JanSport History
JanSport is an American brand of backpacks, now owned by VF Corporation, one of the world's largest apparel companies.[1] The company was founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington by Murray Pletz, his wife Janice "Jan" Lewis (for whom the company is named), and his cousin Skip Yowell.[2] JanSport innovated with a panel-loading daypack, unlike traditional top-loading packs. In 1975 it introduced the first convertible travel pack as well as its signature daypack.[3] In 1986, VF purchased JanSport's then parent, Blue Bell.
The company's corporate headquarters is now based in Alameda, California, at VF Outdoor headquarters where it shares offices with divisional siblings Napapijri and The North Face. Its distribution facility in Everett, Washington since 1971, closed March 2012. JanSport also has awarehouse in Appleton, Wisconsin which houses its collegiate apparel division.[4] JanSport is the world's largest backpack maker, and together, JanSport and The North Face sell nearly half of all small backpacks sold in the United States.[4]
JanSport started by developing the external frame backpack, which used a metal frame with a cloth packsack attached to it; the products made include technical day packs and internal frame backpacks. Up until the early 1990s, all JanSport packs were made in the United States.
The company's corporate headquarters is now based in Alameda, California, at VF Outdoor headquarters where it shares offices with divisional siblings Napapijri and The North Face. Its distribution facility in Everett, Washington since 1971, closed March 2012. JanSport also has awarehouse in Appleton, Wisconsin which houses its collegiate apparel division.[4] JanSport is the world's largest backpack maker, and together, JanSport and The North Face sell nearly half of all small backpacks sold in the United States.[4]
JanSport started by developing the external frame backpack, which used a metal frame with a cloth packsack attached to it; the products made include technical day packs and internal frame backpacks. Up until the early 1990s, all JanSport packs were made in the United States.
JanSport: Unique and Fun, a Company with
Personality
and still going strong in 2014
JanSport formed in later half of the 1960s, and was contemporary with the early days of such well-known companies as Sierra Designs, North Face, and Frostline.. It was founded in Washington State in 1967. This company stands out in my memory for their very creative and unusual catalogs …The image below was taken in summer 1967 high in the Cascade Mountains at Paradise Inn on 14,000 foot Mt. Rainier. Already the penchant toward originality shines out. Shown are two of the three founders, Murray Pletz on the left and his cousin Skip Yowell on the right. Murray wryly remarked that of course it was most likely Jan who took the picture, "Who else would it have been!" in reference to how tiny the company really was! The pack displays one of their iconic fabrics, the American-flag material...The label in this picture is the original company label, drawn by hand by Murray... Hallmarks of that earliest label include-- "the snowcapped mountain," the company name is spelled like Jan Lewis' name, as two separate words with each half capitalized; finally, the company's city of origin is shown "Seattle," the company's base. For a very recent picture of Mr. Yowell, please see page bottom.
JanSport Firsts
(this section is under development)
The Jansport Mountain Dome is certainly a notable innovation within the History of Gear. It was designed by Murray and marketed by the company in about 1971 and became very popular, some say even an Industry Standard...... However, Geodesic dome tents were to revolutionize things about four years later (click to see first geodesic tents).... Below is a picture of Monte Dodge's classic version of the JS Mountain Dome-- the 1975 "K2 Expedition Mountain Dome." K2 of course is the second highest mountain in the world, and this JS dome had several added features to make it rugged enough for severe Himalayan snow and wind storms.
(this section is under development)
The Jansport Mountain Dome is certainly a notable innovation within the History of Gear. It was designed by Murray and marketed by the company in about 1971 and became very popular, some say even an Industry Standard...... However, Geodesic dome tents were to revolutionize things about four years later (click to see first geodesic tents).... Below is a picture of Monte Dodge's classic version of the JS Mountain Dome-- the 1975 "K2 Expedition Mountain Dome." K2 of course is the second highest mountain in the world, and this JS dome had several added features to make it rugged enough for severe Himalayan snow and wind storms.
A Brief History of JanSport
In the 1960's, Skip Lowell and Murray Pletz, both self professed hippies and hikers, had an idea. Pletz had entered a competition sponsored by Alcoa Aluminum. He had created a lightweight, comfortable frame for a backpack. Pletz won the competition and with the earnings the two men would set out on an adventure, in the world of business, a new kind of adventure for them. They would use the prize money to create a new kind of backpack.
