L. L. Bean
Encyclopedia
L.L. Bean, Inc., branded as L.L.Bean, is a privately held mail-order, online and retail company based in Freeport, Maine, United States, specializing in clothing and outdoor recreation equipment. Its annual sales were USD 1.78 billion in 2006.
in Greenwood, Maine
. Bean had developed a waterproof boot (a combination of lightweight leather uppers and rubber bottoms) that he sold to hunters. He obtained a list of nonresident Maine hunting license holders, prepared a descriptive mail order circular, set up a shop in his brother's basement in Freeport, Maine, and started a nationwide mail order business. By 1912, he was selling the "Bean Boot", or Maine Hunting Shoe, through a four-page mail-order catalog, and the boot remains a staple of the company's outdoor image. Defects in the initial design led to 90% of the original production run being returned: Bean made good on his money-back guarantee, corrected the design, and continued selling them. Leon L. Bean died on February 5, 1967, in Pompano Beach, Florida. He is buried in Freeport's Webster Cemetery. The company passed into the directorship of Bean's grandson, Leon Gorman
, from that time until 2001, when Gorman decided to take the position of Chairman, leaving the position of CEO to Christopher McCormick
, the first non-family member to assume the title.
Since its conception, the company has branched out not only to variations on its boot
s but to other outdoor equipment such as backpack
s and tent
s, as well as producing a full line of clothing
, which is now its mainstay.
Although thought of as a folksy "down Maine" company, virtually all of the clothing, and the vast majority of other products, are now imported. The days of watching moccasins being made are long gone.
In 2000, L.L.Bean formed a contract with Subaru
, making L.L.Bean the official outfitter of Subaru, spawning an "L.L.Bean edition" Subaru Outback
and Forester
for the USA market. The L.L.Bean trim levels on American Subaru vehicles are the top-spec versions, with leather and wood trimmed interiors and all available options offered as standard equipment. This relationship with Subaru ended June 28, 2008.
In 2010, L.L. Bean established a more stylish sub-brand known as L.L. Bean Signature. Designed by Alex Carleton, the Signature line is a modern interpretation of L.L. Bean classics featuring a more modern fit.
messaging service used by hunters "from away" to advise their fellow hunters of information about their arrival, needs, and wants for the camp. Fellow hunters would have a niche in the stairway where their friends would put notes, and the custom lasted many years. The new showrooms removed the old, and the store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is now a "campus" layout with different departments in separate buildings.
Along with a number of retail and outlet ("factory") stores, the company maintains its flagship store on Main Street in Freeport. This branch, originally opened in 1917, has been open 24 hours a day since 1951, with the exception of two Sundays in 1962 when Maine changed its blue law
s; a town vote reinstated the store's open-door policy. The flagship also closed to honor the death of President Kennedy
, as well as that of Bean himself.
L.L. Bean opened its first outlet store in North Conway, NH in 1988. This L.L. Bean outlet moved to a smaller, one-story store in 2008, citing efficiency issues with the original store (which was two stories and considerably larger).
L.L.Bean has stores as far away as Tokyo, as well as a large presence through its mail-order and online catalogs.
, clay shooting
, fly casting
, and sea kayaking. More advanced classes are conducted as well, but generally must be reserved in advance. The Freeport location offers Walk-On Adventures for $20 in fly casting, archery,sporting clays, and kayaking from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Snowshoe
ing and cross country skiing are available December to March. All of the other retail stores (there are now 13 total outside of Maine from Chicago to the Mid-Atlantic region) offer fly casting and kayaking.
The Outdoor Discovery Schools, in addition to beginner to advanced courses in shooting, fishing, and kayaking, offers weekend adventure trips and daily guided kayak tours in Maine as well.
, Eddie Bauer
, Helly Hansen
, North Face, Orvis
, Timberland
and many other sporting goods retailers in the United States.
L.L.Bean's clothing line faces a rather different set of competitors. There, they compete with staples such as J.Crew
, Lands' End
, Barbour
, Orvis
, Brooks Brothers
, Gant
, Lacoste, Nautica, Polo Ralph Lauren
, Original Penguin
, Patagonia
and many others.
Company history
The company L.L.Bean was founded in 1912 by its namesake, avid hunter and fisherman Leon Leonwood BeanLeon Leonwood Bean
Leon Leonwood Bean was an inventor, author, outdoor enthusiast, and founder of the company L.L.Bean.-History:...
in Greenwood, Maine
Greenwood, Maine
Greenwood is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 802 at the 2000 census. The town was named for surveyor Alexander Greenwood...
