![]() Simon, who soon became president of North Face. OHI owned about 30 companies in the outdoor and brand-name apparel industry and was at that time headed by William N. (OHI) acquired the company, known at that time as North Face Corporation. All of these business activities had a negative effect on North Face's finances and launched the company into the next phase of its history. ![]() Also, these outlets were not well received by North Face's wholesale customers and were eventually closed. The lower-priced products confused or missed the intended consumers and did not help the company's overall image. The product reputation of North Face was based on a high-end, or expensive, association with the inherent product quality. In the late 1980s, North Face opened outlet stores to sell lower-priced products in an effort to dispose of obsolete materials. However, these were not the only detriments to the financial health of North Face. This led to problems of obsolete materials, large amounts of capital invested in an inventory of finished goods, and late delivery of high-demand products. During the growth phase of the 1980s, the company attempted to manufacture all of its own products. While the reputation of North Face products has remained sound, internal decision-making was occasionally questioned. ![]() By the late 1980s North Face was the only manufacturer and distributor in the United States of a comprehensive line of premium-grade, high-performance equipment and apparel used in mountaineering, skiing, and backpacking. According to the company, there was wide use of this clothing system by world-class mountain climbers. ![]() A complete line of severe cold weather clothing consisting of integrated components, the Expedition System was designed to be used together in various combinations. Another addition to the North Face product line came in 1988, when the Expedition System was introduced. In the early 1980s the company launched its "extreme skiwear" line. Like the dome tent, these sleeping bags have become the industry standard. The same year North Face also introduced another original, sleeping bags incorporating shingled construction of synthetic insulation. The geodesic dome also became very popular for general backpacking and camping as well. This design became the standard for lightweight, high-performance tents used in high-altitude and polar expeditions. In 1975 North Face introduced a benchmark in the outdoor equipment industry with its geodesic dome tent. Innovative product design and consistent development and introduction of new products have always been North Face's greatest strengths. In the early 1970s North Face added outerwear to its product line. The business continued to grow and expand. North Face began to wholesale and manufacture backpacking equipment in 1968. North Face was founded in 1965 by outdoor enthusiasts retailing premium-grade backpacking and climbing equipment. THE EARLY YEARS: 1965 –73Īccording to the 1996 company prospectus, the name North Face originated with the company's founders and comes from the fact that the north face of a mountain in the northern hemisphere is usually the most formidable and challenging for mountain climbers. The company fell on hard times in the late 1990s and was eventually purchased by VF Corporation in 2000. Overall, North Face products could be found in over 3,500 locations across the globe. ![]() There were also ten North Face retail stores scattered across California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. In 2006, there were approximately 100 Summit Shops located within retail shops in the U.S. With Summit Shops, North Face established its use of a "store within a store" concept. While the reputation of North Face was built on outfitting expeditions, the company's growth in the 1990s came through the introduction of high-tech apparel in upscale retail stores. The North Face, Inc., is a manufacturer and distributor of high-grade equipment and apparel used in mountaineering, skiing, and backpacking. NAIC: 448190 Other Clothing Stores 315999 Other Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing Incorporated: 1994 as The North Face, Inc. Wholly Owned Subsidiary of VF Corporation ![]()
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