An American manufacturing success story.
New Balance is the only athletic shoe company still producing in the US.
Watch the associates of our Skowhegan, Maine factory in their Made in the USA video.
Tag Archives: Made in USA
Behind the scenes: Get an exclusive and rare insight into the manufacturing process of a New Balance sneaker.
New Balance M996GGG
We just got in some limited edition M996GGGs!
Classic retro-style New Balance running shoe with comfortable Pigskin/Mesh upper, C-CAP midsole and ENCAP wedge.
New Balance 996 Product Details
- ENCAP® midsole technology provides support and maximum durability
- Solid rubber outsole provides long-wearing durability
- Suede/Mesh upper is lightweight and breathable
- Reflective detailing enhances your visibility
- Color: Gray
- Shoe Weight: 369 grams (13.0 oz)
Idea Submission
Inventors,
New Balance prides itself on our innovative heritage, so we deeply understand and appreciate the desire to create something that could, quite possibly, change the world. With that in mind, we’d like to share with you the following guidelines for submitting ideas to New Balance.
- Does your idea fit within the New Balance business model and add new features to our product lines, footwear, design concepts, accessories, and apparel?
- Is the idea unique? Have you done a search on Google or a search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office?
- Have you applied for or been granted a Patent? If granted (or published), provide patent (or publication) number and copy of patent.
- Do you need a patent attorney or patent agent to help you determine the novelty of your idea or to file a patent? If so, consult the following US Patent Attorney and Agents Search site.
- Is your idea commercially viable? For example, could it be manufactured and sold for a reasonable price? Have you approached manufacturing or design firms to obtain cost estimates for prototyping and manufacturing your idea?
If you feel your idea satisfies the previous questions, download the Submission Form PDF and return to the supplied address or email it to: ideas@newbalance.com
New Balance: U.S. Manufacturing Commitment
by: Molly Line
As companies across America look to cut costs, shipping jobs overseas, finding a ‘made in the USA’ label can be hard to do, particularly when it comes to apparel and footwear.
Watch the latest video at FoxNews.com
There are more than 30 companies that manufacture footwear in American, but only one athletic shoe company that still makes shoes in the United States. Boston based New Balance churns out 7 million pairs a year from five New England factories- two in Massachusetts, three in Maine.
25% percent of the company’s shoes sold in North America are made or assembled by U.S. workers .
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the last decade, from January 2000 to June 2010, more than 5.6 million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the United States. That’s a staggering decline of nearly 33 percent.
New Balance CEO, Rob Demartini, admits it’s a challenge to stay competitive in the world market but says the company’s commitment to domestic manufacturing is firm.
“It’s really part of the fabric of the company. we’ve been manufacturing athletic shoes since 1938,” said DeMartini. “We think in an industry where there a lot of shared manufacturing, knowing how to make the product, helps us. It also gets us a lot closer to the consumer.”
Since it’s founding in 1906, New Balance has grown into a global brand with world wide annual sales topping 1.6 billion dollars.
“I think every business faces challenges everyday and I think the differentials that exist between markets are getting closer together as the global economy is becoming more intertwined,” said DeMartini. “Yeah, it’s definitely a challenge, but we accept it and have been very successful at it.”
DeMartini said the company is growing modestly, despite the recession, due to efforts to keep manufacturing lean and streamlined.
Regional manufacturing manager, Claudio Gelman, says a dedicated workforce deserves the credit for increasing production speeds and maintaining quality.
“Six years ago it would take us eight days, from the moment of cutting a shoe, I’m talking about the made in the USA shoe, to packing,” said Gelman. “Which means there was a lot of inventory, which we’ve reduced 90 percent and a lot of travel time that we’ve reduced by 60 percent. And the lead time, the time it took to make a pair of shoes, went from eight days to three hours.”
New Balance also maintains a manufacturing and client base in Asia and Europe.
“We’re growing in a number of places right now, our Asia business in particular. In Korea and China we are growing very rapidly. We’ve had a strong business for well over 20 years in Japan. It’s our second biggest market outside of the US and we’re feeling very good about that business,” explains DeMartini. “In Europe, where Adidas is kind of on the continent and Nike had been there longer than us, we have our challenges but we’re making real inroads in a tough elite running market in Germany and France and that’s got us very encouraged as well.”
New Balance M996
Looking everywhere for the rare M996? Look no further. We have plenty in stock. This classic retro shoe is also Made in the USA!
Classic retro-style New Balance running shoe with comfortable Pigskin/Mesh upper, C-CAP midsole and ENCAP wedge.
New Balance M996 Product Details:
- Solid Rubber Outsole: Provides long-wearing durability
- ENCAP Midsole: Provides durability and stability via polyurethane and cushioning via a core of EVA<
- Suede/Mesh Upper: Natural comfort, durability and breathability.
NB Atlanta’s Price: $104.95
New Balance: official footwear and apparel provider for the United States Military
–Press Release–
New Balance Opens Retail Store in Pentagon
July 14th 2010
Boston, MA – New Balance is pleased to announce the opening of a retail store in the Pentagon in Washington, DC on July 14, 2010. The store will specialize in athletic and lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and will carry New Balance’s line of military 993 running shoes that are manufactured in the United States.
“New Balance is extremely honored to be selected as one of the retail stores located in the Pentagon,” said Stephanie Smith, vice president of retail for New Balance. “With our strong American heritage, we are thrilled at the opportunity to showcase our brand in this prestigious location.”
The 3600 square foot store will offer a complete line of New Balance performance footwear specifically designed for athletic activities such as running, walking, tennis, training and basketball. Styles for men, women and kids are available in widths ranging from 2A to 6E, and the store will also feature a full line of New Balance high-performance apparel and athletic accessories. The store will carry a full line of Dunham rugged casual footwear and Aravon® comfort performance footwear.
“The New Balance Store in the Pentagon’s design is all about welcoming and connecting with our consumers,” says Kirsten Marchand, senior store planner for New Balance. “Through the store’s design, historical New Balance images are merged with new ones, celebrating the company’s rich heritage in design and development, and translating it into New Balance’s current product innovation.”
The New Balance store will feature environmentally-responsible design elements including a Dakota Burl slat wall — a composite material made out of recycled sunflower seed husks for the store’s perimeter, a cash wrap counter made out of 75% recycled materials, renewable linoleum flooring, and the use of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and fixture finishes.
“For New Balance, lowering our environmental impact is a continual and evolving process,” adds Marchand.
The New Balance store will be located on the Pentagon Concourse, the Pentagon’s retail shopping area and will be accessible to Pentagon employees and visitors.
“New Balance is committed to serving our government and military customers,” says Portia Blunt, military business manager for New Balance. “Our new retail store in the Pentagon will offer easy access and expanded services to the Pentagon populace and make buying high performance athletic footwear and apparel easier than ever.”
New Balance has been designated as an official footwear and apparel provider for the United States Military. New Balance holds the distinction as the only athletic shoe company that currently manufactures shoes in the U.S.
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. New Balance employs more than 4000 people around the globe, and in 2009 reported worldwide sales of $1.65 billion.
TriCity New Balance 