History of the Merrell brand

PRODUCTS  MODELS  TECHNOLOGY

The story of the Merrell brand began in 1981. This now well-known American footwear company was founded by the trio Clark Matis, Randy Merrell and John Schweizer . At first, they were engaged in the hand-making of high-performance hiking boots, using cowboy boot soles.

At Merrell, we believe that the greatest power lies in moving in nature. And no matter who you are, where you're from, who you love, or how you move, everyone is welcome outdoors, wherever life takes them. Merrell strives to inspire everyone, because only together can we protect the trails we love.

Currently, the company offers a wide range of products. These include hiking boots, running shoes, sandals, jackets, hats, gloves, T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts and socks. Of course, there are also high-quality accessories in the form of bags and backpacks.

"Only the best is good ."

Merrell milestones 🏆

1981 → Company founded as a manufacturer of custom-made performance hiking boots.

1983 → Merrell delivers its first products to the market (a few stores on the East Coast of the US that specialize in hiking boots) and greatly limits custom production.

1986 → Randy Merrell sells his stake in the company to return to his original calling in life, making custom shoes. That same year, Merrell sells its 25,000th pair of shoes.

1987 - 1992 → In 1987, the company was bought by Karhu, whose owners moved production to Asia. This reduced the selling price and increased profits. A year later, sales reached $4 million. In the early 1990s, the company sold up to 300,000 pairs of shoes per year. The company slowly became an international company with branches in Canada, Great Britain, Scandinavia and the USA. In 1992, earnings reached $20 million per year. In the following years, Merrell products were sold in 22 countries around the world.

1993 - 2007 → In 1997, Merrell was bought by Wolverine World Wide (also owned by Saucony). They made changes in production by making all shoes lighter - the result was the Jungle Runner trail shoe. In 2007, the company's portfolio was expanded to include clothing and accessories.

2010 → Merrell products are sold in 151 countries this year.

2015 → Cooperation with the Tough Mudder endurance race.

2022 → Merrell wins the prestigious "Brand of the Year" award at the FNAA.

2023 → Awarded Top Barefoot Running Shoe for Beginners by Footwear News. They were awarded for their excellent barefoot shoes for beginners.