Andrew Pace
New Balance Athletics, Inc. (NB) is a major sports footwear and apparel manufacturer. The company was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley, a British immigrant who resided in Boston, Massachusetts. Initially, the company manufactured arch supports and orthopedic shoes. By the mid-1990s, New Balance had expanded into a variety of athletic footwear niches, including running, walking, cross-training, tennis, basketball, and hiking shoes. The company has continued to innovate and expand its product offerings, and today, it is a multinational corporation headquartered in Boston, MA, offering a plethora of sneakers and apparel, including specialized products for sports such as football, cricket, basketball, and cycling.
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What You'll Learn
New Balance's early history
New Balance, known today as New Balance Athletics, Inc. (NB), was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley, a British immigrant who resided in Boston, Massachusetts. The company began as the New Balance Arch Support Company, manufacturing arch supports and other accessories to improve shoe fit. Riley's first product was inspired by the way chickens balanced perfectly on their three-pronged feet, leading to the design of a flexible arch support with three support points.
In 1927, Riley hired Arthur Hall as a salesman, who travelled personally to sell the shoes. Hall eventually became a business partner in 1934, and the company later operated as the New Balance Athletic Shoe Company. In 1938, New Balance created its first running shoe, the Trackster, to support a local running club in Boston. This shoe, designed by Eleanor and Paul Kidd, was the first to offer a variety of widths and became the world's first running shoe with a rippled sole for traction.
From there, the company expanded into designing specialist footwear for various sports, including baseball, boxing, and tennis. The small team grew as New Balance's reputation in the sportswear industry grew. In 1964, Jim Davis acquired New Balance from the Kidds, who were looking to retire and sell the company. Under Davis' leadership, New Balance continued to uphold its traditional commitment to individual preferences, offering sneakers in a variety of widths and assigning unique model numbers to its sneakers.
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The Trackster shoe
New Balance Athletics, Inc. (NB), widely known as New Balance, is a leading sports footwear and apparel manufacturer. The company was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley, a British immigrant who moved to the Boston area. Initially, the company was named the New Balance Arch Support Company, manufacturing arch supports and accessories to improve shoe fit.
In 1938, New Balance created its first running shoe for the Boston Brown Bag Harriers sports club. This marked the beginning of their journey into designing specialist footwear for various sports, including baseball, boxing, and tennis. The Trackster shoe, introduced in 1960, was a significant milestone for the company. It was their first sports shoe, offering a running shoe with a ripple sole in a variety of widths to accommodate different foot types. This innovation set them apart in the sportswear industry and established their reputation as a running brand.
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New Balance's basketball sneakers
New Balance Athletics, Inc. (NB) is one of the world's leading sports footwear and apparel manufacturers. The company was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley, a British immigrant who resided in Boston, Massachusetts. Initially known as the New Balance Arch Support Company, it manufactured arch supports and other accessories to enhance shoe fit. The name "New Balance" is believed to have been inspired by Riley's observation of chickens and their three-pronged feet, which he felt represented perfect balance.
Over time, New Balance expanded its product offerings beyond arch supports. In 1938, the company created its first running shoe, the Boston Brown Bag Harrier, to support local running clubs. This marked the beginning of New Balance's journey into designing specialist footwear for various sports, including basketball.
New Balance has a rich history in basketball sneakers, with models like the 800 gaining popularity among enthusiasts such as DJ/basketball player Bobbito, who featured them in his book, "Where'd You Get Those?". The brand has also ventured into collaborations with notable figures and organisations in basketball, such as NBA star Kawhi Leonard.
The brand's commitment to craftsmanship, attention to detail, and focus on individual preferences have contributed to its success in the basketball sneaker market. New Balance offers a broad range of width sizes, from AA to EEEE, ensuring that athletes with specific requirements can find sneakers that provide optimal comfort and stability.
In addition to its performance attributes, New Balance has cultivated a strong brand identity. Its "Endorsed by No One" slogan and iconic "N" logo have become synonymous with quality and style. New Balance basketball sneakers have been embraced by athletes and fashion enthusiasts alike, with models like the 990 in grey suede becoming a staple in menswear and basketball culture.
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The company's manufacturing locations
New Balance Athletics, Inc. (NB), doing business as New Balance, is a major sports footwear and apparel manufacturer. It was founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company by William J. Riley, a British immigrant who moved to the Boston area.
New Balance has manufacturing locations in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company has five manufacturing facilities in New England, specifically in Massachusetts and Maine. These facilities are responsible for producing some of New Balance's popular models and employ around 1,300 workers who prepare, cut, and mold athletic shoe materials before assembling them into the final product.
The flagship of these five locations is the 525,000-square-foot factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts. This site is located about 35 miles north of the company's 2015-built headquarters and also features a retail outlet.
In addition to its US facilities, New Balance has a factory in Flimby, United Kingdom, which serves the European market.
New Balance is unique among major athletic shoe manufacturers in maintaining factories in the United States. While most of its competitors moved production overseas to reduce labor costs, New Balance has kept its manufacturing presence in the US, where it began operations over 75 years ago. This allows the company greater control over its production processes and enables it to quickly adapt to new industry standards.
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New Balance's global success
New Balance Athletics, Inc. (NB) is a major sports footwear and apparel manufacturer with a global presence. The company was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley, a British immigrant who wanted to create a shoe that provided excellent foot support. Over the past century, New Balance has evolved from a small business selling arch supports to a multinational corporation with over 4,000 retail stores worldwide.
One key factor in New Balance's global success has been its commitment to manufacturing in the United States, even as its competitors moved production overseas. In the late 1990s, the company had five manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts and Maine, producing a range of athletic footwear, including running, walking, cross-training, tennis, basketball, and hiking shoes. This focus on domestic production and the creation of specialty footwear for athletes with specific requirements helped establish New Balance as a trusted brand in the sports industry.
Another factor contributing to New Balance's global success is its commitment to innovation and functionality. The company was one of the first to offer a wide range of width and length sizes, marketing shoes with widths from AA to EEEE and lengths up to size 20. This attention to craftsmanship and meeting the diverse needs of its customers has been a hallmark of New Balance since its early days.
New Balance has also successfully expanded its product offerings beyond footwear. The company now offers a variety of athletic apparel, including collaborations with fashion brands such as Aimé Leon Dore, Miu Miu, and Paul Smith. In addition, New Balance has demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility through its foundation, which was established in 1981 and supports charitable organizations focused on health, nutrition, education, and physical activity. The company has also set ambitious sustainability goals, aiming for 100% renewable electricity for its operations by 2025 and committing to the United Nations' emissions reduction plan.
Through a combination of high-quality products, innovation, and a strong brand presence, New Balance has become a global leader in the highly competitive sports footwear and apparel market. With a revenue of $6.5 billion in 2023 and a renewed sense of confidence, the company continues to set its sights on even greater success in the years to come.
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Frequently asked questions
New Balance has been manufacturing basketball shoes since the mid-1990s.
The first New Balance shoe was the Trackster, released in 1961. It was the world's first running shoe with a rippled sole for traction.
The first New Balance shoe to feature the famous ""N" logo was the 320, released in 1976. The "N" logo is now featured on the popular 327 shoe.
New Balance was founded in 1906 by William J. Riley, a British immigrant who resided in Boston, Massachusetts. The company began as the New Balance Arch Support Company, manufacturing arch supports and other accessories designed to improve shoe fit. The name "New Balance" is believed to have come from Riley's observation of chickens in his yard and the way their three-pronged feet resulted in perfect balance.
