

By 1910, the company had expanded its plant to produce 4,000 pairs of boots and rubbers daily. Rubber, and, within a year of its founding, the Converse Rubber Company had integrated 350 employees into a full-production team in a new plant.

He started his own firm after Beacon was absorbed by U.S.

Converse had gained extensive retail experience as a general manager of one of Boston's largest department stores and at Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Co. Converse founded the Converse Rubber Company in Malden, Massachusetts with a capital investment of $250,000. In addition, the company has diversified into varied rubber products, sports apparel, and full lines of athletic shoes for tennis, cross-training, team sports, running, walking, and children's recreation.įrom Basketball Shoe Innovator to Market Leader in the Early 20th Century The Converse All-Star basketball shoe was the first in the athletic footwear industry, and by the early 1990s, more than 500 million pairs, in more than 56 colors and styles, had been sold in more than 90 countries worldwide. It owns and operates a manufacturing facility in Lumberton, North Carolina, where it produces the majority of its athletic originals, and leases manufacturing plants in Mission, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico. is the largest manufacturer of athletic footwear in the United States, producing approximately 8.4 million pairs of shoes domestically in 1998.

to handle the manufacture, distribution, and sale of Converse footwear in Japan.ġ985: The company is named the official shoe of the National Basketball Association.ġ986: Converse is acquired by Interco Incorporated.ġ994: Converse is spun off from Interco in November.ġ999: Converse introduces the He:01 shoe.Ĭonverse Inc. Goodrich Co.ġ979: Allied Corporation purchases Converse.ġ982: Allied Corporation sells Converse to a group of its senior managers.ġ983: Converse stock becomes available on the NASDAQ national market.ġ984: The company signs agreements with Moon-Star Chemical Corp., Mizuno Corp., and Zett Corp. falls into bankruptcy.ġ972: Converse is purchased by the Eltra Corporation and acquires the footwear division of B.F. The company's consumer research has become an integral part of its product development, advertising campaigns and in-store point of purchase materials.ġ908: The company is founded as Converse Rubber Co.ġ917: Converse introduces the All Star, one of the world's first basketball shoes.ġ929: Converse Rubber Co. The company believes that there are significant opportunities to build the brand, which commands high consumer awareness generated by reason of its 91-year history. The Company's marketing strategy is centered on the Converse All Star brand, which is positioned as the American performance brand with authentic sports heritage. Incorporated: 1908 as Converse Rubber Company
