Columbia Sportswear Company
The Columbia Sportswear Company is a global outdoor brand based in Portland, USA. It is a crafting hub for sportswear, headgear, outerwear, footwear, and camping equipment. The company dates back to 1938 and is a leading name in designing, marketing, sourcing, and distributing outdoor and lifestyle apparel. It has four primary brands namely; prAna ®, Mountain Hardwear®, SOREL®, and Columbia®. All these brands work in collaboration to bring out the best for customers according to their expectations and preferences. The products of the company have gained a unique position in the international market owing to their quality, performance, and creativity.
Company Timeline
The company was founded by Gert Boyle in 1938. The origin of Columbia Sportswear was marked by the formation of a small hat company known as the Columbia Hat Company. In the year 1937, Gert’s parents flew away from the Nazi regime and settled in Portland, Oregon. They purchased a Portland hat distributorship which served as the foundational stone for their company. In the year 1948, Neal Boyle took charge as the head of the company as Gert married him.
The Columbia Hat company began facing supply shortages and issues in the 1950s. Soon after, the company resorted to manufacturing their own products, and thus, the Columbian Hat Company transformed into Columbian Sportswear Company in 1960. The company strived to establish itself and its brand over the years and faced multiple financial challenges. For instance, in the late 1960s, the company underwent a massive financial blow. Furthermore, the sudden death of Neal Boyle exacerbated the situation as the company was seen on the verge of bankruptcy. Tim Boyle and Gert herself took charge and rescued Columbian Sportswear from bankruptcy. Gert served the company as a president until 1988.
In the year 1983, Gert was appointed as the chairman of the board of directors for the company. She served as a chairman until her sudden demise in the year 2019. Subsequently, Tim Boyle followed his mother’s legacy and served as the CEO and president of the company from the year 1988 up till now. Columbia Sportswear deals with more than 13,000 retailers throughout the world and supplies its products in more than 72 countries. The company has its flagship store located in Portland, Oregon.
Historical Highlights
Some of the major highlights and achievements by the company are enlisted below;
Bugaboo™ Parka- 1986
Columbia Sportswear launched its first Bugaboo parka in 1986. It was a signature product that made the company famous and around 5 million people bought this product. It was thus impossible for anyone to be in the 1980s and not know about the Columbia Bugaboo.
Performance Fishing Gear- 1996
The company launched its PFG line in 1996 specifically comprising of light, breathable fabric, and UV protection. Separate patterns and styles were introduced for both men and women. The Fishing Gear soon became the top choice for anglers of all skill levels and expertise.
Omni Heat™ Reflective- 2010
Columbia Sportswear launched its specific thermal-reflective technology. It was meant to retain body heat even in strenuous activities and brisk weather. The series further included products like Omni-Heat™ Infinity, Omni-Heat™ Blackdot, Omni-Heat™ 3D, etc.
Omni-Freeze™ ZERO- 2013
The company launched its exclusive Omni-freeze technology in the year 2013. It encompassed a sweat-activated cooling technology for outdoor enthusiasts and athletes. Additionally, the product Omni-Freeze™ ZERO received the Adventure Gear of the year award in National Geographic in the same year.
TurboDown™ technology- 2014
Columbia Sportswear designed a specific TurboDown technology to address the cold spots from where heat escapes from conventional jackets. The company created a one-of-a-kind jacket manufacturing process through mixing 900 fill water-resistant down with Omni-Heat Thermal synthetic insulation, The insulation is laid out in a 'wave-like' pattern throughout the jacket, with down on both sides of the baffles.
OutDry™ Extreme- 2016
Columbia introduced OutDry Extreme, a waterproof-breathable technology in their jackets, in 2016. It stands out among other waterproof-breathable textiles. This is because, unlike other waterproof-breathable textiles, it places the waterproof layer on the exterior rather than enclosed between protective layers. This technology is unique and is among the top technologies of the company in terms of pants, gloves, footwear, etc.
Vision, Mission, and Values
The core mission of Columbia Sportswear is to connect people with their passion. The company uses active lifestyle apparel, accessories, and footwear to achieve its mission. Additionally, the core values of the company revolve around attributes such as honesty, trust, respect, and responsibility. It promotes enjoying an active life while striving restlessly for improvement. Lastly, it also encourages doing the right thing not only for the customers, or employees but for the whole community.
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"Gert Boyle - 1924-2019"