Blundstone
Privately held (Cuthbertson family) · Australia
Blundstone is an Australian boot maker from Tasmania, best known for laceless, elastic-sided ankle boots. It is privately held and, according to its own site, owned and run by a family.
| Origin | Hobart, Tasmania |
|---|---|
| Founder | John Blundstone |
| Footwear since | 1870 (per company) |
| Ownership | Privately held, family owned |
| Sister brand | John Bull (New Zealand) |
| Website | blundstone.com |
What is Blundstone?
Blundstone is an Australian footwear brand based in Hobart, Tasmania, best known for laceless, elastic-sided, ankle-length boots. Wikipedia credits John Blundstone, who emigrated from England and arrived in Hobart in 1855, with the origin of the business. He began importing footwear in 1870, and by 1892 he and his son Sylvanus had formed J. Blundstone and Son.
History
The Cane family bought the company in 1901 and the Cuthbertson brothers acquired it in 1932. The brand's own site says the family behind Blundstone can be traced back to the 1840s, that it bought Blundstone Pty Ltd in 1932 and that the company has made footwear since 1870. In 2000 it acquired the New Zealand brand John Bull, founded in 1934.
Ownership and production
Blundstone is privately held. Wikipedia says Sir Harold Cuthbertson owned it until his death and that his daughters Anne Routley and Helen Dickinson run it. Most manufacturing has been overseas since 2007, and the company's site names Vietnam, Thailand, India, China and Mexico as current sources for leather footwear. Gumboots are made at the headquarters in Moonah, Hobart, where administration, sales, design and logistics are also based.
Business model and distribution
The company sells its boots worldwide through retail partners and its own channels. The sources used here do not give a channel split or financial figures.
Why it matters
Blundstone is a rare family-owned heritage footwear brand with a global reach. It demonstrates how a single signature product can carry a brand from workwear into a worldwide lifestyle category.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Blundstone?
Blundstone is privately held and family owned. Wikipedia says the Cuthbertson family acquired it in 1932 and that Sir Harold Cuthbertson's daughters Anne Routley and Helen Dickinson run it.
Where is Blundstone from?
Blundstone is from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Its headquarters is in Moonah, Hobart, although most leather footwear is now made overseas.