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LL Bean celebrates 100th with a boot on wheels
Posted: Jan 16, 2012 6:11 PM by Matt Stafford
FREEPORT, Maine (AP) - Oscar Mayer has its famous Weinermobile. Now outdoors retailer L.L. Bean has a Bootmobile.
The Freeport, Maine-based company has built a four-wheeled version of the founder's famous hunting boot. It's more than 20 feet long and will be unveiled to workers Tuesday before making a road trip to New York City to help the company celebrate being in business for 100 years.
Leon Leonwood Bean started the company when he sold the first boots in 1912.
Ninety of the first 100 pairs were returned because the leather separated from the rubber soles. Bean had a satisfaction guarantee, so he returned customers' money and improved the boot. The rest is history.
The privately held company expects to have $1.5 billion in sales in its 2011 fiscal year.
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