and fabric boots and shoes).
1920 -
Adolf (Adi) Dassler (20)
made his first shoes; produced from canvas; invented spiked
shoes for track and field;
July 1, 1924
- Adolf
and Rudolf Dassler sports shoe company Gebrüder Dassler OHG in
the Bavarian town of Herzogenaurach (12 miles outside
Nuremberg); developed new business that would make shoes to be
worn only for sports;
1928 - athletes wore special
shoes for first time at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam;
mid 1930s - made 30 different shoes for eleven
sports, workforce of almost 100 employees; became the world’s
leading sports shoe manufacturer;
1936 - Jesse
Owens won four gold medals in Berlin Olympics, wore dark Dassler
spikes;
April 1948
- Adi, Rudolph Dassler
dissolved partnership;
August 18, 1949 - registered
as Adidas AG (combination of first and last name);
registered
Three Stripes trademark;
1954 - Germany won the
Soccer World Cup, German team wore adidas;
February 19, 1957 - Ad Dassler, doing business as
Adidas
Sportschuhfabriken Adia Dassler registered "Adidas" trademark
(the mark with the three stripes"; 1990 - Bernard Tapie
(corporate turnaround specialist) acquired 80% of Adidas stock
for $320 million; February 1993 - acquired from Credit Lyonnais
by Robert Louis-Dreyfus, former head of Saatchi and Saatchi
P.L.C., British advertising group (1992 -Tapie unable to pay
interest on his loan); December 1997 - Adidas AG acquired
Salomon Group (world's leading manufacturer of winter sports
products), corporate name changed to Adidas-Salomon AG; January 31, 2006 - competed acquisition of
Reebok.
Adolf (Adi) Dassler
-
founder Adidas
(http://dripdropmag.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/adidassler1.jpg)
1922 - Albert W. Allen established small
shoe company in Belgium, WI; William Edmonds joined few years
later, formed Allen-Edmonds Shoe Company; 1980 - acquired by
John Stollenwerk; Jul 22, 2006 - acquired by private equity
firm Goldner Hawn Johnson & Morrison Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) for
$123 million.
Albert W. Allen
-
Allen-Edmonds Shoe Company
(http://www.allenedmonds.com/heritage/Heritage_Database/20s1.jpg)
1928 -
Trafton Cole, Eddie Haan introduced first shoe, "Trafton" (first
to carry hand-stamped Cole-Hahn label), in Chicago; 1975
- label acquired from E.E. Taylor Corp. by Chairman Emeritus
George Denney (started as leather handcutter at E.E. Taylor
Corp. in Maine);; 1979 - introduced first women's
footwear collection; 1982 - introduced driving
shoe (originally a Brazilian concept) to American market; opened
first retail store in Freeport, ME; May 1988 -
acquired by Nike, Inc. for $95 million.
1932 -
Berko
and Minnie Rubin established Liverpool Shoe Co. to sell footwear
to Britain's retail chains; 1936 - incorporated;
1946 - acquired first manufacturing operation,
Merrywell Shoes; 1964 - went public; 1969
- R. Stephen Rubin (son, 31) assumed control; 1971
- acquired Pentland Maritime Shipbrokers Ltd.; 1973
- name changed to Pentland Industries Ltd.; 1979 -
acquired U.K. license to the Pony footwear brand; over £25
million in annual sales, more than £1 million in pre-tax
profits; 1981 - acquired 55.5% interest in Reebok
USA Ltd. Inc. (North American licensee of J.W. Foster & Sons
Inc., world's oldest shoe company) for $77,500; 1984
- with Paul Fireman acquired Reebok International (and worldwide
rights to Reebok brand) from founding Foster family for $700,000
(1986 Reebok sales of $919 million, 34% share of American
athletic footwear market); 1990 - Pentland's sales
of £743.45 million ($1.3 billion), after-tax net of £29.91
million ($53.39 million); February 1991 - sold 18%
of equity back to Reebok for$460 million; 1990 -
acquired significant stake in Authentic Fitness Corporation
(North American licensee of Speedo brand); acquired 80% stake in
Speedo (Europe) Ltd.; 1991 - acquired complete
ownership of Speedo International, Speedo Australia (accounted
for 65% of competitive (vs. fashion) swimsuits sold worldwide;
July 1991 - acquired Pony International Inc.
