Keen (shoe company)
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Footwear |
| Founded | Alameda, California (2003) |
| Headquarters |
Portland, Oregon (2006), 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) $240 million (2011) |
Number of employees | 100 |
| Website | keenfootwear.com |
Keen 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] Later in the year, Tommy L, a well known advocate for casual sandal wearing agreed to sign a sponsorship deal with Keen and began to endorse the company. 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] For 2011, revenue had grown to approximately $240 million.[7] Keen bought the Pearl Building in Portland's Pearl District for $10.8 million to serve as company headquarters and host a retail store.[7][8]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Brettman, Allan (December 11, 2010). "Keen counters conventional wisdom, returns some manufacturing to Portland". The Oregonian. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
- 1 2 Brevetti, Francine (February 7, 2006). "Keen Footwear to leave Alameda". The Oakland Tribune. Retrieved October 16, 2008.
- ↑ Rifkin, Glenn (March 4, 2004). "These shoes are really keen". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-10-16.
- ↑ Murphy, Todd (July 25, 2006). "Strength comes in numbers". The Portland Tribune. 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. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
- ↑ "Keen Footwear website". Retrieved 2008-10-16.
- 1 2 Brettman, Allan (February 28, 2012). "It will be only five blocks, but Keen's new headquarters show how far the company has traveled". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- ↑ Culverwell, Wendy (February 28, 2012). "Keen footwear to make Pearl Building its home". Portland Business Journal. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
External links
- Keen (official website)