Crocs facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
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| Industry | |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Scott Seamans, Lyndon Hanson and George Boedecker Jr |
| Headquarters | Broomfield, Colorado, U.S. |
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Key people
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| Products | Shoes |
| Revenue |  US$4.102 billion (2024) |
| US$950 million (2024) |
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| Total assets | US$4.81 billion (2024) |
| Total equity | US$1.84 billion (2024) |
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Number of employees
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7,910, including 4,560 in retail-related functions (2024) |
Crocs, Inc. is an American company that makes and sells shoes. Their main product is the Crocs brand of foam footwear. Even though Crocs calls them "clogs," they are different from traditional clogs because they are not made of wood. The company is based in Broomfield, Colorado.
Contents
The Story of Crocs
How Crocs Started (2002–2007)
Crocs was created in 2002 by three friends: Scott Seamans, Lyndon Hanson, and George Boedecker Jr. They wanted to make and sell comfortable sandals. They saw how useful and easy to wear the shoes could be for everyone.
The friends bought the design from a company called Foam Creations, Inc. This design became the basis for the Crocs sandals we know today. The founders really liked how comfortable and practical the shoes were.
In 2002, Crocs showed their first shoe, called the Beach, at a boat show in Florida. All 200 pairs they made sold out very quickly!
As more people wanted Crocs, the company grew and changed its look. In 2005, Crocs launched its first national advertising campaign. It was called "Ugly Can Be Beautiful." This campaign helped Crocs become very popular and led to the company selling shares to the public.
On February 8, 2006, Crocs became a public company. Its shares started trading on the Nasdaq stock market at $21.00 per share. This helped the company raise $208 million.
Growing and Changing (2008–2015)
In 2008, during a tough time for the economy, Crocs had to make some changes. They announced they would reduce their earnings estimates. The company also had to let go of about 600 factory workers in Quebec City. This was because stores were ordering fewer shoes. The CEO, Ron Snyder, explained that people were spending less money.
In 2010, Crocs made a plan to make its business run better. They cut 180 jobs and closed 75 to 100 stores around the world. They also stopped making some products that were not selling well. Crocs also opened a new "global commercial center" in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2014. This office focused on marketing and sales.
In 2013, Crocs saw a decrease in its profits. This caused the company's stock value to drop. Later that year, a large investment group called The Blackstone Group invested $200 million in Crocs. This helped the company buy back some of its stock and make other changes.
Recent Years (2016–Present)
By 2017, Crocs had sold 300 million pairs of shoes! In 2018, Crocs announced they were closing their last company-owned factories in Mexico and Italy. In June 2020, the company moved its main office to Broomfield, Colorado.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Crocs helped healthcare workers. They launched a program called "A Free Pair for Healthcare." They gave free shoes to healthcare workers and sent 100,000 pairs to hospitals for staff.
From 2020 to 2022, Crocs sales grew a lot. Many people were working from home during the pandemic and wanted comfortable shoes. Crocs also worked with famous fashion designers and celebrities. This helped make the brand cool again. Because of these things, Crocs' sales increased by double digits each year during this time.
Buying Other Companies
Crocs has bought other companies over the years to grow its business.
- In 2006, Crocs bought Jibbitz. Jibbitz makes small decorations that snap into the holes of Crocs shoes.
- In 2007, Crocs bought Ocean Minded, a company that makes leather and foam-based shoes. They also bought Bite Footwear, another shoe and sandal maker.
- In 2008, Crocs bought Tidal Trade, which was their distributor in South Africa. They also bought Tagger International, a company that made messenger bags.
- In February 2022, Crocs bought an Italian shoe company called HEYDUDE for $2.3 billion. This helped Crocs offer even more types of shoes.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Crocs has stopped its business in Russia. This includes closing stores and stopping online sales. The company promised to help through donations to UNICEF.
How Crocs Are Made
In 2004, Crocs bought Foam Creations to get special rights to a unique foam material called Croslite. Croslite is a special type of foam that molds to a person's feet. Some foot doctors say it can even have health benefits.
Crocs has patents for its special shoes and how they are made. A patent protects their unique designs. The company has also registered "Crocs" and its logo as trademarks in many countries. This means no one else can use their name or logo without permission. Crocs has also protected its brand for other items like sunglasses, watches, and luggage.
Crocs Products
Crocs shoes come in many different styles and colors. The most popular "Classic" styles are available in over 30 colors. There is also a "Fuzz Collection" with soft, woolly linings for colder weather.