. Bean had developed a waterproof boot (a combination of lightweight leather uppers and rubber bottoms) that he sold to hunters. He obtained a list of nonresident Maine hunting license holders, prepared a descriptive mail order circular, set up a shop in his brother's basement in Freeport, Maine, and started a nationwide mail order business. By 1912, he was selling the "Bean Boot", or Maine Hunting Shoe, through a four-page mail-order catalog, and the boot remains a staple of the company's outdoor image. Defects in the initial design led to 90% of the original production run being returned: Bean made good on his money-back guarantee, corrected the design, and continued selling them. Leon L. Bean died on February 5, 1967, in Pompano Beach, Florida. He is buried in Freeport's Webster Cemetery. The company passed into the directorship of Bean's grandson, Leon Gorman
Leon Gorman
Leon Gorman is the former president and current Chairman of the Board of L.L. Bean.-Career:A graduate of Bowdoin College, Gorman began working at the company after Navy destroyer service and a trainee job a Filene's department store. Gorman became president in 1967 after his grandfather Leon...
, from that time until 2001, when Gorman decided to take the position of Chairman, leaving the position of CEO to Christopher McCormick
Christopher McCormick
Chris McCormick is the President and Chief Executive Officer of L.L. Bean based in Freeport, Maine. McCormick is the first non-family member to ever to hold this position at L.L. Bean...
, the first non-family member to assume the title.
Product line
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
s but to other outdoor equipment such as backpack
Backpack
A backpack is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be exceptions...
s and tent
Tent
A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
s, as well as producing a full line of clothing
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
, which is now its mainstay.
Although thought of as a folksy "down Maine" company, virtually all of the clothing, and the vast majority of other products, are now imported. The days of watching moccasins being made are long gone.
In 2000, L.L.Bean formed a contract with Subaru
Subaru
; is the automobile manufacturing division of Japanese transportation conglomerate Fuji Heavy Industries .Subaru is internationally known for their use of the boxer engine layout popularized in cars by the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911, in most of their vehicles above 1500 cc as well as...
, making L.L.Bean the official outfitter of Subaru, spawning an "L.L.Bean edition" Subaru Outback
Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is a station wagon manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries since 1995. Its original concept originated with Subaru of America, which was suffering from slumping sales in the mid-1990s partly due to a lack of an entry in the then-burgeoning sport utility vehicle market...
and Forester
Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is an all-wheel drive crossover wagon manufactured since 1997 by Fuji Heavy Industries and sold under the Subaru brand...
for the USA market. The L.L.Bean trim levels on American Subaru vehicles are the top-spec versions, with leather and wood trimmed interiors and all available options offered as standard equipment. This relationship with Subaru ended June 28, 2008.
In 2010, L.L. Bean established a more stylish sub-brand known as L.L. Bean Signature. Designed by Alex Carleton, the Signature line is a modern interpretation of L.L. Bean classics featuring a more modern fit.
Old store
The original Freeport store had the appearance of an antique factory, with the business on the third floor, reached only by climbing a long outdoor flight of stairs. Offices were on the second floor, where mail orders were also filled. There was a mail chute leading to the first floor post office. L.L.'s brother was the post master. While there, customers or tourists could watch hand sewing of moccasins and repairs being made to the original hunting boots, which apparently had a lifetime guarantee. For many years, the hallway of the staircase was a bulletin boardBulletin board
A bulletin board is a surface intended for the posting of public messages, for example, to advertise things to buy or sell, announce events, or provide information...
messaging service used by hunters "from away" to advise their fellow hunters of information about their arrival, needs, and wants for the camp. Fellow hunters would have a niche in the stairway where their friends would put notes, and the custom lasted many years. The new showrooms removed the old, and the store is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is now a "campus" layout with different departments in separate buildings.
Branches
Blue law
A blue law is a type of law, typically found in the United States and, formerly, in Canada, designed to enforce religious standards, particularly the observance of Sunday as a day of worship or rest, and a restriction on Sunday shopping...
s; a town vote reinstated the store's open-door policy. The flagship also closed to honor the death of President Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, as well as that of Bean himself.
L.L. Bean opened its first outlet store in North Conway, NH in 1988. This L.L. Bean outlet moved to a smaller, one-story store in 2008, citing efficiency issues with the original store (which was two stories and considerably larger).
L.L.Bean has stores as far away as Tokyo, as well as a large presence through its mail-order and online catalogs.
