KEEN, Inc.

KEEN, Inc.
Industry Footwear
Headquarters Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Key people Rory Fuerst, owner
Products Shoes and boots
Revenue (est) $130-140 million (2009)
Employees 100
Website keenfootwear.com

KEEN, Inc. is an American shoe manufacturing company based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 2003[1] by Martin Keen and Rory Fuerst, their shoes are now available in more than a thousand retail locations in the United States, and are distributed worldwide.[2]

History

The first KEEN shoes were invented to develop a sandal that could also protect the toes—they feature a signature thick black bumper covering the toes. They found a ready market in sailing and other outdoor and water activities. KEEN Footwear now offers shoes for many outdoor activities as well as casual shoes.

KEEN has been a fast-growing company since its inception. The company was named 2003's "Launch of the Year" by the shoe industry's leading trade publication, Footwear News, which also identified it as a hot brand to watch.[3] As KEEN has grown, there have been many changes, including the addition of a variety of footwear styles to their previous assortment, growing their casual business quickly, adding cold weather footwear, and a line of bags and socks. In early 2006, the company relocated its headquarters from Alameda, California to Portland, Oregon.[2] At the same time, Kirk Richardson joined the company as its president after a 27-year career in management at nearby Nike, Inc.[4] As of October 2008, Richardson is leading KEEN's corporate social responsibility efforts and James Curleigh joined the company as CEO[5] after 12 years as CEO at Salomon Sports North America.

In reaction to the 2004 Asian Tsunami, KEEN took their marketing budget and donated it in total to relief efforts.[6] This gesture turned into their long-term Hybrid.Care program, where they partner with organizations whose vision they share, including The Conservation Alliance, 1 KG More, Leave No Trace, and Big City Mountaineers.

In 2009, the 100-employee company had estimated sales of $130 to $140 million.[1] The company opened a plant in Portland in 2010 to begin manufacturing some of their products in the United States.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Brettman, Allan (December 11, 2010). "Keen counters conventional wisdom, returns some manufacturing to Portland". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/12/keen_counters_conventional_wis.html. Retrieved 12 December 2010. 
  2. ^ a b Brevetti, Francine (February 7, 2006). "Keen Footwear to leave Alameda". The Oakland Tribune. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060207/ai_n16046070. Retrieved October 16, 2008. 
  3. ^ Rifkin, Glenn (March 4, 2004). "These shoes are really keen". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2004/03/04/these_shoes_are_really_keen/. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 
  4. ^ Murphy, Todd (July 25, 2006). "Strength comes in numbers". The Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.net/rethinking/story.php?story_id=115377634007549700. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  5. ^ Julie Atherton McFadden (March 10, 2008). "KEEN Inc. Appoints James Curleigh to the Executive Team As President & CEO". Outdoor Industry Association. http://www.outdoorindustry.org/media.outdoor.php?news_id=3754. Retrieved 2008-10-21. 
  6. ^ "Keen Footwear website". http://www.keenfootwear.com/about.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-16. 

External links