(global shoe, sportswear subsidiary of Adidas AG); 1993
- acquired controlling 80% interest in Pony USA; 1992-1996
- acquired outright, or controlling stakes in, nine major
sporting goods brands.
R. Stephen Rubin
- Pentland
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/ olmedia/435000/images/_437441_
stephenrubin150ap.jpg)
1935 - Paul Sperry
experimented with
various sole designs for superior traction (after observing his
dog's grip on icy surfaces); developed the "Top-Sider"; struck
manufacturing deal with Converse
February 7, 1943 - The US
government announced that shoe rationing would go into effect,
limiting consumers to buying three pairs per person for the
remainder of the year; October 30, 1945 - U.S.
government announces end of shoe rationing.
1948 - Rudolf
Dassler (brother of Adidas founder) founded a rival
company, 'Ruda', changed to PUMA Schuhfabrik Rudolf Dassler;
PUMA Atom, PUMA?s first football shoe, introduced; 1959 - company changed to limited partnership status, named
"PUMA-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler KG"; October 19,
1965 - registered "Puma" trademark (sport shoes);
1968 - PUMA is the first manufacturer to offer sports
shoes with Velcro fasteners; 1986 - PUMA limited
partnership transformed into a stock corporation; 1993
- Proventus/Aritmos B.V. became majority shareholder of PUMA AG
Rudolf Dassler Sport.
Rudolf Dassler
- PUMA
(http://im.rediff.com/ sports/2005/nov/08puma.jpg)
September 1, 1949 - Kihachiro Onitsuka started
Onitsuka Co., Ltd., athletic footwear company, in Kobe,
Japan; manufactured basketball shoes from his living
room; expanded into other lines of sports shoes;
May 1953 - opened Tiger Rubber Factory in Kobe;
June 1957 - Tiger Rubber Factory reorganized into Onitsuka Co.,
Ltd.; February 1964 - went public; July 21, 1977 - merged with GTO
Co., Ltd, manufacturer of sports wear and goods, and
JELENK Co., Ltd, manufacturer of sports wear, renamed
ASICS Corporation (acronym from Latin "Anima Sana In
Corpore Sano" - ancient ideal of "A Sound Mind in a
Sound Body") on belief that best way to create healthy,
happy lifestyle is to promote total health and fitness;
introduced products in U.S.; January 8, 1908 - Onitsuka Co.,
Ltd. registered "ASICS" trademark first used December
23, 1976 (sports bags for general use);
July 1981 - established ASICS Tiger Corporation to develop American
market; May 1990 - opened Research Institute of Sports Science.
Kihachiro Onitsuka
- Asics
(http://www.asicseurope.com/shared/img/page/Mr_Onitsukasmall_05a53.jpg)
May 23, 1950
- Tony Lama (El Paso, TX) registered "Tony Lama" trademark first
used December 2, 1923 (boots, shoes [and sandals]).
1958 - Harold
Alfond bought old woolen mill in Dexter, ME; founded Dexter Shoe
Co. (had founded Norrwock Shoe Company in 1940, sold it for more
than $1 million in 1944); at peak, manufactured more than 36,000
pairs of shoes daily, 7.5 million annually; 1971 -
opened factory outlet store at Dexter plant, sold imperfect
shoes, discontinued lines; first of nationwide chain of 80
stores; July 13, 1976 - registered "Dexter"
trademark first used in March 1962 (men's and somen's shoes, not
including rain shoes); 1977 - established Harold
Alfond Foundation, Maine's first private foundation; 1978
- acquired minority interest in Boston Red Sox; 1993
- acquired by Berkshire Hathaway for $420 million; 2007
- Payless ShoeSource Inc. became exclusive U.S. seller of Dexter
brand shoes.
Harold Alfond
- Dexter Shoe Co.
