A
great thing about the record sales growth at Allen Edmonds since the “Great
Recession” is that we have roughly doubled manufacturing employment at our
Wisconsin factory. When a new hire tells
you, “This job is the difference between my daughter going to college and not
going to college,” that’s a good feeling.
With new stores across the country, burgeoning online business and, most
important, the amazing loyalty of our customers … our U.S. employment is now
the highest it has been in our company’s 91 year history.
Just
like with shoes, less than 2% of the apparel bought in the U.S. today was made
in this country. Since regaining our
footing in 2010, our team’s long-term goal has been the evolution of Allen
Edmonds into a broader men’s lifestyle brand.
We’ve believed that the values for which Allen Edmonds is renown – i.e. eye-catching
handcrafted quality, superior customer service, an unrivaled price/value ratio,
and a dogged determination to grow USA manufacturing – will be welcomed in
clothing as well as shoes by busy men who desire those qualities across their
entire wardrobes but have little time to search for them.
So,
we’re proud to launch our curated collection of men’s clothing, including sport
coats, vests, sweaters, shirts and pants. These are just the first of several
waves of seasonal offerings going forward. Along with these products, we are
also launching exciting collections of leather bags inspired by some of our top
selling shoes, such as the Park Avenue, McTavish and Neumok, and a substantial
broadening of our belts and small leather goods offerings. The clothing, belts
and leather goods collections represent our continuing commitment to Made in
USA and American employment growth. We’ve partnered with manufacturers across
America – in Vermont, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota,
California, New York, Florida and, of course, Wisconsin to craft exquisite and
timeless pieces right here – between the earth’s two largest oceans, not across
them.
We’re
also excited to premier our new brand identity. As we move forward with an
expanded product line and broader vision, we needed to refresh our brand.
That’s why we’re introducing a new crest featuring the year Allen Edmonds was
founded, 1922.
The crest harkens to our strong heritage and our special authenticity as American designers and manufacturers. Through the passion and dedication of our people – customers and employees alike – we’re still here, standing for what we’ve always stood for. The cobbler’s hammer references our dedication to excellent craftsmanship and to our core identity as world-class men’s shoemakers. Placed dominantly in the center of the crest, the hammer signifies that Allen Edmonds will always lead with great shoes! Our tagline “An American Original” is a reflection of both our company and our customers, who are originals in the way they lead in their lives.
You
can expect to see this renewed identity in everything we do. And you can expect
more seasonal product offerings from Allen Edmonds as we continue to grow, at
the product quality and service level that you’ve come to expect from us.