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Headquarters:
105 Corporate Center Blvd. Website: http://www.vfc.com VF is the world's largest maker of clothing. It sells jeans, underwear, sportswear and outdoor clothing under a variety of brands including Wrangler, Lee, Riders, Rustler, The North Face, Vans, Reef, Napapijri, Kipling, Nautica, John Varvatos, JanSport, Eastpak, Eagle Creek, Lee Sport and Red Kap. The company is aiming its focus on building more brands to boost sales and targeting youthful, female customers. It's also expanding into China, Europe, Japan and India to gain more customers. Jean sales make up the biggest portion of the company's revenues but have declined over the past year. Outdoor apparel and equipment is the second biggest source of revenues. In July, VF announced it will acquire two growing companies, Seven For All Mankind, LLC and lucy activewear, inc. The two companies will form the foundation of a new lifestyle brand-based coalition, VF Contemporary Brands, which VF intends to build with additional contemporary brands over time. VF's other coalitions are Outdoor, Jeanswear, Sportswear and Imagewear. VF has agreed to pay $775 million for Seven For All Mankind, LLC and $110 million for lucy activewear, inc. In 2006, VF had revenues of $6.2 billion and net income of $533.5 million. History In 1899, John Barbey and a group of investors launch the Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company in Reading, PA with an investment of $11,000. This company would be the predecessor for VF. In 1912, the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company opened for business in Kansas City to meet the growing demand for work clothing including overalls, jackets and dungarees. In 1919, the company was renamed Vanity Fair Silk Mills and began manufacturing underwear. In 1947, Wrangler Westernwear was formed to make jeans modeled after cowboys. Vanity Fair would go public in 1951 and listed on the NYSE in 1966. Vanity Fair Mills would change its name to VF Corporation in 1969. In 1986, VF would purchase Blue Bell Inc., maker of Wrangler and Rustler jeans and Jantzen swimwear. In 2003, VF acquired Nautica Enterprises. Benefits VF offers a casual workplace and benefits including bonuses, 401K and retirement programs. Updated August 6, 2007 |