Blair Corporation

Blair Corporation

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Retail
Founded	1910 (1910)
Founder	John L. Blair
Headquarters	Warren, Pennsylvania , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Chris Wilson (President of Orchard Brands, parent company)
Products	Apparel for men and women, household items
Number of employees	1,200
Parent	Bluestem Brands, Inc.

Blair Corporation stands as a prominent American direct marketing retailer specializing in apparel for men and women, as well as household items. Established in 1910 by entrepreneur John L. Blair under the original name New Process Company, the firm celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010. Its core business strategy revolves around distributing retail catalogs to millions of consumers throughout the United States, supplemented by sales conducted via phone and online platforms. Blair also maintains physical retail outlets located in Warren and Grove City, Pennsylvania, where its corporate headquarters reside. The company employs roughly 1,200 individuals and operates as a subsidiary of Bluestem Brands, Inc., generating annual revenues near US$262.8 million.

Company history

John L. Blair founded the enterprise after developing an innovative black wool raincoat featuring a rubber vulcanized backing and a Scottish plaid lining, initially targeting undertakers. With backing from his family, he dispatched 10,000 letters nationwide, quickly expanding the clientele to include ministers and business professionals while diversifying the product range. Initially called New Process Rubber Company, the firm adopted the name New Process Company by 1916.

The company went public in 1924 and by the mid-1980s had become the largest publicly traded direct marketer of clothing and home goods in the U.S., boasting one of the longest-standing stocks on the American Stock Exchange. Under CEO Murray McComas, it earned distinction for its distinctive market niche. The company rebranded itself as Blair in 1989.

Blair experienced remarkable expansion; by 1989, it was processing up to 100,000 orders daily and shipping approximately 75,000 packages each day. Sales reached US$414 million in 1988, climbed to US$506.8 million by 1998, and were reported at US$420 million in 2007. Its mailing list encompassed 15 million Americans, underscoring its substantial market presence.

Continued growth

During the mid-2000s economic downturn, Blair encountered declining sales figures. In 2007, shareholders approved a merger with Appleseed's (later known as Orchard Brands), a subsidiary of Golden Gate Capital Partners. Orchard Brands, a holding company managing catalog retailers with overlapping target markets, initiated restructuring and efficiency enhancements at Blair. The distribution center was expanded to accommodate orders from affiliated companies, resulting in growth of call center operations as well. This merger led to the creation of approximately 500 new jobs regionally due to facility enlargement.

In 2007, Blair was ranked as the 118th largest internet retailer; by 2010, as part of Orchard Brands, it had risen to the 59th position. Leadership transitions included CEO Shelley Nandkeolyar’s resignation in 2010, interim leadership by Dave Matthews, and the subsequent appointment of Dave Walde—former CFO of Orchard Brands—as CEO in April that year.

Orchard Brands filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011 and later emerged under the control of debtholders including American Capital. By 2014, Orchard Brands reported sales totaling $1.02 billion. On May 27, 2015, Capmark Financial acquired Orchard Brands to incorporate it into Bluestem Brands’ portfolio, which also includes Fingerhut.

In February 2018, Chris Wilson was named President of Orchard Brands with oversight of its eleven brands. On March 9, 2020, Bluestem Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware federal court.