L.L. Bean opened a new manufacturing building in Lewiston, Maine, on Aug. 17, 2017, to expand production of its leather-and-rubber Bean boot, the Associated Press reported.
More capacity
The 106,000-square-foot building doubles production space in Lewiston. It holds a newly added machine that molds the boots’ rubber soles. With it, two of the company’s three injection-molding machines are now in Lewiston. The third is in Brunswick, where the leather uppers are stitched on to finish the boots.
The company said it plans to hire about 160 more production workers, about 40 of them in Lewiston. That would bring its manufacturing workforce to more than 700.
Demand
Annual sales of the boot rose from fewer than 100,000 pairs a decade earlier to a projected 750,000 pairs in 2017. L.L. Bean said it hoped to reach 1 million pairs in 2018. Backlogs around the holiday shopping season had been common.
The AP noted that other well-known Maine shoe brands, including G.H. Bass, Sebago and Dexter, now make their shoes overseas. L.L. Bean has kept boot production in Maine.
“L.L. Bean manufacturing is both our history and our future,” said Chairman Shawn Gorman.
FAQ
Where are Bean boots made?
In Lewiston and Brunswick, Maine.
How many workers will be added?
About 160 production workers, bringing the total to more than 700.
How many boots does L.L. Bean sell?
About 750,000 pairs were projected for 2017, with a goal of 1 million in 2018.
Source & credit
Source: Associated Press via U.S. News & World Report: “LL Bean Boosting Production of Iconic Boot”, by David Sharp, Aug. 17, 2017.