(http://www.maine.gov/sos/kids/about/images/alfond.jpg)
1962 - Phil
Knight wrote research paper at Stanford Business School,
asserted that low-priced, high-performance well-merchandised
exports from Japan could replace Germany's domination of the
U.S. athletic shoe industry; December 1963 - first
shipment of Tiger shoe samples arrived; January 25, 1964
- Phil Knight, Bill Bowerman founded Blue Ribbon Sports, put up
$500 each, put in first order for running shoes from Onitsuka
Tiger Company in Japan (became Asics); April 1964
- first shipment of 300 pairs sold out in three weeks;
December 26, 1967 -
BRS, Inc.
incorporated as successor to Blue Ribbon Sports partnership;
1971 - Portland State graphic design student Carolyn
Davidson created Swoosh trademark for a $35 fee; Jeff Johnson,
Nike's first employee, dreamt of Nike, Greek goddess of victory,
gave Blue Ribbon Sports the name of its new brand of footwear;
1972 - moved from shoe distributor to designer,
manufacturer; introduced 'Moon Shoe" at 1972 U.S. Olympic Track
& Field Trials (Bowerman used wife's waffle iron, heated, poured
rubber compound to mold sole of shoe that had better traction);
1973 -
American record-holder Steve Prefontaine became first major
track athlete to wear Nike brand shoes; February 19, 1974
- BRS, Inc. (Beaverton, OR) registered "Nike"
trademark first used June 18, 1971 (athletic shoes with spikes
and athletic uniforms for use with such shoes); 1978
- company renamed Nike Inc.;
July 6, 1982
- BRS, Inc. Corporation (Beaverton, OR) registered Swoosh
trademark first used
June 18, 1971 (footwear);
September 3, 2003 -
completed the acquisition of
Converse, Inc. for approximately $305 million.
Phil Knight
- Nike
(http://s3.amazonaws.com/nikeinc/executives/109/hiRes_Phil_Knight_preview.jpg?1337367632)
1965 - Martin Michaeli
established Mephisto in Sarrebourg, France; 1984 -
first concept store opened in Aachen, Germany; first foreign
subsidiary in Japan; 1987 - distribution in the
United States; 1995 - 150th Mephisto concept store
opened (350 by 1998).
1982
- Bruce Kilgore, now Director of Advanced Research and
Development at Nike,
designed Air Force 1 sneakers
for Nike; first basketball shoe to use the Nike Air technology
(Nike Air cushioning); 1983 - discontinued;
1986 - re-released with modern italic Nike logo, swoosh
on bottom on back of shoe; 2005 - estimated 12
million pairs sold in peak year (10-11 million in 2007); Nike's
most popular, sales of about $800 million a year; top selling
model of Nike shoes, only behind Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars
(first produced in 1917, 750 million pairs sold in 144
countries), Adidas Superstars (introduced in 1969) for most sold
sneaker model in history.
September 1985
- Reebok agreed to pay $118 million in cash for privately-owned
walking-shoe manufacturer Rockport
June 23, 2007 -
Personal spending on shoes per capita: Hong Kong ($325 - highest
average in world), Italy ($309 - highest in Europe), Greece
($245), US ($222), Kuwait ($166), United Arab Emirates ($159 -
highest in Middle East), Canada ($139).
(source:
Euromonitor International Florsheim; Hannah Fairfield/New York
Times;
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/06/23/business/shoe-graph.jpg)
May 22, 2011 -
Labelux, privately held luxury group (division of Joh. A.
Benckiser, investment arm of Reimann family),agreed to acquire
Jimmy Choo, high-end shoe and accessories company, from
TowerBrook Capital Partners (acquired company in 2007), private
equity firm, and minority shareholders for undisclosed sum (120
stores, valued company at about $800 million).
(Bata Shoe), Tomas Bata; translated by Jan
Baros; foreword by John F. Bartos (1942).
How I Began. (Batanagar, Bengal: Club for graduates of
Bata School, 332 p. [2nd ed.]). Shoemakers; Bata, Tomás,
1876-1932.
Tomas Bata
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Tomas_Bata.jpg)
(Bata Shoe),
Antonin Cekota (1968).
