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{{Short description|US sporting goods retailer}}
{{Unreferenced|date=August 2009}}
{{About|the sporting goods company|the region in Northern California|East Bay|other uses|East Bay (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
|name= Eastbay
|name= Eastbay
|logo= Eastbay Logo.png
|logo= Eastbay Logo.png
|type= [[Subsidiary]] of [[Foot Locker]]
|type= [[Subsidiary]] of [[Foot Locker]]
|foundation= 1980
|location= [[Wausau, Wisconsin]], [[United States|USA]]
⚫
|key_people=
|industry= Direct mail catalog and internet supplier of athletic footwear & apparel.
|industry= Direct mail catalog and internet supplier of athletic footwear & apparel.
|founded= {{Start date and age|1980}}
|products=
|founders = {{Unbulleted list|Richard Gering|Art Juedes}}
|num_employees= ~3,000
|defunct= {{End date|2023}}
⚫
|homepage= [http://www.eastbay.com/ www.eastbay.com]
|fate= Merged into [[Champs Sports]]
|hq_location_city = [[Wausau, Wisconsin]]
|hq_location_country = United States
⚫
|key_people=
⚫
|website= {{URL|http://www.eastbay.com/}}
}}
}}

'''Eastbay''' is an American supplier of [[athletic footwear]], apparel and sports equipment, which sells by [[direct mail]]. Since 1997, it has been the direct-to-mail division of the [[F. W. Woolworth Company]], now known as [[Foot Locker|Foot Locker, Inc.]].
'''Eastbay''' was an American supplier of [[athletic footwear]], apparel and sports equipment, selling through [[direct mail]] and the internet. In 1997, it became a subsidiary of the [[F. W. Woolworth Company]], later known as [[Foot Locker|Foot Locker, Inc.]]


== History ==
== History ==
The company began in 1980 when Richard Gering and Art Juedes set up a [[shoe]] sales company. With about $7,000 worth of running shoes, they set up shoe clinics near their hometown of [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau, WI]]. At each stop they sold their shoes and provided price lists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-sneakers-memories-of-eastbay-catalog-20190214-story.html|title=Eastbay catalog memories: It’s where a generation went to look at sneakers — and dream|last=Woike|first=Dan|website=latimes.com|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>
The company was founded in 1980 by Richard Gering and Art Juedes. With about $7,000 worth of [[running shoe]]s, they set up shoe clinics near their hometown of [[Wausau, Wisconsin|Wausau]], [[Wisconsin]]. At each stop they sold their shoes and provided price lists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/fashion/la-ig-sneakers-memories-of-eastbay-catalog-20190214-story.html|title=Eastbay catalog memories: It's where a generation went to look at sneakers — and dream|last=Woike|first=Dan|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=14 February 2019 |access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>


In 1983, they developed a catalog for [[track and field]] shoes and [[baseball]] shoes. In 1988, phone operators were hired to take orders. In 1989, the company began a team sales division and in 1990 created and produced its first in-house team sales catalog. By 1990, Eastbay's call center, shipping and creative departments occupied just under one [[city block]].
In 1983, they developed a catalog for [[track and field]] and [[baseball]] shoes. In 1988, phone operators were hired to take orders. In 1989, the company began a team sales division and the following year, created and produced its first in-house team sales catalog. At the time Eastbay's call center, shipping and creative departments occupied just under one [[city block]].


Eastbay established its own clothing brand in 1990, offering jackets, pants, shorts, underwear, socks and tops in various sports teams' colors and styles, with the Eastbay logo.
Eastbay established its own clothing brand in 1990, offering jackets, pants, shorts, underwear, socks and tops in various sports teams' colors and styles, with the Eastbay logo.


On Friday, Sept. 29, 1995 Eastbay made an [[initial public offering]] on the [[NASDAQ]] [[stock exchange]]. Two years later, shareholders sold the company to [[F. W. Woolworth Company|F.W. Woolworth Company]].
On September 29, 1995, Eastbay made an [[initial public offering]] on the [[NASDAQ stock exchange]]. Two years later, shareholders sold the company to [[F. W. Woolworth Company]].

⚫
In July 1997, Eastbay moved its downtown corporate operation and retail store to a larger space on Wausau's near-west side. Three months later, it combined the shipping department and various warehouses into a new {{convert|500000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} distribution center on the outskirts of Wausau. In March 1998, Eastbay converted its marketing website into an e-commerce site. Two additional [[call center]]s were subsequently opened in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]], and [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]. Juedes and Gering retired on June 30, 1999.


⚫
Eastbay's parent company, F.W. Woolworth Company, also underwent a major revision, being reorganized as Venator Group in 1997 and changing its name in 2001 to Foot Locker, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footwearnews.com/2019/business/retail/foot-locker-investor-day-2019-2023-plan-1202765777/|title=These Are Foot Locker's Biggest Plans for the Next Five Years|last=Butler-Young|first=Sheena|date=2019-03-28|website=Footwear News|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>
⚫
In July 1997, Eastbay moved its downtown corporate operation and retail store to a larger space in Wausau's near west side. Three months later it combined the shipping department and various warehouses into a new {{convert|500000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} Distribution Center located in the outskirts of Wausau. In March 1998, Eastbay converted its marketing website into an e-commerce site. Two additional [[call center]]s were subsequently opened in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh, WI]] and [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay, WI]] . The Green Bay call center is now closed.
Juedes and Gering retired on June 30, 1999.


