Lands' End
United States
Lands' End is an American clothing, luggage and home brand founded in 1963 by Gary Comer and others as a mail-order yachting supply business. It is headquartered in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and traded on Nasdaq as LE.
| Founded | 1963 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Gary Comer |
| Headquarters | Dodgeville, Wisconsin, United States |
| Listing | Nasdaq: LE |
| Segment | Premium and contemporary |
| Chief executive | Charlie Cole (since July 2026) |
| Website | landsend.com |
What is Lands' End?
Lands' End sells casual and classic clothing, luggage and home furnishings. It is best known for its direct sales through catalogues and online, and for outfitting businesses and schools with logo apparel.
History
The company started in 1963 in Chicago as a mail-order yachting supply business founded by Gary Comer with the sailors Richard Stearns and Robert Halperin. It moved to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, in 1978 and floated on the stock market in October 1986. Sears acquired it in 2002 and spun it off in April 2014, after which it became publicly traded again.
Business model and distribution
According to Wikipedia, in fiscal 2023 US online sales were 63.2% of revenue, logo apparel for businesses and schools 18.3%, international 7.7%, third-party sellers 7.6% and company stores 3.2%. Revenue that year was $1.472 billion, with an operating loss of $77 million and a net loss of $130 million. It had 26 stores as of February 2024 and partners with Amazon (from 2018), Kohl's (from 2020) and QVC (from 2021).
Recent changes
- January 2026: Lands' End agreed a joint venture with WHP Global. It receives $300 million in cash and contributes its intellectual property in return for royalties, with the venture owned 50/50 at closing. The sources reviewed do not confirm whether the deal has completed.
- July 2026: Charlie Cole was named chief executive, replacing Jerome Griffith, who had led the company since March 2017.
Why it matters
Lands' End shows how a mail-order pioneer adapted to online and marketplace selling, and how a listed apparel company can sell part of its brand rights to a brand management group to raise capital.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Lands' End?
Lands' End is a publicly traded company on Nasdaq under the symbol LE. In January 2026 it agreed a joint venture with WHP Global covering its intellectual property, to be owned equally at closing.
Where is Lands' End from?
Lands' End is an American brand founded in Chicago in 1963 and based in Dodgeville, Wisconsin since 1978. It began as a mail-order yachting supply business.