2008年 11月 16日
Brown Shoe Company , St. Louis |
In 1878, a young man named George Warren Brown believed St. Louis could become a manufacturing center for the shoe industry. He invested his life savings and founded his own company to manufacture and sell shoes even though most shoe companies were located in the Northeast. Brown thought he could change the face of the industry and he was right - his company thrived. Today, Brown Shoe is a leading $2.4 billion consumer-driven footwear company with global, integrated operations, delighting consumers with a portfolio of compelling brands.Many people mistakenly think Brown Shoe was named after the much-loved Buster Brown character. In fact, our Buster Brown shoe brand came 25 years later.In 1904 at the "Meet Me In St. Louis" World's Fair, a young Brown Shoe executive met Buster Brown's creator, cartoonist Richard F. Outcault, and purchased the name from him. At the time, Buster Brown was a mischievous cartoon character, who, together with his dog Tige and sister Mary Jane, delighted children of all ages.Brown Shoe made marketing history when it sent on the road a series of actors, each dressed as Buster and accompanied by a dog (Tige). They toured the entire country selling Buster Brown shoes as they performed in theaters, department stores and shoe stores. In those days, such a touring show generally brought out the whole town.
BUSTER BROWN shoes CM
Buster Brown was a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard Felton Outcault which was known for his association with the Brown Shoe Company. (The name "Buster" came either directly or indirectly from the popularity of Buster Keaton, then a child-star of vaudeville.) This mischievous young boy was loosely based on a boy near Outcault's home in Flushing, New York.
1878
Bryan, Brown & Company formed in St. Louis by George Warren Brown and his partners Alvin Bryan and Jerome Desnoyers.
1893
Company name changed to Brown Shoe Company.
1904
Rights to Buster Brown name purchased; Buster Brown brand introduced to public at the St. Louis World's Fair.
Succession of actors, dressed like Buster Brown and accompanied by dogs, toured the country (1904-1930), playing to audiences in rented theaters, department stores and shoe stores.
1913
Brown Shoe Company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under stock ticker symbol BWS.
1925
George Warren Brown School of Social Work endowed at Washington University in St. Louis by G.W. Brown's widow.
1927
Naturalizer brand created.
1931
Connie brand created.
1940
LifeStride brand created.
1943
Smilin' Ed McConnell and his Buster Brown Gang debuted on the West Coast NBC radio network. In 1951, Smilin' Ed moved to television, where his show ran until 1954.
1951
Brown Shoe Company acquired Wohl Shoe Company, operator of 350 specialty stores and 800 shoe departments for many major department stores.
1952
Brown Shoe Company moved headquarters from 1600 Washington Avenue to Clayton, MO.
1954
Naturalizer Shoe Store, the first of several hundred stores to carry Naturalizer shoes, opened in Jamaica, NY. Regal Shoe Shops, with 110 locations, acquired by Brown Shoe.
1970-74
Cloth World, Eagle Rubber, Hedstrom, BottomHalf and Meis Department Stores bought by Brown Shoe. Juvenile and Recreational Products Companies Division formed.
1981
36-store Famous Footwear chain acquired.
1984
Brown Group International established.
1985-96
Brown Group begins decade-long strategic repositioning — non-footwear businesses sold, all domestic manufacturing plants closed.
1987
Acquisition of Pagoda Trading Company completed.
1991
Brown signs long-term license for Dr. Scholl's brand.
1999
Company changes its name back to Brown Shoe Company.
Buster Brown & Co. is established as the Kids' Division of Brown Shoe.
Naturalizer revitalizes its image. New product styling is geared to a younger, more fashion-conscious woman. And naturalizer.com launches.
2000
Brown Shoe acquires 26 store Mil-Mar chain and folds it into Famous Footwear.
2001
Naturalizer named "Brand of The Year" by Footwear News.
2002
Naturalizer celebrates 75 years. Carlos by Carlos Santana brand launches.
2003
Brown Shoe awarded “Company of the Year"by Footwear News.
2004
Buster Brown celebrates 100 years.
2005
Brown Shoe acquires Bennett Footwear Group, LLC (BFG). Adds Franco Sarto, Via Spiga, and other brands.
2006
Naturalizer launches Naturalizer Signature luxury women’s shoes, available online and in select store locations.Bennett Footwear Group integrated into Brown New York.
2007
Brown Shoe announced plans to open Naturalizer and Via Spiga stores in China.
Brown Shoe announced an agreement with Sam and Libby Edelman to invest in Edelman Shoe, Inc.
2008
Brown Shoe launched celebrity licensed footwear brands for: country music superstar Reba McEntire (Reba), music and entertainment superstar Fergie, and style and beauty expert Gretta Monahan (Gretta).Brown Shoe announced plans to create interconnected footwear company in St. Louis headquarters.
by 10footers
| 2008-11-16 23:00
| American Factory