They knew from their own experiences what kind of product people would need. They needed a pack that would stand up to adventure and the challenge of hiking. Lowell and Pletz would focus on comfort and functionality. This had to be a product people could count on, through adventure and exploration. They began making backpacks with aluminum frames.
Since neither of the two men could sew, they asked Pletz's, then girlfriend, to sew for them. The three worked in an old transmission repair building. Pletz's girlfriend, Jan Lewis, would sew the packs, and the guys put the packs onto the new aluminum frames. Soon after starting, Pletz married Jan Lewis and thus the name of the business became, JanSport.
Skip Yowell would test each backpack, a sort of road test (if you will). Only, he would hike with the packs on trails to make sure of the durability and functionality. He knew full well, from experience, what standards the product had to meet, to fulfill the needs of his fellow hikers.
They were a success, but this didn't compare to how successful they would become in the years to follow. Murray Pletz would leave the company, but Lewis and Yowell continued on with the company. The two created a "panel-loading pack". Not like the backpacks of old, in the early 70's this new idea would get them their first patent. In 1972, they created a backpack specifically for a Himalayan expedition. With this creation they gained more notoriety.
The Kirshner Company purchased JanSport, but JanSport products flourished. In 1975 they created trail packs and day packs, which they still sell today. The company would change hands several times, once in '82 and again '86. In 1996 they came out with a waterproof bottomed pack. These packs would be great for items such as electronics and a safe and easy way for hikers to take music to the trails.
After the "Columbine Shootings" in Colorado, they created a clear view pack, in an effort to make schools safer.
In 2002, JanSport produced a line of products for professional use. Laptop Backpacks, shoulder bags and crossover packs for the professional women. Travel bags and carry-on luggage were added to their lines. Totes, luggage, and duffel bags are offered by JanSport.
JanSport has become known worldwide for their quality and variety products.
Think about it. Are there any old hippies out there? Be creative, dare to dream, you could write your own success story.
Ella Whitfield is owner and manager of the website [http://www.backpackwise.com/backpackwise.html] an affiliate site specializing in hiking and day backpacks of all varieties.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ella_Whitfield
They knew from their own experiences what kind of product people would need. They needed a pack that would stand up to adventure and the challenge of hiking. Lowell and Pletz would focus on comfort and functionality. This had to be a product people could count on, through adventure and exploration. They began making backpacks with aluminum frames.
Since neither of the two men could sew, they asked Pletz's, then girlfriend, to sew for them. The three worked in an old transmission repair building. Pletz's girlfriend, Jan Lewis, would sew the packs, and the guys put the packs onto the new aluminum frames. Soon after starting, Pletz married Jan Lewis and thus the name of the business became, JanSport.
Skip Yowell would test each backpack, a sort of road test (if you will). Only, he would hike with the packs on trails to make sure of the durability and functionality. He knew full well, from experience, what standards the product had to meet, to fulfill the needs of his fellow hikers.
They were a success, but this didn't compare to how successful they would become in the years to follow. Murray Pletz would leave the company, but Lewis and Yowell continued on with the company. The two created a "panel-loading pack". Not like the backpacks of old, in the early 70's this new idea would get them their first patent. In 1972, they created a backpack specifically for a Himalayan expedition. With this creation they gained more notoriety.
The Kirshner Company purchased JanSport, but JanSport products flourished. In 1975 they created trail packs and day packs, which they still sell today. The company would change hands several times, once in '82 and again '86. In 1996 they came out with a waterproof bottomed pack. These packs would be great for items such as electronics and a safe and easy way for hikers to take music to the trails.
After the "Columbine Shootings" in Colorado, they created a clear view pack, in an effort to make schools safer.
In 2002, JanSport produced a line of products for professional use. Laptop Backpacks, shoulder bags and crossover packs for the professional women. Travel bags and carry-on luggage were added to their lines. Totes, luggage, and duffel bags are offered by JanSport.
JanSport has become known worldwide for their quality and variety products.
Think about it. Are there any old hippies out there? Be creative, dare to dream, you could write your own success story.
Ella Whitfield is owner and manager of the website [http://www.backpackwise.com/backpackwise.html] an affiliate site specializing in hiking and day backpacks of all varieties.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ella_Whitfield