Retail and outlet stores
- United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Connecticut: South WindsorSouth Windsor, Connecticut-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
; outlet store: OrangeOrange, ConnecticutOrange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:... - Illinois: South BarringtonSouth Barrington, IllinoisSouth Barrington is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States south of Barrington, Illinois. The population was 3,760 at the 2000 census. South Barrington is a wealthy suburb of Chicago and home to the famous megachurch Willow Creek Community Church. The village is known throughout the area...
and SkokieSkokie, IllinoisSkokie is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Its name comes from a Native American word for "fire". A Chicago suburb, for many years Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, per the 2000 census, was 63,348...
(Old Orchard Mall) - Maine: Freeport (two stores open 24 hours/day: Retail Store with attached Hunting & Fishing Store; Bike, Boat & Ski); outlet stores: Freeport, EllsworthEllsworth, MaineEllsworth is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Maine, United States. The 2010 Census determined it had a population of 7,741. Ellsworth was Maine's fastest growing city from 2000-2010 with a growth rate of nearly 20 percent...
, BangorBangor, MaineBangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine... - Maryland: ColumbiaColumbia, MarylandColumbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in terms of human values, not...
; outlet stores:QueenstownQueenstown, MarylandQueenstown is a town in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 617 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Queenstown is located at .... - Massachusetts: BurlingtonBurlington, MassachusettsBurlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,498 at the 2010 census.- History :It is believed that Burlington takes its name from the English town of Bridlington, however this has never been confirmed....
, MansfieldMansfield, MassachusettsMansfield is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the town population is 23,184. Mansfield is in the south-southwest suburbs of Boston and is also close to Providence, Rhode Island....
, DedhamDedham, MassachusettsDedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
; outlet stores: WarehamWareham, MassachusettsWareham is a town located in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 20,335, with an estimated 2008 population of 21,221.... - New Hampshire: West LebanonWest Lebanon, New HampshireWest Lebanon, New Hampshire, is a district within the city of Lebanon on the Connecticut River. The area contains a major shopping plaza strip along New Hampshire Route 12A, serving the Upper Valley communities along Interstates 89 and 91...
; outlet stores: ConcordConcord, New HampshireThe city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
, ManchesterManchester, New HampshireManchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, NashuaNashua, New Hampshire-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
, North ConwayNorth Conway, New HampshireNorth Conway is a census-designated place in eastern Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,349 at the 2010 census. A year-round resort area, North Conway is the largest village within the town of Conway, which is bounded on the east by the Maine state line. The White... - New Jersey: MarltonMarlton, New JerseyMarlton is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Evesham Township in Burlington County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population of Marlton was 10,260.-History:...
- New York: AlbanyAlbany, New YorkAlbany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, VictorVictor (town), New YorkVictor is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 9,977 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Claudius Victor Boughton, a hero of the War of 1812.The Town of Victor contains a village, also called Victor...
(Rochester Metro), Yonkers; outlet store: FayettevilleFayetteville, New YorkFayetteville is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the village had a population of 4,190. The village is named after Lafayette, a national hero of both France and the United States... - Pennsylvania: Upper Saucon Township, Pittsburgh Ross Park MallRoss Park MallRoss Park Mall is an upscale shopping mall located in Ross Township, Pennsylvania, north of Pittsburgh. The mall houses nearly 160 retailers including anchor stores JCPenney, Macy's, Nordstrom and Sears...
(opened November 21, 2009), King of Prussia MallKing of Prussia MallThe King of Prussia Mall is the largest shopping mall on the East Coast of the United States, and largest shopping mall in the United States of America in terms of leasable retail space.... - Virginia: McLeanMcLean, VirginiaMcLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
; outlet store: WilliamsburgWilliamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
- Connecticut: South Windsor
- JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
- Aichi Prefecture: Nagoya
- Hyogo Prefecture: Nishinomiya, KobeKobe, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
- Kanagawa Prefecture: YokohamaYokohamais the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
- Kyoto Prefecture: KyotoKyotois a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
- Nagano Prefecture: Karuizawa
- NiigataNiigata, Niigatais the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
- OsakaOsakais a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
- Shizuoka Prefecture: Gotemba
- TokyoTokyo, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Outdoor Discovery Schools
L.L.Bean has education programs connected to many of its retail outlets to support the outdoor interests of its customers. Customers can participate in a number of outdoor activities without prior arrangement by signing up in the store on the day of their visit and paying a small fee. Some of the sponsored activities include archeryArchery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, clay shooting
Clay pigeon shooting
Clay pigeon shooting, also known as clay target shooting, and formally known as Inanimate Bird Shooting, is the art of shooting at special flying targets, known as clay pigeons or clay targets, with a shotgun or any type of firearm....
