[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AMERICA'S OLDEST MAIL ORDER CATALOGUE COMPANY CELEBRATES ITS 150TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2006

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, Charles F. Orvis founded the Orvis Company 
in 1856 to sell high quality fly-fishing equipment.
  The Orvis Company has been doing exactly that--selling the best in 
fishing equipment throughout the entire world--ever since. The reel 
that Charles Orvis developed, a ventilated fly reel, is still the basis 
of most modern fly reels. In fact, the Orvis Company is the oldest 
fishing rod manufacturer in the world, selling rods made in Vermont all 
over the globe. And its catalogue business is older than that of Sears 
or L.L. Bean, for it has been in existence for over a 100 years. 
Currently its 26 annual catalogues--Orvis mails out over 50 million 
catalogues a year--help generate the company's remarkable sales of over 
$250 million annually.
  Orvis has deep, deep roots in Vermont, but it has shown the 
flexibility to adapt to a growing international market. It has 
distributors in 25 countries, and sells widely in both England and 
Japan. Although Orvis has its headquarters in Manchester, Vermont, 
where its flagship store of 23,000 square feet is also located, Orvis 
has 30 retail stores across the United States and in England. Its 
network of dealers is truly global, with dealers in not only North and 
South America, but Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
  But Orvis is not just about success in retailing. The company has a 
deep commitment to preserving the natural environment. Each year Orvis 
puts 5 percent of its pre-tax profits into conservation projects and, 
works to multiply its commitments--and the commitments of its 
customers--by matching donations from customers to its forest/wetland 
and biodiversity projects.
  With 150 years of success behind them, we wish the owners and 
employees at Orvis many more years of success ahead, both in retailing 
and in working to conserve and preserve our precious natural heritage.

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