L.L. Bean expanding on several fronts
L.L. Bean is expanding its physical, digital and wholesale footprints.
The iconic, 111-year-old Maine-based outdoor retailer will grow its brick-and-mortar presence with the opening of two new stores in the U.S. and two in Canada, including its first-ever locations in Quebec, with both in the greater Montreal region. (Store locations listed at end of article.) To coincide with the Quebec openings, L.L. Bean will introduce a French-language e-commerce site for Canadian customers.
In addition, the company will add Dillard’s and outdoor goods retailer Moosejaw, recently acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods, to its roster of U.S. wholesale key accounts, as well as 10 independent specialty retailers in the Southeastern U.S.
“These wholesale partnerships will enable L.L.Bean to offer a curated assortment of goods through established, trusted retailers, providing customers in more locations across the U.S. the opportunity to interact directly with the brand’s iconic products, which have traditionally been most accessible online and through the L.L.Bean catalog,” the company stated.
The expansion follows L.L. Bean’s second-strongest revenue performance in the company’s history, with annual net revenue totaling $1.8 billion for 2022. The retailer experienced double-digit growth in several categories across its assortment, including travel, boots, inclusive sizing and women’s swim.
“We’re grateful to be in a position to expand our retail presence and build new wholesale relationships in order to serve more customers,” said Stephen Smith, president and CEO of L.L.Bean. “Everything we do is in support of our company purpose to enable people to experience the restorative power of being outside, and these new ventures will ensure we’re able to fulfill that purpose for years to come.”
Founded as a mail-order catalog company in 1912, L.L.Bean has diversified its selling strategy over the past 110 years to include e-commerce (available in 150-plus countries), more than 90 retail stores internationally, wholesale partnerships and mobile selling experiences.
Additionally, the company recently optimized its fulfillment capabilities to give customers access to its full available inventory — with the ability to buy, pick-up, and ship to or from any L.L.Bean point of purchase.
Store Locations
Here are the locations for L.L. Bean’s upcoming new stores:
•Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec – opening Aug. 25;
•Hanover, Mass.; opening Sept. 8;
•Boisbriand, Quebec, opening Sept. 29; and
Peabody, Mass.,opening Oct. 6.
L.L.Bean operates 56 stores in 19 states across the United States, along with 25 stores in Japan and 12 stores in Canada, in partnership with Jaytex Group.
The 220,000-sq. ft. L.L.Bean retail store campus in Freeport, Maine, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and has more than 3 million visitors every year.