Crocs also sells other items. Jibbitz are small decorations that you can clip into the holes of your Crocs shoes.
In 2008, Crocs started making golf shoes after buying Bite Footwear. They even made a Croc-style golf shoe called the Ace.
After buying HeyDude in 2022, Crocs started making more types of shoes beyond their classic clogs. They even began making clothes!
Working with Others
Crocs has worked with many different groups and people.
- From 2006 to 2009, Crocs was the main sponsor for the Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Tour.
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A pair of Crocs originated by a collaboration with Crocs and the fast-food restaurant McDonald’s in late 2023 - In 2021, celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Justin Bieber showed off Crocs on social media. Crocs also became very popular on social media platforms like TikTok.
- Crocs often announces special limited-edition shoes designed with famous people and brands. For example, in 2021, they worked with The Smiley Company. In 2023, they partnered with a German luxury brand called MCM.
Fake Crocs
In 2006, Crocs started taking action against companies that made fake Crocs, also called "croc-offs." These fake shoes copied Crocs' patented designs. Fake Crocs were found and stopped in places like the Philippines and Denmark. In 2010, a court decided that Crocs' design patent had been copied.
In 2007, a U.S. government agency asked for a recall of some Crocs-like shoes. This was because small plastic parts could come off and be a choking hazard for children.
You can often find fake Crocs or similar shoes in discount stores, amusement parks, and other shops.
Health and Safety of Crocs
Some Crocs shoes have been tested and recommended by health organizations. In 2005, U.S. Ergonomics company tested them. In 2009, the American Podiatric Medical Association accepted them. In 2008, the U.S. government approved a type of Crocs with special insoles as diabetic footwear. These shoes can help prevent foot injuries for people with diabetes.
However, shoes like Crocs and flip-flops caused some safety concerns in 2006 in the U.S. and in 2008 in Japan. Children sometimes got their shoes caught in escalators. This happened because the shoes are soft and children's feet are small. In 2008, Japan's government asked Crocs to change their design to prevent these accidents.
Some hospitals around the world have also made rules about wearing Crocs. In 2007, a hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota, changed its dress code. They did not allow the open-style Crocs or those with holes for safety reasons. However, they allowed closed-top Crocs designed for healthcare workers. Hospitals in Canada and Sweden also advised similar rules. Some hospitals in Vienna, Austria, banned Crocs for staff because they could build up static electricity. This static electricity could interfere with electronic medical equipment.
In 2009, Crocs introduced new shoes designed to prevent static electricity buildup. These shoes met European safety standards for use in medical settings.
Crocs in Culture
Crocs sales grew a lot starting in 2009. In 2006, a newspaper article said that many people thought Crocs were "hideous" even though the company said they were "ultra-hip."
Some famous people have worn Crocs, which has made them more visible.
- In 2007, then-U.S. President George W. Bush was seen wearing black Crocs with socks.
- In 2009, then-First Lady Michelle Obama was also seen wearing Crocs with her daughter.
Crocs have also been talked about in movies and TV shows.
- The 2006 film Idiocracy featured Crocs a lot. The filmmakers thought the shoes looked futuristic but also silly, which was perfect for the movie.
- In 2008, fashion expert Tim Gunn said Crocs looked like a "plastic hoof."
- In 2010, Time magazine listed Crocs as one of the world's "50 Worst Inventions." Some people even created websites and social media groups to share their dislike for Crocs.
However, how people viewed Crocs started to change around the mid-2010s.
- In 2015, Prince George was photographed wearing navy blue Crocs. After this, sales of Crocs on Amazon.com increased by 1,500% in just one week!
- In 2016, fashion designer Christopher Kane had his models wear Crocs in his fashion show.
- In 2017, a luxury brand called Balenciaga released a Croc platform shoe with a 10 cm heel.
- Crocs became very popular again in 2020. This was partly because many people wanted comfortable clothes during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns.
- Experts believe that young people, especially Gen Z, helped make Crocs popular again. They liked the comfort and unique style.
- Many celebrities like Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande, Post Malone, Nicki Minaj, Questlove, and Kanye West wore Crocs in the early 2020s. This inspired their fans to think Crocs were cool.
- Crocs has also made special limited-edition shoes with partners like Justin Bieber, KFC, Hidden Valley Ranch, and Pixar.
See also
In Spanish: Crocs para niños
