New Era Cap Company
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Headwear, Apparel, Accessories |
| Founded | 1920 By Ehrhardt Koch (pronounced "Cook") |
| Headquarters | Buffalo, New York U.S. |
Key people | Ehrhardt Koch (Founder - 1920 - 1953) Harold Koch (President/CEO 1953 - 1984) David Koch (President/CEO 1982 - 2000) Christopher Koch (President/CEO 2000 - present) |
| Products | Headwear - Baseball Cap - 59FIFTY, Apparel and Accessories |
| Revenue | Unknown |
| Unknown | |
| Unknown | |
Number of employees | 300 (Buffalo, NY) 1,200 (worldwide) |
| Website | neweracap.com |
The New Era Cap Company, located in Buffalo, New York, is an American headwear manufacturer. It was founded in 1920 by German immigrant Ehrhardt Koch.[1] New Era is the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of the official on-field cap worn by every Major League Baseball team[2] and their minor league affiliates, as well as select teams in the Korea Baseball Organization,[3] Nippon Professional Baseball, and the Australian Baseball League, and maintains agreements with other licensed entities including the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, National Rugby League, Big Bash League, Little League Baseball, and over 200 colleges and universities in the United States. New Era became the official on-field cap provider for the National Football League in April 2012.[4] In October 2013, New Era became the National Lacrosse League's official cap supplier.[5] On May 12, 2014, New Era secured the rights to be the exclusive headwear provider for Turkish Airlines Euroleague Basketball.[6]
The Foundation in 1920, Buffalo, NY
Ehrhardt Koch borrows $5000 from his aunt and starts up his own cap company, e. Koch Cap Co. At the same time, Joe Amerien left the Miller company and was Ehrhardt’s first employee. Production started on the third floor of 1830 Genesee Street, on the corner of Bailey Ave. in Buffalo, N.Y., The company started with 14 employees including Ehrhardt’s sister Rose. Ehrhardt’s son, Harold, and Rose’s son Wally Domas, soon started working there well before graduating from high school. In 1920, the company produced 60,000 caps.
Labor history
New Era has had two labor situations in its 88-year history[clarification needed]. One in 2001 with the Communications Workers of America, and another in 2007/8 with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Cap recalls
In the summer of 2007, New Era voluntarily pulled three styles of New York Yankees hats from shelves across the country because the designs on the caps were seen to be gang-related. There were three caps that stood out; two with a bandanna like pattern around the top and one with a gold crown. Brian Martinez, an NYPD detective involved with Peace on the Street said "Bandannas represent gang flags," "New Era is making it really convenient for gang members, because now your flag is part of your hat." The patterns on the hats were similar to the flags of the Crips, the Bloods and the Latin Kings. Much of the New York public protested about the caps and in response to these allegations, a New Era spokesperson stated that the company does not market to gangs and when notified by activist groups and public officials, the company took immediate action.[7]
See also
References
- ^ "About New Era - The History of New Era Cap." New Era. 2008.
- ^ Newman, Mark. "MLB celebrates new official cap." Major League Baseball. 14 March 2007.
- ^ "New Era Cap Announces Three-Year Licensing Agreement With Korean Baseball Organization".
- ^ "New Era Cap fashions new look with NFL deal".
- ^ "NLL teams up with New Era".
- ^ "New Era Signs Exclusive Worldwide Deal With Euroleague Basketball". euroleague.net. euroleague.net. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard. "Yankee Caps Pulled After Protesters See Gang Links in Symbols and Colors" The New York Times. 25 August 2007