Brooks
Berkshire Hathaway · United States
Brooks is a Seattle based running footwear and apparel company, founded in 1914 in Philadelphia and now a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. It is a leading name in the specialty running market and focuses solely on running.
| Founded | 1914, Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| Founder | John Brooks Goldenberg |
| Owner | Berkshire Hathaway |
| Headquarters | Seattle, United States |
| Known for | Running shoes |
| Website | brooksrunning.com |
What is Brooks?
Brooks, also known as Brooks Running or Brooks Sports, makes high performance running shoes, clothing and accessories for men and women. It is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
History
John Brooks Goldenberg founded the company in Philadelphia in 1914 by buying the Quaker Shoe Company. In its early decades it made shoes for many sports and was popular in the mid 1970s. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1981 after manufacturing defects in Puerto Rico, and Wolverine World Wide bought it at auction. Later owners included The Roekke Group (1993), J.H. Whitney and Co. (1998) and Russell Athletic (2004), before it passed to Berkshire Hathaway via Fruit of the Loom's parent in 2006. It became an independent Berkshire subsidiary in 2011.
In 2001 Jim Weber refocused the company on technical running shoes, and by 2011 it was the top seller in the specialty running shoe market.
Products and positioning
The company introduced the Villanova in 1975 as its first high performance running shoe and was the first to use EVA foam in running shoes. Later landmarks include the Vantage (1977), the Beast (1992) with diagonal rollbar technology, the Adrenaline GTS (1994) and the Ghost (2008).
Brooks and technology
The DNA line from 2013 uses a non-Newtonian liquid that adapts to the wearer. Brooks has also developed sustainability technologies, including sand based High Performance Green Rubber and the biodegradable BioMoGo midsole, which it made open source.
Business model and distribution
Brooks is sold in about 60 countries, with revenue of 1.2 billion US dollars reported for 2022 and roughly 1,100 employees.
Why it matters
Brooks is a case study in refocusing an ageing multi sport brand on a single category, running, and becoming a market leader in the specialty channel.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Brooks Running?
Brooks is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, the company led by Warren Buffett. It became an independent Berkshire subsidiary in 2011.
Where is Brooks from?
Brooks is an American brand founded in Philadelphia in 1914. It is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.