L.L.Bean facts for kids
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L.L.Bean's flagship store and Bean Boot in Freeport, Maine
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| Privately held company | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1912 |
| Founder | Leon Leonwood Bean |
| Headquarters | 15 Casco Street, Freeport, Maine, U.S. 43°50′58″N 70°6′32″W / 43.84944°N 70.10889°W |
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Number of locations
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54 stores |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Shawn Gorman (Chairman) Steve Smith (President & CEO) |
| Products |
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| Revenue |  US$1.7 billion (2023) |
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Number of employees
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6,438 (2021) |
L.L.Bean is a well-known American company that sells clothes and gear for outdoor adventures. It was started in 1912 by a man named Leon Leonwood Bean. The company's main office is still in Freeport, Maine, where it all began.
Contents
How L.L.Bean Started
L.L.Bean began in 1912 thanks to its founder, Leon Leonwood Bean. He loved hunting and fishing and wanted to create a better boot. He designed a special waterproof boot, which combined soft leather on top with rubber on the bottom. These boots became famous as the "Maine Hunting Shoe" or "Bean Boots."
Leon L. Bean started his business in his brother's basement in Freeport, Maine. He sent out catalogs by mail to hunters across the country. The very first Bean Boot was sewn by Gertrude Goldrup. Her sewing machine is now on display at the main L.L.Bean store.
At first, many of the boots had problems, and customers sent them back. But Leon L. Bean kept his promise to give money back. He fixed the design, and the boots became very popular. Even today, the Bean Boot is a key product for the company.
Over the years, L.L.Bean grew a lot. By 1946, the company made $1 million in sales. By 1984, sales had grown to over $237 million! The main L.L.Bean store in Freeport, Maine, is huge, covering about 220,000 square feet. It used to be open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. In 2024, L.L.Bean stopped taking mail orders and now focuses on online and phone sales.
Company Leaders
After Leon L. Bean passed away in 1967, his grandson, Leon Gorman, took over the company. He led L.L.Bean until 2001. Then, Christopher McCormick became the CEO, which means he was the first person outside the Bean family to lead the company.
In 2013, Shawn Gorman, who is a great-grandson of the founder, became the chairman of L.L.Bean. In 2015, Stephen Smith became the CEO. He was the first CEO hired from outside the company in its long history.
Who Has Led L.L.Bean?
- Chairmen:
* Leon Gorman (2001–2013) * Shawn Gorman (since May 2013)
- CEOs:
* Leon L. Bean (1912–1967) * Leon Gorman (1967–2001) * Christopher McCormick (2001–2015) * Stephen Smith (since November 2015)
What L.L.Bean Sells
L.L.Bean sells many different products for outdoor activities. This includes various types of boots for hiking and different weather. They also sell outdoor gear like backpacks and tents. Of course, they have a full line of clothing too.
Most of L.L.Bean's products are made outside the United States, often in China. However, their factory in Brunswick, Maine, still makes many items by hand. Over 450 people work there, creating products like the Maine Hunting Shoe, L.L.Bean Boot, Boat and Totes, dog beds, and leather goods.
For a while, L.L.Bean even partnered with the car company Subaru. They made special L.L.Bean versions of the Subaru Outback and Forester cars. This partnership ended in 2008. In 2010, L.L.Bean also created a newer clothing line called L.L.Bean Signature, which offered modern styles of their classic products.
L.L.Bean Stores
L.L.Bean has many stores, but its most famous one is the flagship store in Freeport, Maine. This store first opened in 1917. From 1951 to 1962, it was open 24 hours a day, every day! It only closed for special events, like the deaths of U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1963, founder Leon L. Bean in 1967, and his grandson Leon Gorman in 2015. In March 2020, all L.L.Bean stores closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the first time the flagship store had closed for more than 24 hours. Stores began to reopen in May 2020.
L.L.Bean also hosts fun activities in Freeport, like their Outdoor Discovery Schools and summer concerts. Famous music groups like Rockapella have performed there.
As of 2024, L.L.Bean has 60 stores in 19 U.S. states. They also have 22 stores in Japan and 13 stores in Canada. In 2018, L.L.Bean opened its first store in a big city, in Boston. This store was designed to be a model for future city locations. In 2019, L.L.Bean also started selling products in the United Kingdom.
The main L.L.Bean store in Freeport is currently undergoing big renovations. Parts of the store were torn down in February 2025, with plans for a $50 million update to be finished by fall 2026.
Returns Policy
For many years, L.L.Bean had a very generous return policy. Customers could return items at any time, even without a receipt. However, in February 2018, the company changed this policy. Now, customers can return items within one year of buying them, and they need a receipt or other proof of purchase. L.L.Bean explained that some people were misusing the old policy, returning items bought at yard sales or using it as a way to get free replacements for old, worn-out items.
L.L.Bean Around the World
L.L.Bean has expanded its business to other countries. They first went to Japan in 1976, selling their bags in Tokyo. They opened their first store in Japan in 1992 and had 28 stores there by 2018.
Then, L.L.Bean expanded into Canada. They launched an online store in 2018 and opened their first physical store in Oakville, Ontario, in 2019. By the end of 2021, they had at least eight stores in Canada, with plans for many more. In 2020 and 2021, they opened stores in cities like Ottawa, Barrie, Vaughan Mills, Toronto, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Calgary, Victoria, British Columbia, and Burnaby. In 2022, they opened even more stores in places like Kitchener, Ontario, Kingston, Ontario, Moncton, Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Edmonton.
Outdoor Discovery Schools
L.L.Bean offers special education programs called "Outdoor Discovery Schools." These programs are connected to many of their stores. They help customers learn new outdoor skills. You can sign up for activities like archery, fly casting, and sea kayaking. All the equipment and instructors are provided. During winter, from December to March, you can also try snowshoeing and cross country skiing. These schools are a great way to try out new outdoor hobbies!