Entrepreneur Extraordinary: The Biography of Tomas Bata.
(Rome, Italy: Edizioni Internazionali Sociali, 383 p.). Bata,
Tomas; footwear -- history; entrepreneurship.
(Bata Shoe), Thomas J. Bata & Sonja Sinclair
(1991).
Bata Shoemaker to the World. (Toronto, ON: Stoddard, 341
p.). Bata Shoe Company -- History; Bata, Tomás, 1876-1932; Bata,
Thomas, 1914-2008.
(Bata Shoe), Tomas Bata (reflections and
speeches); foreword by Milan Zeleny; introduction by Thomas J.
Bata; translation by Otilia M. Kabesova. (1992).
Knowledge in Action: The Bata System of Management.
(Washington, DC: IOS Press, 254 p.). Bata, Tomás, 1876-1932;
Bata Shoe Company -- History; Management; Organizational
behavior; Industrial management -- Employee participation;
Footwear industry -- Czech Republic -- History.
(C & J. Clark), Kenneth Hudson (1968).
Towards Precision Shoemaking: C. & J. Clark Limited and the
Development of the British Shoe Industry (London, UK:
Newton Abbot, David & Charles, 109 p.). C. & J. Clark Ltd.; Shoe
industry--Great Britain--History.
(C. & J. Clark), George Barry Sutton (1979).
A History of Shoe Making in Street, Somerset : C. and J.
Clark 1833-1903. (York, UK: Sessions, 208 p.). C. & J. Clark
Ltd.--History; Shoe industry--England--Street
(Somerset)--History.
(Jimmy Choo Ltd.), Lauren
Goldstein Crowe and Sagra Maceira de Rosen (2009).
The Towering World of Jimmy Choo: A Glamorous Story of Power,
Profits and the Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe. (New York,
NY: Bloomsbury, 240 p.). Fashion Journalist; Head of the Luxury
& Retail division of Reig Capital Group. Choo, Jimmy, 1961-;
Mellon, Tamara, 1967-; Women’s shoes --Design --20th century;
Fashion design --History --20th century; Fashion. How Jimmy Choo brand got to where it
is - love, hate, sex, fashion, finance, drugs, celebrity, power,
intrigue, ambition.
(Converse Rubber Shoe Company), Elizabeth
Kaufman (1966).
American Story. (Penobscot, ME: Traversity Press:
Penobscot, Me., Traversity Press, 114 p.). Sister of Converse
Owner. Converse Shoe Company, Kaufmann, Mitchell B. 1929 -
acquired Converse from Marquis M. Converse; 1931 - died of heart
attack while on hunting trip.
Marquis M. Converse
-
Converse Rubber Shoe Company (http://www.astore-shop.de/Bilder/artikel/converse/marquis_m_converse.jpg)
(Converse Rubber Shoe Company), Abraham
Aamidor (2005).
Chuck Taylor, All Star: The True Story of the Man Behind the
Most Famous Athletic Shoe in History. (Bloomington, IN:
Indiana University Press, 200 p.). Staff Writer (The
Indianapolis Star). Taylor, Chuck, 1901-1969; Basketball
players--United States--Biography. "Most famous name in sports that
no one knows anything about."
(DC Shoes), Ed. Eric Blehm (2003).
Agents of Change: The Story of DC Shoes and Its Athletes.
(New York, NY: ReganBooks, 256 p.). DC Shoes (Firm);
Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Skateboarding--United
States.
(Dr. Scholl's), William H. Scholl (1995).
Foot Doctor to the World. (Ware, Hertfordshire, UK: Old
Hall, 165 p.). Nephew of Dr. Scholl, Former President of
International Consumer Products Division (Schering-Plough
Corp.). Scholl, William Mathias, 1882-1968; Scholl, William
Mathias, 1882-1968; Orthopedists--United States--Biography;
Humans Feet.
Dr. William Mathias
Scholl (http://www.scholl.com/images/scholl-uk/assets/Content%20Page%20Headers/SchollShopC3Heritage01.jpg)
(Endicott Johnson), William Inglis (1935).
