History of the Merrell brand
"Only the best is good."
The story of the Merrell brand began in 1981. This now well-known American shoe company was founded by the trio of Clark Matis, Randy Merrell and John Schweizer. In the beginning, they were dedicated to the hand-made production of high-performance hiking boots, in the production of which they used the hoof for cowboy boots.
At Merrell, everyone believes that the greatest strength lies in movement in nature. And it doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, who you love and how you move - everyone is welcome outside, no matter where life takes them. Merrell strives to inspire everyone, because only together we can protect the trails we love.
Currently, the company offers a wide range of products. These include, for example, hiking boots, running shoes, sandals, jackets, hats, gloves, T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts and socks. Quality accessories in the form of bags and backpacks are also a matter of course.
Merrell Milestones
1981 → founding of the company as a manufacturer of performance hiking boots made to order
1983 → Merrell launches first products (a few stores on the East Coast of the US that specialize in hiking boots) and very limited custom production
1986 → Randy Merrell sells his share in the company as he wants to return to his original mission in life, making custom shoes. That same year, Merrell sold its 25,000th pair of shoes.
1987–1992 → In 1987, the company was bought by Karhu, whose owners moved production to Asia. This reduced the selling price and increased profits. The year after that, sales climbed to $4 million. In the early 1990s, the company sold up to 300,000 pairs of shoes a year. The company is slowly becoming an international enterprise with branches in Canada, Great Britain, Scandinavia and the USA. In 1992, earnings climbed to the $20 million mark a year. In the following years, Merrell products were sold in 22 countries around the world.
1993 - 2007 → During 1997, Merrell is bought by Wolverine World Wide (they also own brand Saucony). She made changes in production in the form of lightening all shoes - the result was the Jungle Runner trail shoe. In 2007, the company's portfolio was expanded to include clothing and accessories.
2010 → Merrell products are already sold in 151 countries this year.
2015 → Collaboration with Tough Mudder endurance race.
2022 → The Merrell company receives the prestigious "Brand of the Year" award at the FNAA.
2023 → Awarded Top Barefoot Running Shoe for Beginners by Footwear News. They were awarded for their excellent barefoot shoes for beginners.
