L.L.Bean sales leading up to the holidays have been up and down, but company spokeswoman Carolyn Beem said the Freeport retailer is holding its own in what is proving to be a challenging year for all retailers.
“There is no reason to be concerned for the future of the company,” Beem told the Portland Press Herald.Â
On the plus side, Beem said, the company is experiencing record-breaking sales and production of its signature Bean Boots and flannel, outerwear and gear sales are heating up.
A new injection-molding machine was installed this year at the L.L. Bean boot factory in Lewiston, part of the company’s plan to make 1 million boots a year by 2018.
Beem said it’s too early to predict how 2017 sales will compare with the $1.6 billion reported last year, which was basically flat compared to 2015.
The company is preparing to offer early retirement at the beginning of 2018 as part of an effort launched last year to trim its U.S. workforce of 4,500 to 5,000 workers by 10%.
Read more
