Cheap Kids Timberland (US$ 103.95) [Page 1]

The Timberland Company's ascension in the rugged footwear industry was sometimes rocky, but savvy marketing, excellent products, and extraordinary luck eventually turned an obscure bootmaker into a worldwide symbol of rustic chic. The first hint of widespread interest came in the early 1980s, when Italian trendsetters made Timberland hiking boots the ultimate in style and sophistication. The resulting European buying frenzy sent U.S. retailers scrambling for Timberland footwear, sparking the first of many fashion booms. Although Timberland became a household name through a fluke of fashion, the company's outdoor footwear and accessories also became synonymous with quality, dependability, and a return to nature. Along the way, the company also became well-known for its commitment to community service.

Key Dates:
1933: Abington Shoe Company of Abington, Massachusetts, is incorporated.
1952: Shoe stitcher Nathan Swartz buys half-interest in Abington.
1955: Swartz buys the remaining interest in the company; his sons Sidney and Herman soon join the firm.
1968: Nathan Swartz retires, leaving the company in the hands of his sons.
1973: Abington's first truly waterproof boot is introduced under the name "Timberland."
1978: Abington Shoe Company is renamed The Timberland Company and is incorporated; company expands into casual shoes.
Early 1980s:An Italian craze for Timberland boots turns Timberland into a fashion brand and ignites an explosion in sales.
1986: Herman Swartz sells his share of the company and retires; Sidney Swartz becomes chairman, president, and CEO; Sidney's son Jeffrey joins the company as head of international sales.
1987: Timberland goes public.
1988: Men's and women's clothing and accessories are added to the product mix; first Timberland specialty stores are opened.
1995: Timberland closes its U.S. factories, shifting much of the production to outsourcers; the company posts its first loss.
1997: Company holds the first annual "Serv-A-Palooza," a one-day, companywide community service event.
1998: Jeffrey Swartz is named president and CEO, with his father remaining chairman.
1999: The Timberland PRO line of work boots is introduced.
2000: Sales surpass the $1 billion mark for the first time.

Cheap Kids Timberland (US$ 103.95)

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