KEEN, Inc.
 |
|
| Industry | Footwear |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon, U.S. 45°31′47″N 122°41′03″W / 45.5298°N 122.6841°WCoordinates: 45°31′47″N 122°41′03″W / 45.5298°N 122.6841°W |
| 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]
[edit] 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]
[edit] References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.[dead link]
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Keen Footwear website". http://www.keenfootwear.com/about.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
[edit] External links
- KEEN, Inc. (official website)
