Brooks Sports, Inc., also known as Brooks Running, is an American company that designs and markets high-performance men's and women's running shoes, clothing, and accessories. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Brooks is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.
Brooks, founded in 1914, manufactured shoes and apparel for sports including basketball, ice skating, tennis, and football until 2001. "White hot" in the mid-70s, the company faltered in the latter part of the decade, and filed for bankruptcy protection in 1981.In 2001, the product line was cut by more than 50% to focus the brand solely on running, and its concentration on performance technology was increased. Brooks Running became the top selling brand in the specialty running shoe market in 2011.
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History
Early history: Founding, Bruxshu Gymnasium Shoes, Carmen Manufacturing
Brooks Sports, Inc. was founded in 1914 by John Brooks Goldenberg, following his purchase of the Quaker Shoe Company, a manufacturer of bathing shoes and ballet slippers. Based in Philadelphia, it operated as a partnership between John Goldenberg and his brother, Michael. By 1920, Quaker Shoes had been renamed Brooks Shoe Manufacturing Co., Inc., and its shoes were sold under the brand name Bruxshu. In addition to bathing shoes and ballet slippers, it sold a gymnasium shoe, Ironclad Gyms. Early advertising emphasized fit, construction, and durability; the Ironclad was "a comfortable, light, gymnasium shoe that fits the foot" with soles made of "chrome tanned leather, flexible and light, with a low spring heel" that would withstand "four years gym work, and then be ready for more usage." The company's innovations included the 1938 introduction of orthopedic shoes for children, Pedicraft, and rubber brakes for roller skates (then known as "quick stops"), patented in 1944.
In 1938 the Goldenbergs bought the Carmen Shoe Manufacturing Company in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Until 1957 a better grade leather was purchased, cut, stitched and fit in Philadelphia, while the same procedure in Hanover used lower grade materials. Both shoes were sold in Philadelphia under the Brooks name, and ranged from inexpensive to high-priced.
In 1956, after a series of operational changes, John notified his brother that he would not renew their partnership agreement, and Michael discussed expanding Carmen with his nephew, John's son Barton. In 1957, following the dissolution of the partnership, the existence of Brooks Shoe Manufacturing Company was terminated, and Michael and Barton each acquired 50% of Carmen. In 1958, Michael purchased Barton's interest in the company, and as the sole owner, he renamed Carmen the Brooks Manufacturing Company.
1970s: Introduction of EVA, the Vanguard, Runner's World #1 running shoe
In 1975 Brooks worked with elite runners, including Marty Liquori, a former Olympian, to design a running shoe. The collaboration produced the Villanova, Brook's first high-performance running shoe. It was the first running shoe to use EVA, an air-infused foam that was quickly adopted by other athletic brands. Brooks followed the Villanova with The Vantage, a running shoe constructed with a wedge to address overpronation. In 1977, based on newly-developed measurements of cushioning, flexibility, and durability, the Vantage was ranked at #1 in the annual Runner's World running guide.Runners embraced Brooks' technology, and the demand "exploded." Towards the end of the decade Brooks was among the top three selling brands in the US.
1980s: Bankruptcy, the Chariot, Brooks for Women
In 1980, as a result of production issues with Brooks' manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico, defective shoes began to arrive at sporting goods stores. Nearly 30 percent of the shoes were returned, and Brooks scrapped 50,000 pairs. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was purchased at auction by footwear manufacturer Wolverine World Wide in 1981.
In 1982, stability became the top priority for runners, and Brooks introduced the Chariot, a medial post shoe hat featured an angled wedge of harder-density foam in the midsole. Thicker on the inside of the shoe and tapered toward the outside, the Chariot represented a "sea change" in running-shoe design. In 1987, with Brooks for Women, it launched an anatomically adjusted line of shoes designed for women.
1990s: The Beast, Adrenaline, ownership changes, Run Happy
In 1992, Brooks launched the Beast, a motion control shoe that integrated diagonal rollbar technology. In 1994 the Adrenaline GTS -- an abbreviation of go-to shoe -- was released. With a firmer midsole density, the Adrenaline GTS was built on a semi-curve, an accommodation for runners with a high arch and wide forefoot. The Beast became a best seller, and the Adrenaline GTS went on to become one of the best-selling running shoes of all time.
Wolverine moved Brooks away from the niche running market to a generalist athletic brand. The "class to mass" strategy was unsuccessful, and Brooks was sold to Norwegian private equity company The Rokke Group for $21 million in 1993. Brooks moved to Rokke's Seattle location following its acquisition. In 1998, Rokke sold a majority interest in Brooks to J.H. Whitney & Co., a Connecticut private equity firm.
Brooks' Run Happy tag line first appeared in print advertising in 1999. Rather than depicting running as a grueling pursuit, as competitive brands did, Run Happy was based on the idea that runners love running, and suggested that Brooks products allowed "runners to have the running experience they were looking for."
Maps Brooks Sports
Sponsorship
Sponsored athletes (partial list)
Team sponsorships
- Hansons-Brooks
- Brooks Beasts Track Club
- Brooks Mavericks
Former sponsorships
Athletics
- Mok Ying Ren (Singapore)
- Chile athletics team
- Gareth Warburton
- Mark Kenneally
- Singapore Athletics Team
Football
National teams
- Chile national team (2003-2010)
- Sri Lanka (2009-2010)
Clubs
- Wycombe Wanderers (1990-1992)
- Deportivo Magallanes (2009-2011)
- Queens Park Rangers (1991-1992)
- Everton de Viña del Mar (2007-2009)
- Coquimbo Unido (2007-2009)
- Reading (1992-1993)
Field Hockey
National Teams
- Chile
Rugby
National Teams
- Chile
References
External links
- Brooks
- Brooks UK
Source of article : Wikipedia
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