L. L. Bean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
L.L.Bean, Inc. is a privately held mail-order and retail company based in Freeport, Maine, specializing in clothing and outdoor equipment. Its annual sales were USD $1.47 billion in 2005.
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[edit] Company history
L.L.Bean was founded in 1912 by avid hunter and fisherman Leon Leonwood Bean—born October 13, 1872 in Greenwood, Maine—who had developed a waterproof boot (A combination of lightweight leather uppers and rubber bottoms) he was selling 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 outdoorsy image. Leon L. Bean died on February 5, 1967, in Pompano Beach, Florida. The company passed into the directorship of Bean's grandson, Leon A. Gorman from that time until 2001, when Gorman decided to take the position of Chairman of the Board, leaving the position of CEO to Christopher J. McCormick, the first non-family member to assume the title.
[edit] Product line
Since its conception, the company has branched out not only to variations on its boots but to other outdoor equipment such as backpacks and tents, as well as producing a full line of clothing, which is now its mainstay. 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. Other Subaru vehicles featured L.L.Bean styling on later models.
[edit] Branches
Along with a number of 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 laws; a town vote reinstated the store's open-door policy. L.L.Bean has stores as far as Tokyo, as well as a large presence through its mail-order and online catalogs.
[edit] Retail stores
- Maine: Freeport (three stores open 24 hours/day); factory stores: Freeport, Ellsworth, Portland
- New Hampshire: West Lebanon; factory stores: Concord, Manchester, Nashua, North Conway
- Massachusetts: Burlington; Mansfield (opening fall 2007) Dedham (opening spring 2008)
- Connecticut: South Windsor (opening 8/2007)
- New York: Albany (opening early 2008)
- New Jersey: Marlton; factory store: Flemington
- Virginia: McLean; factory store: Williamsburg
- Pennsylvania: Upper Saucon Township (opening 11/2006)
- Maryland: Columbia; factory stores: Hagerstown, Perryville, Queenstown
- Delaware: factory stores: Rehoboth Beach, Wilmington
- Japan: 9 retail stores
[edit] 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 archery, trap shooting, fly casting, and sea kayaking. More advanced classes are conducted as well, but generally must be reserved in advance.
[edit] Bibliography
- M.R. Montgomery, In Search of L.L.Bean, Little Brown, 1984. ISBN 0-316-57864-9. A short, unofficial history. New York Times review
- Leon Gorman (Chairman and grandson of founder L.L. Bean), L.L.Bean: The Making of an American Icon, Harvard Business School Press, 2006 ISBN 157811836.
[edit] Trivia
- L.L.Bean clothing is popular for more than just backpacking and other outdoor sports. Many people consider it fashionable to buy their clothing there, and in recent years it has been expanding its selection of "fashion" clothing. This has put L.L.Bean in greater competition with stores such as J. Crew and Eddie Bauer.
- The Official Preppy Handbook, an ironic description of upper-class and upper-middle-class life in America, describes L.L.Bean as "nothing less than Prep mecca."
- The exterior doors in the main store in Freeport, Maine have no locks. This attests to their reputation for never closing.
- Celebrities on occasion, have been seen shopping in the Freeport retail store in the middle of the night during the summer season.[citation needed]
