Founded in 1938, Columbia Sportswear Company™ has
grown from a small family-owned hat distributorship to one of the world's
largest outerwear brands and the leading seller of skiwear in the United
States. In 2008, the company reported net sales of approximately $1.32
billion. Columbia's extensive product line includes a wide variety of
outerwear, sportswear, rugged footwear and accessories. Columbia is renowned
for developing innovative products that are comfortable, protective,
functional, stylish and offer great value.
At the head of the company are 84-year-old matriarch Gert Boyle, chairman
of the board of directors, and her son, Tim Boyle, president and chief
executive officer. Columbia's history began in the 1930s when Gert's
parents fled Germany and settled in Portland, Oregon. They bought a small
hat distributorship and named it Columbia Hat Company, after the river
bordering the city. Frustrated by poor deliveries from suppliers, the
family started manufacturing products themselves, and expanded the line
to include jackets, fishing vests and shirts.
In 1948, Gert married college sweetheart Neal Boyle, who joined the
family business and later took the helm of the growing company. In 1970,
Neal died of a heart attack. He left behind three children, an expanding
company leaning heavily on bank loans, and a wife without business experience.
The day after Neal's funeral, the phones at Columbia were ringing off
the hook with salesmen and vendors who assumed that the company was going
out of business. Then the bank called. Concerned with the thought that
a housewife was going to run the company, the bank summoned a meeting
with Gert. In this meeting she managed to buy herself a little time.
Appeasing the bankers, she pledged Columbia's building as collateral
for loans. She also trimmed the company a bit and Tim started hitting
the trade shows. After a few years, profits went up. Gert's no nonsense
approach was paying off.
Eventually, Gert took on the persona of the tough mother in Columbia
advertising. Mother Boyle is often shown as the tyrant who makes sure
that each of Columbia's products can stand up to her tough standards
and the worst weather. The global marketing campaigns and Gert's "Tough
Mother" persona turned her into an international celebrity. The mom-is-looking-out-for-you
message is universally understood around the world.
Today, Gert is the inspiration for the "Medal of Merit" (M.O.M.) awarded
to pioneers with a passion for the Greater Outdoors.
Our chairman's passion drives us to make the best products for outdoors
people with the same spirit. We believe this passion is what defines
true pioneers. Not skill. Not the size of the mountains they play on.
It's their joy. To us this makes the great outdoors the Greater Outdoors.
Product Innovation
Columbia is known as a product innovator and has an unparalleled reputation
for quality and value. These basic principles guide Columbia through
the creation of inventive and highly popular designs, including its famous
Interchange System™. Columbia developed this revolutionary concept
in 1982 and it has since propelled the company to the forefront of the
outerwear industry. Columbia's first Interchange jackets were made for
hunting and featured a weatherproof outer shell and an insulating inner
jacket that could be worn together or separately. This allowed each parka
to be several garments in one. The product was so popular that we applied
the same concept to a ski parka and called it the Bugaboo™, which
became one of the best-selling ski jackets in history. In 1991, the company
introduced its Omni-Tech™ products, which feature waterproof breathable
fabric. Columbia is now one of the world's largest providers of waterproof
breathable performance products designed for authentic outdoor adventures.
Other innovations include Omni-Shade™ clothing, recommended by
The Skin Cancer Foundation as effective protection from the sun's harmful
effects on your skin.
Community Involvement
As Columbia Sportswear has grown, so has its commitment to serving the
expanding community. Locally and throughout the world, Columbia provides
support to organizations that specialize in human assistance, conservation,
the environment, the arts and education. The Rethreads program provides
garments that are returned or slightly flawed, but still wearable, to
people in need throughout the United States. Columbia is a member of
the Conservation Alliance, a group of specialty outdoor businesses that
has become a powerful source of grass roots conservation and environmental
funding. Columbia employees also make a difference through a volunteer
program that organizes groups of employees for causes like SMART (Start
Making A Reader Today), the American Hiking Society and the American
Heart Association.
Global Presence Today
Columbia products are available in more than 100 countries. Columbia
owns and operates sales offices in North America, Europe and Asia. Additionally,
Columbia wholly owns subsidiaries in Canada, Japan and Korea. The company's
family of brands has grown to include Montrail, Mountain Hardwear, Pacific
Trail and Sorel. Columbia corporate headquarters remain in Portland,
Oregon, and the company employs approximately 3,200 people around the
world.
