[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Pages 10082-10083]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                          TRIBUTE TO L.L.BEAN

 Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate the 
men and women of L.L.Bean as they celebrate their 100th anniversary. 
This legendary Maine company is one of America's most inspiring family 
business success stories and one of my State's most cherished 
institutions.
  Many L.L.Bean customers know the story of the company's origin. Leon 
Leonwood Bean was an avid Maine outdoorsman who was tired of cold, wet 
feet while hunting or fishing. In 1912, he invented the Maine Hunting 
Shoe, a boot with leather uppers and a thick rubber sole. His fellow 
outdoorsmen liked the boot and a business was born.
  The second, less-known part of the story really tells the tale. The 
rubber bottoms of those shoes separated from the leather tops and 90 of 
the first 100 pairs were returned. Although it nearly put him out of 
business, L.L. kept his word and refunded the purchase price. He 
borrowed more money, corrected the problem and, with undiminished 
confidence, mailed more brochures. L.L. had learned the value of 
personally testing his products, of honest advertising based on firm 
convictions and of keeping the customer satisfied at any cost.
  Leon Leonwood Bean founded his business on his personal guarantee of 
``100 percent satisfaction in every way.'' In all the years since, that 
promise has been kept. Whether seeking expert advice, making a 
purchase, or exchanging or returning a product, generations of 
customers have found L.L.Bean to be a place where that first commitment 
to customer satisfaction still resonates.
  Today, L.L.Bean is one of the world's most respected retailers, with 
sales exceeding $1.5 billion. From the flagship store in Freeport, ME, 
to dozens of stores and outlets throughout the United States, more than 
11 million people visit L.L.Bean stores each year. The company's famous 
catalogues are sent to 160 countries, and its Internet presence leads 
the industry. In its first century, the company has grown from a one-
room operation selling a single product to a global enterprise 
providing some 4,900 year-round jobs, and that figure typically doubles 
during peak holiday season.
  In addition to its remarkable retail success, L.L.Bean remains true 
to its origins as a manufacturer. In Brunswick and Lewiston, ME, more 
than 435 skilled workers craft such iconic products as the Maine 
Hunting Shoe, the L.L.Bean Boot and the Boat and Tote Bag. Leon 
Leonwood Bean made 100 pairs of boots in his first production run in 
1912. Last year, Maine workers produced more than 400,000 pairs.
  When the man TIME magazine called ``The Merchant of the Maine Woods''

[[Page 10083]]

passed away in 1967, leadership of the company was passed on to his 
grandson, Leon Gorman.
  Soon after becoming president, Leon introduced the stakeholder 
concept, which clearly linked L.L.Bean's success as a business to key 
stakeholders--customers, employees, shareholders, vendors, communities 
and the natural environment. In his 30 years as president, Leon Gorman 
led L.L.Bean from a $4.75 million catalog company to an over-one-
billion-dollar multichannel enterprise. Leon firmly established 
L.L.Bean as a leader in the outdoors industry, offering high-quality 
equipment and apparel, backed by world-class service and products 
guaranteed to last.
  It is fitting that L.L.Bean is celebrating its centennial with 
special projects that advance the company's guiding principles. These 
include the Million Moment Mission, in which L.L.Bean will contribute 
$1 to the National Park Foundation for every outdoor moment shared by 
customers up to a total of $1 million, and a commitment of an 
additional $1.5 million at the local and State levels to encourage our 
young people to discover the outdoors.
  I am often asked what L.L.Bean means to our State. As one of Maine's 
largest employers, the company certainly means a great deal to the 
thousands who work there. L.L.Bean offers careers with opportunities 
for advancement in a respectful, positive environment. The spin-off 
benefits to other Maine industries, including product vendors and 
business suppliers, are enormous. The continued commitment to Maine-
made products--wreaths, maple syrup, mustard, furniture, running shoes, 
slippers, in addition to the company's famous tote bags and boots--
sustains a great many businesses and households throughout our State.
  Certainly, the sales, revenue, and growth numbers are impressive. 
Even more impressive is the fact that this family company succeeds in a 
modern, global economy with the timeless values that foster dedicated 
employees and loyal customers. It is a pleasure to congratulate the 
people of L.L.Bean on this centennial and to thank them for their 
contributions to our Nation and to the great State of Maine.

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