In 2022, Foot Locker announced that Eastbay and its distribution center in Wausau would permanently close during the first half of 2023, resulting in 210 layoffs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mentzer |first1=Rob |title=210 to be laid off in Wausau as Foot Locker closes longtime central Wisconsin sneaker distribution center |url=https://www.wpr.org/210-be-laid-wausau-foot-locker-closes-longtime-central-wisconsin-sneaker-distribution-center |publisher=Wisconsin Public Radio |access-date=2023-03-05 |language=en |date=2022-10-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Borchert |first=Hannah |title=Eastbay's permanent closure will leave 210 out a job |url=https://www.wsaw.com/2022/10/19/eastbays-permanent-closure-will-leave-210-out-job/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=www.wsaw.com |date=19 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The Eastbay website was shut down and merged into the [[Champs Sports]] banner on January 13, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salpini |first1=Cara |title=Eastbay website to shut down |url=https://www.retaildive.com/news/foot-locker-eastbay-ecommerce-website-shuts-down/639521/ |website=Retail Dive |access-date=2023-03-05 |date=2023-01-03}}</ref>
⚫
Eastbay's parent company, F.W. Woolworth Company, also underwent a major revision, being reorganized as Venator Group in 1997 and changed its name in 2001 to Foot Locker, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://footwearnews.com/2019/business/retail/foot-locker-investor-day-2019-2023-plan-1202765777/|title=These Are Foot Locker’s Biggest Plans for the Next Five Years|last=Butler-Young|first=Sheena|date=2019-03-28|website=Footwear News|access-date=2019-05-12}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
Line 32: Line 38:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.eastbay.com official website]
* {{Official website|http://www.eastbay.com}}


{{Woolworth|No Collapse}}
{{Woolworth|No Collapse}}
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[[Category:Foot Locker]]
[[Category:Foot Locker]]
[[Category:Sporting goods retailers of the United States]]
[[Category:Sporting goods retailers of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1980]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1980]]
[[Category:Companies based in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Companies based in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in Wisconsin]]

Latest revision as of 05:14, 22 August 2024

This article is about the sporting goods company. For the region in Northern California, see East Bay. For other uses, see East Bay (disambiguation).
Eastbay
Company typeSubsidiary of Foot Locker
IndustryDirect mail catalog and internet supplier of athletic footwear & apparel.
Founded1980; 44 years ago (1980)
Founders
  • Richard Gering
  • Art Juedes
Defunct2023 (2023)
FateMerged into Champs Sports
Headquarters
Wausau, Wisconsin
,
United States
Websitewww.eastbay.com

Eastbay was an American supplier of athletic footwear, apparel and sports equipment, selling through direct mail and the internet. In 1997, it became a subsidiary of the F. W. Woolworth Company, later known as Foot Locker, Inc.

History

[edit]

The company was founded in 1980 by Richard Gering and Art Juedes. With about $7,000 worth of running shoes, they set up shoe clinics near their hometown of Wausau, Wisconsin. At each stop they sold their shoes and provided price lists.[1]

In 1983, they developed a catalog for track and field and baseball shoes. In 1988, phone operators were hired to take orders. In 1989, the company began a team sales division and the following year, created and produced its first in-house team sales catalog. At the time Eastbay's call center, shipping and creative departments occupied just under one city block.

Eastbay established its own clothing brand in 1990, offering jackets, pants, shorts, underwear, socks and tops in various sports teams' colors and styles, with the Eastbay logo.

On September 29, 1995, Eastbay made an initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange. Two years later, shareholders sold the company to F. W. Woolworth Company.

In July 1997, Eastbay moved its downtown corporate operation and retail store to a larger space on Wausau's near-west side. Three months later, it combined the shipping department and various warehouses into a new 500,000-square-foot (46,000 m2) distribution center on the outskirts of Wausau. In March 1998, Eastbay converted its marketing website into an e-commerce site. Two additional call centers were subsequently opened in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Juedes and Gering retired on June 30, 1999.

Eastbay's parent company, F.W. Woolworth Company, also underwent a major revision, being reorganized as Venator Group in 1997 and changing its name in 2001 to Foot Locker, Inc.[2]

In 2022, Foot Locker announced that Eastbay and its distribution center in Wausau would permanently close during the first half of 2023, resulting in 210 layoffs.[3][4] The Eastbay website was shut down and merged into the Champs Sports banner on January 13, 2023.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Woike, Dan (14 February 2019). "Eastbay catalog memories: It's where a generation went to look at sneakers — and dream". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
  2. ^ Butler-Young, Sheena (2019-03-28). "These Are Foot Locker's Biggest Plans for the Next Five Years". Footwear News. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
  3. ^ Mentzer, Rob (2022-10-21). "210 to be laid off in Wausau as Foot Locker closes longtime central Wisconsin sneaker distribution center". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  4. ^ Borchert, Hannah (19 October 2022). "Eastbay's permanent closure will leave 210 out a job". www.wsaw.com. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  5. ^ Salpini, Cara (2023-01-03). "Eastbay website to shut down". Retail Dive. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
[edit]
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