R.G. Barry Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Footwear, handbags, foot care |
| Predecessor | Shoulda-Moulders Co |
| Founded | 1947 in Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| Founder | Florence Melton, Aaron Zacks, Harry Streim |
| Fate | Taken private by Mill Road Capital and The Blackstone Group in 2014 |
| Headquarters | Pickerington, Ohio , United States |
Key people | Bob Mullaney (CEO) |
| Products | Footwear, handbags, foot care items (brands include Dearfoams, Baggallini, Foot Petals) |
| Owner | Mill Road Capital and The Blackstone Group |
Number of employees | 120 (planned in 2017) (2017) |
R.G. Barry Corporation, commonly known as RG Barry, is a company specializing in the design and marketing of footwear, handbags, and foot care items. Established in 1947 by Florence Melton, Aaron Zacks, and Harry Streim in Columbus, Ohio, the firm is currently based in Pickerington, Ohio. RGB functions as a consumer-focused, multi-channel brand management platform with a digital-first approach, aiming to drive growth and innovation within lifestyle consumer brands. Its primary labels include Baggallini and Dearfoams, which concentrate on practical handbags and comfortable slippers. Additionally, RGB prioritizes sustainability through its biodegradable Planet A line and innovations such as REGNR8.
History
During the 1940s, Florence Melton invented a detachable shoulder pad and teamed up with Aaron Zacks and Harry Streim to create Shoulda-Moulders Co, manufacturing slippers, bathrobes, and pillows. The company was renamed R.G. Barry in 1947, inspired by the names of their children—Richard Streim, Gordon Zacks, and Barry Zacks. In 1949, they launched Angel Treads, notable as the first washable slipper featuring foam cushioning, followed by the introduction of the Dearfoams brand in 1958. The business expanded its operations to locations including Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, and New York to support growth.
R.G. Barry became publicly traded in 1962 on the American Stock Exchange. Gordon Zacks assumed the presidency in 1965 and later advanced to chairman and CEO in 1979. After reaching $120 million in sales, the company divested its Mushrooms sandal brand in 1982. Throughout the 1980s restructuring phase, Dearfoams extended its product range to include men's slippers and enhanced women's collections targeting gift buyers while increasing availability through mass retailers such as Kmart and Wal-Mart. Brand expansion was further supported by television marketing campaigns.
In the early 2000s, R.G. Barry encountered sales difficulties leading to the closure of its Mexican manufacturing facilities and changes in leadership: Gordon Zacks resigned in 2004; Thomas von Lehman acted as interim CEO; Greg Tunney was appointed CEO in 2006. The company transitioned its stock listing to NASDAQ under the ticker DFZ in 2008.
RGB broadened its brand portfolio through strategic acquisitions: Foot Petals, an insole company founded by Tina Aldatz in 2001 that targets consumers wearing high heels, was acquired in January 2011. In March 2011, RGB purchased Baggallini—a handbag and travel accessory brand created by two Delta Airlines flight attendants—for $33.8 million.
On September 3, 2014, Mill Road Capital and The Blackstone Group took R.G. Barry private with a $215 million transaction. Greg Tunney stepped down as CEO in November 2017; Bob Mullaney, previously COO at Shoes.com, was named CEO in December of that year. Also in 2017, the Pickerington City Council approved funding initiatives aimed at modernizing facilities to keep RGB’s headquarters local and increase employment from 100 to 120 positions.