, fly casting
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial 'fly' is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or 'lure' requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting...
, and sea kayaking. More advanced classes are conducted as well, but generally must be reserved in advance. The Freeport location offers Walk-On Adventures for $20 in fly casting, archery,sporting clays, and kayaking from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Snowshoe
Snowshoe
A snowshoe is footwear for walking over the snow. Snowshoes work by distributing the weight of the person over a larger area so that the person's foot does not sink completely into the snow, a quality called "flotation"....
ing and cross country skiing are available December to March. All of the other retail stores (there are now 13 total outside of Maine from Chicago to the Mid-Atlantic region) offer fly casting and kayaking.
The Outdoor Discovery Schools, in addition to beginner to advanced courses in shooting, fishing, and kayaking, offers weekend adventure trips and daily guided kayak tours in Maine as well.
Competitors
The major competitors for its outdoor gear line include Columbia SportswearColumbia Sportswear
Columbia Sportswear Company is a United States company that manufactures and distributes outerwear and sportswear. It was founded in 1938 by the late Paul Lamfrom, father of present chairperson Gert Boyle. The company is headquartered in Washington County, Oregon, in an unincorporated part of the...
, Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. is a holding company that operates the Eddie Bauer clothing store chain, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, United States. EBH was formed after Eddie Bauer's former parent company, Spiegel, Inc., went bankrupt in 2003...
, Helly Hansen
Helly Hansen
Helly Hansen is a high-end producer of textiles and special gear for sports and work on the ocean and in the mountains, headquartered in Oslo, Norway .Today, the brand is recognized for its foul-weather fishing gear and can be seen both on television and...
, North Face, Orvis
Orvis
Orvis is a family-owned retail and mail-order business specializing in high-end fly fishing, hunting and sporting goods. Founded in Manchester, Vermont in 1856 by Charles F. Orvis to sell fishing tackle, the company has changed hands only twice and has had only five CEOs in its 150-year history...
, Timberland
The Timberland Company
The Timberland Company is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoors wear with a focus on footwear. Its three key locations are in Stratham, New Hampshire; Danville, Kentucky; and Ontario, California....
and many other sporting goods retailers in the United States.
L.L.Bean's clothing line faces a rather different set of competitors. There, they compete with staples such as J.Crew
J.Crew
J.Crew Group, Inc. is a multi-brand, multi-channel, specialty retailer. The company offers an assortment of women's, men's and children's apparel and accessories, including swimwear, outerwear, loungewear, wedding, bags, hair accessories, belts, jewelry, and shoes. As of January 30, 2010, it...
, Lands' End
Lands' End
Lands' End is a clothing retailer based in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, that specializes in casual clothing, luggage, and home furnishings. The majority of Lands' End's business is conducted through mail order and Internet sales, but the company also runs more than a dozen retail operations, primarily in...
, Barbour
J. Barbour & Sons
J. Barbour & Sons Ltd is a British clothing manufacturer and importer, founded in South Shields, best known for making waterproof and outdoor clothing...
, Orvis
Orvis
Orvis is a family-owned retail and mail-order business specializing in high-end fly fishing, hunting and sporting goods. Founded in Manchester, Vermont in 1856 by Charles F. Orvis to sell fishing tackle, the company has changed hands only twice and has had only five CEOs in its 150-year history...
, Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers is the oldest men's clothier chain in the United States. Founded in 1818 as a family business, the privately owned company is now owned by Retail Brand Alliance, also features clothing for women, and is headquartered on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, New York City.-History:On April 7,...
, Gant
Gant U.S.A.
GANT is a formerly Swedish but currently Swiss clothing brand of American heritage launched in New Haven in 1949. The brand has since then been further developed, being influenced by European styles, and is now a global clothing business...
, Lacoste, Nautica, Polo Ralph Lauren
Polo Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren Corporation is a luxury clothing and goods company of the American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren specializes in high-end casual/semi-formal wear for men and women, as well as accessories, fragrances, home and housewares...
, Original Penguin
Original Penguin
Original Penguin is an American clothing line. With roots in the 1950s and 60s, the brand specializes in clothing, footwear, and eyewear...
, Patagonia
Patagonia (clothing)
Patagonia, Inc. is a Ventura, California-based clothing company, focusing mainly on outdoor clothing. The company is a member of several environmental movements. It was founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1972....
and many others.
In popular culture
- Broadway musicals Rent (1995) and Grey Gardens (2006) both reference L.L. Bean in song lyrics. In Rent it can be heard in the song "Christmas Bells" and "The Revolutionary Costume for Today" from Grey Gardens.
