Merrell boots
Encyclopedia
Merrell is a footwear company founded by Clark Matis, Randy Merrell, and John Schweitzer in 1981 as a maker of high-performance hiking boots. Since 1997 the company has been a wholly owned subsidiary of shoe industry giant Wolverine World Wide
. The company recorded total sales of footwear and clothing totaling nearly $500 million in 2010.
ski company, Clark Matis and John Schweizer, decided to launch a new maker of hiking boots based in Waitsfield, Vermont
. The pair decided to join forces with Randy J. Merrell (R.J. Merrell), a maker of highly-praised custom boots which retailed for $500 a pair. Matis set to work designing a more affordable high-performance boot, which was developed in 1982. Plans were made for production of the new line in factories located in Italy
, a leading exporter of footwear to the world market at the time.
In 1983, the new Merrell company delivered its first product to the market, making shipments to a pair of east coast retailers specializing in hiking gear.
In 1986, Randy J. Merrell sought to return to his previous life as a maker of custom boots and sold his share of the company bearing his name. That same year the company sold its 25,000th pair of boots.
A period of rapid growth for Merrell followed with 1989 sales increasing by 50%, to the $6 million mark. By 1990, some 300,000 pairs of shoes and boots were being sold annually, with sales for the year topping the $10 million mark for the first time. The company became a global enterprise, with divisions established in Canada, the United Kingdom
, and Scandinavia
in addition to the United States.
The year 1992 saw another doubling of the company's sales volume, topping the $20 million mark. By the middle of the decade, Merrell products were being sold in 22 countries.
shoes and Wolverine brand boots. In the year of the Wolverine acquisition, Merrell sales volume totaled $23 million.
Wolverine introduced a new lighter-weight sensibility to the line, beginning with a trail running
shoe called the "Jungle Runner." This initial foray into lightweight footwear was not a commercial success, but a team led by Clark Matis came up with the idea of using a very aggressive trail running outsole with a casual slip-on upper made of pigskin suede, a material previously perfected and used extensively in the Hush Puppies line.
The work of Matis' design group culminated with the introduction of what would become the brand's signature shoe, the "Jungle Moc." The new product was a smash success, with total shipments of Jungle Mocs hitting 3.5 million pairs by 2002. The 10 millionth pair of Jungle Mocs was shipped in 2009, with the style continuing in production to the present date.
In 2007, the Merrell line was expanded yet again to include apparel and accessories.
By 2010, Merrell products were being sold in 151 countries. Annual sales for the brand totaled nearly $500 million in 2010.
The company operates 116 of its own concept stores around the world, with another 20 to 25 new stores planned to open in 2011. Merrell has declared that it is aiming for 15% of its sales to come through company stores and e-commerce sometime in the near future.
Wolverine World Wide
Wolverine World Wide is a footwear manufacturer. They have their own brand, Wolverine Boots and Shoes, and also make footwear for other companies, such as Caterpillar and Harley-Davidson. Wolverine also makes shoes and boots for the military...
. The company recorded total sales of footwear and clothing totaling nearly $500 million in 2010.
Origins
Merrell was established in 1981 when two executives for the RossignolRossignol
Rossignol is a French word meaning nightingale. It may also refer to:People* The Rossignols, a family of French cryptographers* André Rossignol* Felix Rossignol* Jean Antoine Rossignol* Jim Rossignol* Jules Rossignol* Michelle Rossignol...
ski company, Clark Matis and John Schweizer, decided to launch a new maker of hiking boots based in Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,659 at the 2000 census. It was created by Vermont charter on February 25, 1782...
. The pair decided to join forces with Randy J. Merrell (R.J. Merrell), a maker of highly-praised custom boots which retailed for $500 a pair. Matis set to work designing a more affordable high-performance boot, which was developed in 1982. Plans were made for production of the new line in factories located in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, a leading exporter of footwear to the world market at the time.
In 1983, the new Merrell company delivered its first product to the market, making shipments to a pair of east coast retailers specializing in hiking gear.
In 1986, Randy J. Merrell sought to return to his previous life as a maker of custom boots and sold his share of the company bearing his name. That same year the company sold its 25,000th pair of boots.
Sale to Karhu
In 1987 Merrell was purchased by Karhu. The new owners moved production of Merrell products to Asia, reducing retail prices and expanding sales. In 1988 sales of Merrell products topped the $4 million mark.A period of rapid growth for Merrell followed with 1989 sales increasing by 50%, to the $6 million mark. By 1990, some 300,000 pairs of shoes and boots were being sold annually, with sales for the year topping the $10 million mark for the first time. The company became a global enterprise, with divisions established in Canada, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
in addition to the United States.
The year 1992 saw another doubling of the company's sales volume, topping the $20 million mark. By the middle of the decade, Merrell products were being sold in 22 countries.
Sale to Wolverine World Wide
In 1997, Karhu sold Merrell to Wolverine World Wide, a giant footwear corporation which manufactured Hush PuppiesHush Puppies
Hush Puppies is an international brand of contemporary, casual footwear for men, women and children. The shoes have been described as "the classic American brushed-suede shoes with the lightweight crepe sole". A division of Wolverine Worldwide, Hush Puppies is headquartered in Rockford, Michigan...
shoes and Wolverine brand boots. In the year of the Wolverine acquisition, Merrell sales volume totaled $23 million.
Wolverine introduced a new lighter-weight sensibility to the line, beginning with a trail running
Trail running
Trail running is a variant on running that differs markedly from road running and track running. Trail running generally takes place on hiking trails, most commonly single track trails, although fire roads are not uncommon. A distinguishing characteristic of the trails is that they are often...
shoe called the "Jungle Runner." This initial foray into lightweight footwear was not a commercial success, but a team led by Clark Matis came up with the idea of using a very aggressive trail running outsole with a casual slip-on upper made of pigskin suede, a material previously perfected and used extensively in the Hush Puppies line.
The work of Matis' design group culminated with the introduction of what would become the brand's signature shoe, the "Jungle Moc." The new product was a smash success, with total shipments of Jungle Mocs hitting 3.5 million pairs by 2002. The 10 millionth pair of Jungle Mocs was shipped in 2009, with the style continuing in production to the present date.
In 2007, the Merrell line was expanded yet again to include apparel and accessories.
By 2010, Merrell products were being sold in 151 countries. Annual sales for the brand totaled nearly $500 million in 2010.
The company operates 116 of its own concept stores around the world, with another 20 to 25 new stores planned to open in 2011. Merrell has declared that it is aiming for 15% of its sales to come through company stores and e-commerce sometime in the near future.
External links
- Merrell official website, www.merrell.com/ Retrieved January 18, 2011.