Filson (company) explained

C.C. Filson Co.
Type:Private
Predecessor:C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers
Founder:Clinton C. Filson
Location City:Seattle, Washington
Location Country:United States
Locations:15 company-operated stores and 2 manufacturing locations
Area Served:Worldwide
Key People:Paolo Corinaldesi
(CEO)
Parent:Bedrock Manufacturing Co.

C.C. Filson is an American privately owned outfitter and manufacturer of goods for outdoor enthusiasts. The company, based in Seattle, Washington, designs, manufactures, distributes and sells men's and women's outdoor clothing, accessories and luggage. Filson sells its products via company-owned retail stores, catalogs and the Filson website as well as through authorized dealers in the United States and international distributors. The company was originally established in Seattle in 1897 as C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers to meet the needs of prospectors passing through Seattle on their way to the Klondike Gold Rush; as of 2012 the brand is owned by Fossil Group founder Tom Kartsotis, who also created Shinola Detroit.[1]

Early history

Clinton C. Filson (born 1850), a former Nebraska homesteader and railroad conductor for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, arrived in the Northwest in the early 1890s, initially settling in Kirkland, Washington where he invested in property near Peter Kirk's proposed iron works and opened a hardware store in a brick building he co-owned with Seattle customs inspector A.T. Timmerman. He would also serve as the town's postmaster in 1894.[2] Several years later after Kirkland's plans fell through he relocated to Seattle where he operated a small loggers' outfitting store, the Seattle Woolen House, at 903 1st Avenue, where the Federal Office Building currently stands.[3]

To meet the needs of prospectors passing through Seattle on their way to the Klondike Gold Rush, C.C. Filson founded C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers in 1897.[4] The company supplied prospectors with a variety of outdoor gear including clothing, blankets, boots and sleeping bags. After the gold rush ended around 1899, Filson shifted to providing gear for outdoor oriented activities and occupations including hunting, fishing and logging, among others.[5] Never having retired, Filson passed away in December 1919 and ownership of the company was handed over to his widow Winifred and nephew George Stroble.[6] [7]

Ownership and leadership

Filson remained under the control of the Filson family until 1970, when they sold their interest to a former distributor of Filson products to independent dealers in Alaska. Stan Kohls, a skiwear entrepreneur, purchased the company in 1981. Kohls expanded the product line from 35 items to 250 items, drawing from the company's archive or designing each new item himself. Kohls attempted to preserve the authenticity of the products by not using modern materials like Velcro.[8]

On January 1, 2005, Los Angeles, California-based private equity group Brentwood Associates and former Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation executive Doug Williams acquired C.C. Filson, with Kohls maintaining a minority ownership interest and a seat on the board. Brentwood Associates and Williams renamed the company Filson Holdings and named Williams the Chief Executive Officer.[9] Williams hoped to expand the brand's sales by introducing casual wear and selling to new customers based on Filson's reputation for ruggedness and quality. In 2006, Filson made Bill Kulczycki, a former Patagonia executive, CEO.[10] In 2010, Mark A. Korros became CEO.[11] In 2012, Brentwood Associates sold Filson Holdings, Inc. to Dallas-based Bedrock Manufacturing Co. for an undisclosed amount.[12] [13] Alan Kirk was appointed CEO of Filson in 2013. In June 2013, the company opened an extensive new manufacturing facility on 1st Avenue South in Seattle's manufacturing district, more than doubling capacity and by year end, more than 100 new jobs were created in production. The company now manufactures luggage, apparel and accessories in three company-owned locations in the USA.

Former CEO Steve Bock[14] left the company in early 2019, and was replaced by Rollen Jones. Following Jones' move in the following year to his current role as CFO and a brief interim return by Bock, former global strategist Paolo Corinaldesi of international retail group WP Lavori was appointed to the position, and is the standing CEO.[15] [16]

Under current leadership, Filson has made organizational changes to streamline its business and be more efficient, including a decision to reduce positions in its Seattle and Kent manufacturing facilities and shift more production overseas. The company continues manufacturing heritage styles in its Washington facilities.[17]

Retail locations

In addition to the company's retail website, Filson features flagship locations in Seattle, Washington, and Union Square, New York City, as well as brick-and-mortar stores in Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Plano, Texas; Edina, Minnesota; Boston, Massachusetts Washington, D.C.; Ballard, Seattle; and Naperville, Illinois. Outside the US, there are stores in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Filson maintains one outlet store, located in Eagan, Minnesota.