- The Official Preppy HandbookOfficial Preppy HandbookThe Official Preppy Handbook is a tongue-in-cheek humor reference guide written by Jonathan Roberts, Carol McD. Wallace, Mason Wiley, and Lisa Birnbach. It discusses an aspect of North American culture described as prepdom...
, an ironic description of upper-class and upper-middle-class life in America, describes L.L. Bean as "nothing less than Prep mecca."
- Author Hunter S. ThompsonHunter S. ThompsonHunter Stockton Thompson was an American journalist and author who wrote The Rum Diary , Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72 .He is credited as the creator of Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting where reporters involve themselves in the action to...
referred to wearing L.L. Bean shorts in a number of his works, most notably during the "Wave Speech" featured in chapter 8 of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
- In the movie BeetlejuiceBeetlejuiceBeetlejuice is a 1988 American comedy horror film directed by Tim Burton, produced by The Geffen Film Company and distributed by Warner Bros...
, the character Otho sarcastically says, "Deliver me from L.L. Bean", when first looking upon the office in the Maitland's house. It was decorated in a fashion consistent with L.L. Bean's catalogs.
- In episode 0821 of the cult comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
, Crow, while watching the movie Time ChasersTime ChasersTime Chasers is a 1994 science fiction film directed by David Giancola and starring Matthew Bruch, George Woodard, and Bonnie Pritchard. The film follows the adventures of an amateur inventor who goes through time with his female accomplice to stop an evil megacorporation intent on changing...
(a.k.a. Tangents), makes a joking reference to "the L.L. Bean gang" as two characters run across the screen in rather rugged outdoor clothing.
- The 1990 Paul RudnickPaul RudnickPaul M. Rudnick is an American playwright, screenwriter and novelist. His plays include I Hate Hamlet, Jeffrey, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Valhalla and The New Century. He also wrote for Premiere magazine under the pseudonym Libby Gelman-Waxner, and for Spy.Rudnick grew up in Piscataway...
novel, I'll Take It was a humorous tale of a Long Island mother taking some of her children on a Fall shopping trip through New England with L.L. Bean being the final destination. As the plot unfolds, the mother divulges to her son that she is actually planning to rob L.L. Bean in order to update her and her husband's furniture in their retirement.
- The satire website The OnionThe OnionThe Onion is an American news satire organization. It is an entertainment newspaper and a website featuring satirical articles reporting on international, national, and local news, in addition to a non-satirical entertainment section known as The A.V. Club...
, parodied L.L. Bean's reputation as a white "preppie" brand with a video that claims L.L. Bean had been boycotted by the African-American community for close to 80 years. The report focused on confusion over the fact that, while there was no particular reason for the boycott, every African American interviewed echoed the sentiment that they "wouldn't be caught dead in" anything from the catalog.
- In season 2, episode 20 of Boy Meets WorldBoy Meets WorldBoy Meets World is an American comedy-drama series that chronicles the events and everyday life lessons of Cory Matthews, played by Ben Savage, a kid from suburban Philadelphia who grows up from a young boy to a married man. The show aired for seven seasons from 1993 to 2000 on ABC, part of the...
, L.L. Bean is mentioned as having stylish clothing by Joey and Frankie.
- In The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
episode titled "Scenes From the Class Struggle In Springfield", one of the country club ladies mentioned L.L. Bean.
- In season 1, episode 17 - Secrets and Lays - of Will & GraceWill & GraceWill & Grace was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 21, 1998 to May 18, 2006 for a total of eight seasons. Will & Grace remains the most successful television series with gay principal characters...
, Campbell walks out of the cabin and Grace remarks " Why can't I order that from the L.L. Bean catalog?"
- In season 1, episode 7 of ChuckChuck-Engineering:* Chuck , a clamp that is part of a machine tool or power tool and securely holds a removable part, either a workpiece or a tool -People:* Charles, a masculine given name...
, Ellie comments how Devon said that "L.L. Bean must have stolen the color from my eyes so it really belonged to me."
- The Muppet series Bear in the Big Blue HouseBear in the Big Blue HouseBear in the Big Blue House is a television program for young children produced for the Playhouse Disney channel by Mitchell Kriegman and The Jim Henson Company. It first aired in 1997, and re-runs of the show continue to air on Playhouse Disney . It is produced by The Jim Henson Company and Shadow...
satirized L.L. Bean by having the main character Bear order a clock out of a catalog called "L.L. Bear."
- In the Home Improvement episode," A Taylor Runs Through It", Tim says to Al, "Look, it's Al Al Bean"