George F. Johnson and His Industrial Democracy. (New
York, NY: Huntington press, 306 p.). Johnson, George Francis,
1857- ; Endicott Johnson Corporation.
(Endicott-Johnson), Ed Aswad and Suzanne M.
Meredith (2003).
Endicott-Johnson. (Portsmouth, NH: Arcadia, 128 p.).
Johnson, George F. (George Francis), b. 1857; Endicott Johnson
Corporation--History--Pictorial works; Shoe industry--New York
(State)--Encicott--History--Pictorial works; Company towns--New
York (State)--Endicott--History--Pictorial works; Endicott
(N.Y.)--History--Pictorial works. Emerged from Lester
Brothers Company (1854); lives of early-twentieth-century
factory workers, men who guided corporation; EJ brand of
"welfare capitalism".
(Hamilton-Brown Shoe Company), John T. M.
Johnston, Harry Lewis Bailey (2000).
The Life of A.D. Brown: The History of the Greatest Shoe
Merchant in the World. (Books for Business, 220 p.).
Brown, Alanson D.; Shoe Manufacturing; shoe industry--St. Louis.
(John Lobb), Brian Dobbs (1972).
The Last Shall Be First: The Colourful Story of John Lobb the
St. James's Bootmakers. (London, UK: Elm Tree Books, 147
p.). John Lobb (Firm); Footwear industry--Great
Britain--History.
(Justin Boot), Irvin Farman (1996).
Standard of the West: The Justin Story (Fort Worth, TX:
Texas Christian University Press, 260 p.). Justin, H. J.,
1859-1918; Justin Industries--History; Justin Boot
Company--History; Industrialists--Texas--Biography; Cowboy
boots; Footwear industry--Texas--History; Spanish Fort
(Tex.)--History; 2000 - acquired by Warren
Buffett for $600 million.
(Kinney G. R. Co.), Edward Holloway (1955).
Kinney Shoes: The First Sixty Years, 1894 to 1955 (240 p.).
G. R. Kinney Co.
(Manolo), Colin McDowell (2000).
Manolo Blahnik. (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 200 p.).
Fashion Historian and Writer. Blahnik, Manolo, 1942- ;
Shoemakers--England--Biography. Man behind label.
Manolo
Blahnik - Manolo
(http://images.askmen.com/
men/business_politics_60/pictures_60/manolo_blahnik/manolo_blahnik_150c.JPG)
(Morlands), Russell McDonough (1962).
Sheep into Shoes: The Development of Warm-Lined Footware.
(Glastonbury, UK: Morlands, 64 p.). Morlands; Footwear
industry--Great Britain--History. llustrated history of Morlands
warm-lined footwear (on retirement of H F Scott Stokes after 40 years).
(Nunn-Bush Shoe Company), Henry Lightfoot Nunn
(1953).
The Whole Man Goes to Work; The Life Story of a Businessman.
(New York, NY: Harper, 214 p.). Nunn-Bush Shoe Company.
(Queen Quality Shoes), Barry Hadfield Rodrigue
(1994).
Tom Plant: The Making of a Franco-American Entrepreneur,
1859-1941. (New York, NY: Garland Pub., 276 p.). Plant,
Tom, 1859-1941; Shoe industry--United States--Biography; French
Americans--Biography; Entrepreneurship--United
States--Biography.
(Red Wing Shoe Company), Patrice Avon Marvin,
Nicholas Curchin Vrooman (1986). Heart and Sole: A Story of
the Red Wing Shoe Company. (Red Wing, MN: The Company, 293
p.). Red Wing Shoe Company--History; Red Wing (Minn.)--History.
(Shoe Biz), Jerry Miller (1984).
The Wandering Shoe (New York, NY: My Goodfriends, 308
p.). Miller, Jerry; Shoe Biz (Firm) -- Biography; Businessmen --
United States --
Biography.
(Vans), Doug Palladini; foreword by Steve Van
Doren (2009).
Vans: Off the Wall — Stories of Sole from Vans Originals.
