Columbia Sportswear
From The Matrix
| Company Infobox |
| Image:ColumbiaSportswear.png |
|---|
| Company name: Columbia Sportswear Co. |
| Company type: Public |
| Foundation: 1938 |
| Location: Portland, Oregon, United States Template:Flagicon |
| Industry: Apparel |
| Key people: Tim Boyle, CEO Gert Boyle, Chairwoman |
| # of employees: 2,712 (2005) |
| Products: Outerwear and sportswear |
| Revenue: $1.29 billion (2007) |
| Net income: |
| Homepage: www.columbia.com |
Columbia Sportswear Company NASDAQ:COLM is a United States company that manufactures and distributes outerwear and sportswear. Founded in 1938 by present chairwoman Gert Boyle, the company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Columbia Sportswear also produces footwear, headgear, camping equipment, skiwear, and outerwear accessories.
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[edit] History
Columbia Sportswear began as a small, family-owned hat distributor founded by Gert Boyle. Gert's parents, Paul and Marie Lamfrom, fled Germany in 1937, and immediately bought a Portland hat distributorship. They became the Columbia Hat Company, named for the nearby Columbia River. Frustrations over suppliers influenced the family to start manufacturing their own products.
Ten years later, Gert married Neal Boyle, who became the head of the company. In 1970, Neal died following a heart attack, and son Tim Boyle, then a University of Oregon senior, joined Columbia.
Columbia's jackets featured waterproof fabric that was also breathable. Additionally, new jackets featured interchangeable shells and liners. Multiple wearing options and fabric technology fueled rapid sales growth.
Columbia Sportswear acquired footwear maker Sorel Corporation in 2000 and Mountain Hardwear in 2003.
[edit] Locations
Columbia Sportswear distributes its products to over 50 countries and 12,000 retailers worldwide. Its flagship store is located in downtown Portland, Oregon. Columbia also operates five factory outlet stores outside Portland.
[edit] Financial information
As of 2005 its market capitalization is about $2.15 billion, with 2004 net sales of $1.1 billion.
[edit] Stock exchanges
Columbia Sportswear Company is publicly traded on NASDAQ with ticker symbol COLM.
[edit] External links
The page was seeded with material from Wikipedia