Modern product line

In 1991, Filson revived its line of bridle leather-trimmed canvas luggage. In 1998, Filson opened a flagship retail store near Seattle's Safeco Field. In 2008, Filson introduced a line of women's clothing.[18] In 2010, Filson partnered with Levi Strauss & Co. to produce a collection of jackets, shirts, caps and bags called "Levi's Workwear by Filson."[19]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Stacy Perman, "The Real History of America's Most Authentic Fake Brand", Inc. magazine, p. 106, April 2016.
  2. News: Washington and Oregon Postoffices . 12 January 2021 . The Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers . 2 Feb 1894 . 1.
  3. News: Alaska-Klondike Wants - Seattle Woolen House [Advertsisement] ]. 12 January 2021 . The Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers . 10 Dec 1899 . 23.
  4. Web site: Fear of Fashion . Bourjaily . Phil . October 1, 2005 . . . 727236465 . August 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131227143842/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2005/11/01/8360961/index.htm . December 27, 2013 . live . Clinton C. Filson founded the company in 1897 to outfit prospectors headed for the Klondike....Williams is betting that people who own Filson hunting clothes will also buy Filson casual wear and that others will discover the brand as they learn of its reputation for ruggedness and quality. .
  5. Web site: Filson's History . Filson . C.C. Filson Co. . August 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130806163108/http://www.filson.com/filson/our-company/history/ . August 6, 2013 . live . The Gold Rush faded into history, but Filson kept listening to his customers, and outdoorsmen kept coming to Filson for rugged clothes. Drawing from his past experience outfitting loggers, he soon added clothing for the timber industry... .
  6. News: Pioneer Dies After Long Life in City . The Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Library of Congress: Chronicling American . 24 Dec 1919 . 5.
  7. News: Seattle Merchant Dies . The Seattle Daily Times . Newsbank . 22 Dec 1919 . 8.
  8. Web site: A Wilton Hunter and Fisherman Finds His Dream Job . Pemberton . Jeff . May 15, 2006 . Wilton Online . Mill River Media Group . August 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927150531/http://www.wiltononline.com/wilton/articles/?id=3832&page=2&c=13 . September 27, 2013 . live . By 1980, the company was down to about 35 styles. The family was involved until the 1970s, when it went through another management and, in 1981, it was sold to Stan Kohls, who came out of the ski industry. He saw that many of the great heritage products were gone, and went through the archives, pulling out the old designs. That started the resurrection of Filson. From 1981 until 2004, Kohls ran the company. .
  9. Web site: Filson Sold to Former Polo Exec . Fischer . John . MultiChannel Merchant . Access Intelligence . August 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928042947/http://multichannelmerchant.com/news/filson-sold-to-former-polo-exec-01032005/ . September 28, 2013 . live . Former Polo group president Doug Williams and Brentwood Associates bought Filson on Jan. 1 from Stan Kohls, who has owned it since 1981. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. .
  10. News: Another Downtown Seattle Apartment Building Is Going Condo . The Seattle Times . The Seattle Times Company . 0745-9696 . 9198928 . October 4, 2006 . Business Digest . August 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130927115742/http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2003287864_bizbriefs04.html . September 27, 2013 . live . Filson Holdings said it hired former Patagonia executive Bill Kulczycki to run its outdoor apparel company, C.C. Filson. .
  11. News: October 14, 2010 . Filson Names Korros New CEO . Puget Sound Business Journal . American City Business Journals . 8750-7757 . 321260598 . August 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131001012300/http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/10/11/daily26.html . October 1, 2013 . live . Outdoor apparel company Filson has named Mark Korros its new CEO and president. Korros replaces Bill Kulczycki at Seattle-based Filson. .
  12. Web site: Bedrock Manufacturing Acquires Filson . Sheff . Harry . June 5, 2012 . Mrketplace . Business Journals . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921074007/http://www.mrketplace.com/35262/bedrock-manufacturing-acquires-filson/ . September 21, 2013 . live . July 30, 2013 . Outdoor heritage brand Filson has been acquired by Dallas-based Bedrock Manufacturing Co. for an undisclosed amount. The sale was announced today by Filson's previous owner, the private equity group Brentwood Associates. .
  13. Brentwood Associates Announces Sale of Filson Holdings . June 5, 2012 . Brentwood Associates . Los Angeles, California . August 2, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130928220238/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brentwood-associates-announces-sale-of-filson-holdings-157226635.html . September 28, 2013 . live . Brentwood Associates ("Brentwood"), a leading consumer-focused private equity investment firm, announced it has completed the sale of Filson Holdings, Inc. ("Filson"), one of the oldest American brands of premium outdoor apparel and accessories, to Bedrock Manufacturing Co. ("Bedrock"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. .
  14. Web site: Seattle DJC.com local business news and data - Real Estate - Real Estate Buzz: Filson wants to show off how it works. www.djc.com. 2015-09-01.
  15. Web site: Filson Taps Paolo Corinaldesi as CEO.
  16. Web site: Outdoor Outfitter and Apparel Manufacturer Filson Appoints Paolo Corinaldesi as Chief Executive Officer | Textile World.
  17. News: Roberts . Paul . As Filson confirms more local layoffs, a potential new strategy emerges . 16 December 2021 . The Seattle Times . 14 August 2021.
  18. News: Martinez . Amy . Filson Introduces Outdoor Clothing for Women . April 21, 2012 . . . 61313571 . February 21, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131229034230/http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2004192833_filson21.html . December 29, 2013 . live . For the first time in Filson's 111-year history, the Seattle manufacturer and retailer of outdoor clothing is introducing a line of women's apparel for fishing, hunting and other activities. .
  19. News: Filson Signs Clothing Deal with Levi's . August 3, 2010 . . . 8750-7757 . 321260598 . April 21, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140203032750/http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/08/02/daily16.html . February 3, 2014 . live . Filson said it's signed a deal with Levi's to sell a line of clothing called "Levi's Workwear by Filson....Filson said that each Levi's-branded product will be made in its Seattle factory. .

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