(New York, NY: Abrams, 208 p.). Founding Editor of Snowboarder
magazine; 2006 Marketer of the Year (BrandWeek). Vans (Firm);
Sneakers --Collectors and collecting; Sneakers --Pictorial
works.
How casual canvas shoe,
do-it-yourself spirit turned pop culture inside out; how action
sports brand changed face of pop culture.
Mary H. Blewett (1988).
Men, Women, and Work: Class, Gender, and Protest in the New
England Shoe Industry, 1780-1910. (Urbana, IL:
University of Illinois Press, 444 p.). Social Historian
(University of Massachusetts Lowell). Shoe industry--New
England--Employees--History--19th century; Shoe industry--New
England--History--19th century; Working class--New
England--History; New England--Economic
conditions.
Jurgen Blumlein, Daniel Schmid, and Dirk Vogel
(2009).
Made for Skate: The Illustrated History of Skateboard Footwear.
(Berkeley, CA: Gingko Press, 400 p.). Skateboarding--United
States; Skateboarding--equipment--history.
History,
styles of skate shoe; companies that made
them, skaters who wore them; how design advancements added protection, functionality;
shoes that emerged throughout almost five decades of skate
history.
Claudio R. Boer, Sergio Dulio (2007).
Mass Customization and Footwear: Myth, Salvation or Reality?
(New York : Springer: New York : Springer, 177 p.). Director of
ICIMSI the Institute for Computer Integrated Manufacturing for
Sustainable Innovation; Technical Consultant for ANCI (the
Italian Association of Footwear Manufacturers) and ASSOMAC (the
Italian Association of shoe machinery producers).
Footwear
industry; Mass customization. Application of mass customization
in particular industry; analysis of relevant case studies
of early mass customizers in footwear, how "mature"
manufacturing sector can be renovated in business, mentality.
Alan Dawley; with a New Preface (2000).
Class and Community: The Industrial Revolution in Lynn.
(Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 301 p. [orig. pub.
1975]). Professor History (The College of New Jersey).
Shoemakers--Massachusetts--Lynn; Social
classes--Massachusetts--Lynn; Shoe
industry--Massachusetts--Lynn.
Bobbito Garcia (2003).
Where'd You Get Those? New York City's Sneaker Culture:
1960-1987. (New York, NY: Testify Books, 280 p.).
Cultural Critic, Contributing Editor - Vibe Magazine, DJ.
Sporting goods industry--United States--History.
Jon Press (1989).
The Footwear Industry in Ireland 1922-1973. (Blackrock,
IR: Irish Academic in association with C. & J. Clark, 229 p.).
Footwear industry--Ireland; Ireland--Economic
conditions--1918-1949; Ireland--Economic conditions--1949-.
Harold R. Quimby (1946).
Pacemakers of Progress; the Story of Shoes and the Shoe Industry
(Chicago, IL: Hide and Leather Publishing Co., 346 p.). Shoe
industry--History; Footwear industry--United States.
Eds. Giorgio Riello and Peter McNeil (2006).
Shoes: A History from Sandals to Sneakers. (New York,
NY: Berg, 448 p.). Research Officer in Global History at the
London School of Economics; Professor of Design History,
University of Technology, Sydney. Shoes--History.
History of shoes, from
eroticism of ancient shoe lacing, medieval fears about long-toed
shoes, role of shoes in religious ritual to infamous Chopine
with a 23-inch heel and the modern cult of shoe designers.
Ross Thomson (1989).
The Path to Mechanized Shoe Production in the United States.
(Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 296 p.).
Shoe industry--United States--History.
Tom Vanderbilt (1998).
The Sneaker Book: Anatomy of an Industry and an Icon.
(New York, NY: New Press, 177 p.). Footwear industry; Sneakers;
Athletic shoes.
___________________________________________________________
Business History Links
The Bata Museum
http://www.batashoemuseum.ca/
Toronto museum
"celebrates the style and function of footwear" from ancient
times to the present. The site features brief illustrated essays
on footwear with sections on North American Indians, the
circumpolar region, and the rest of the world; a history of
Western shoe fashions; and footwear of famous people. Also
includes information about exhibits, a history of the museum,
and fun facts about shoes.
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