Duluth Trading Company
 | |
.jpg) A Duluth Trading Company retail location in Fargo, North Dakota | |
| Duluth Trading Co. | |
| Formerly | Pull'r Holding Company, LLC Portable Products, Inc. |
| Company type | Public company |
| Template:NASDAQ | |
| Industry | Clothing |
| Founded | 1989 in Duluth, Minnesota, United States |
| Founder | Bob & Dave Fierek |
| Headquarters | Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, United States |
Number of locations | 65 (2023) |
| Products | Workwear and accessories |
| Revenue |  Template:US$ (2023) |
| US$6.231 million (2023) | |
| US$2.304 million (2023) | |
| Total assets |  US$225.897 million (2023) |
| Total equity | US$230.407 million (2023) |
Number of employees | c. 1,200 (September 2023) |
| Website | www.duluthtrading.com |
Duluth Holdings Inc., best known for its Duluth Trading Company brand, is a U.S.-based enterprise specializing in workwear and related accessories.[1]
Origins
The business was established in 1989 by brothers Bob and Dave Fierek under the name Portable Products, Inc.. Initially, it concentrated on serving construction workers with tool accessories, notably the "Bucket Boss". The company expanded its product range to include additional tool storage solutions and accessories, distributing them via a catalog under the Portable Products identity. Its first headquarters was uniquely situated on a barge in Duluth, Minnesota. By 1993, the catalog had evolved and was rebranded as Duluth Trading Co..[2]
Growth and Development
During the mid-1990s, ownership changed hands when the company was acquired by Fiskars. In 2000, it was sold to Gempler's, which relocated the headquarters to Belleville, Wisconsin. A notable product innovation came in 2002 with the launch of "Longtail T Shirts," designed to prevent exposure commonly referred to as plumber's crack. After Gempler's was sold to Lab Safety Supply in 2003, the owners retained control over Duluth Trading Company.[3] The company introduced its inaugural women's catalog in 2005.[2]
In 2011, Duluth Trading Company debuted its first nationwide advertising campaign featuring an irate beaver character.[4] The parent entity, Duluth Holdings, became publicly traded in 2015.[5]
Amidst the retail sector downturn during the mid-2010s—often termed the retail apocalypse—Duluth Trading Company surpassed internal projections by continuing to open new stores nationwide.[6] However, rapid expansion contributed to a decline in revenue during 2017. As of December 8 that year, there were 31 stores operating with plans to launch an additional 15 within the same year.[7] The company announced its first retail location in the New York metropolitan area at The Ramsey Square Shopping Center situated in Ramsey, New Jersey.[8]
Sponsorship
In 2017, Duluth Trading Company was designated as the "Official Off-Sled Outfitter" for the United States luge team. In June 2022, the company secured the role of title sponsor for the Cure Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game held in Orlando.
References
- ↑ "Duluth Holdings Inc.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg". Bloomberg. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Whole Story, Duluth Trading Company History". Duluth Trading Company. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ↑ "Duluth Trading Co. adds to transformation of Mount Horeb while Gempler's quietly returns". AP NEWS. 2019-02-03. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
- ↑ "Duluth Lore, Company Timeline". Duluth Trading Company. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ↑ "Duluth Holdings (DLTH) IPO Has a Solid Debut". StreetInsider.com. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
- ↑ Schuyler, David (September 6, 2017). "In a troubled industry, Duluth Trading Co. exceeding many expectations". The Business Journals. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ "Duluth Trading shares plunge after retailer posts quarterly loss..." Duluth News Tribune. December 8, 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ↑ "Duluth Trading Company to open store in Ramsey". North Jersey. Retrieved 2018-06-19.
External links
Media related to Duluth Trading Company at Wikimedia Commons
