Clarks Companies North America .28CCNA.29 C. & J. Clark

the history of c&j clark’s representation in america dates 1950 , formation of clarks of england inc. initiated bronson davis, car salesman, had seen desert boot @ chicago shoe fair in 1949. davis established sales organization covering 150 accounts outlets stocked clarks products, predominantly desert boots. sponsored advertisements clarks shoes in new yorker , esquire magazines.

davis established relations of america’s prestigious retailers; abercrombie & fitch, neiman-marcus , saks fifth avenue. coverage desert boot consolidated advertising targeted ‘campus trade’ of berkeley, cornell, harvard, north carolina , yale universities through ads in esquire , college magazines.

a young salesman named robert (bob) cullerton followed bronson davis @ lead in america. appointed president in april 1961, inherited business focussed on provision of men’s casuals , desert boot. appointed designer nancy knox create new range advertised via playboy , gentlemen’s quarterly.

in parallel american developments, c&j clark ltd. acquired blachford shoe manufacturing co. ltd. of toronto in 1952, establishing foothold in canada led hugh woods , harold hughes. similarities between businesses in canada , north america meant cullerton, woods , hughes collaborated. developed clear vision of women’s sandals , shoes required supplement demand men’s casual offerings. italian resourcing programme started woods in 1960 more style , variety ranges.

offices opened in empire state building, new york in april 1964. sales buoyed introduction of wallabee in late 1960s , expansion towards west coast. wholesaling interests complemented retail late 1970s through acquisition of hanover shoes inc. owned 220 retail shops. @ same time c&j clark decided bring north american interests under 1 corporation operate hanover, clarks of england , clarks canada. business grew further in 1979 through acquisition of bostonian, well-respected men’s dress shoe brand, adding 25 more shop locations entry 70 leased stores , discounting outlets. responsibility clarks canada , clarks of england transferred c&j clarks hq in street in 1986. clarks of england , clarks canada officially merged in 1987 provide more operational efficiencies , more consistency of product offering north america.

bob infantino became ceo of north american operations in 1992, taking key role consolidating manufacturing, retailing, , wholesaling activities in america 1 company: clarks companies north america (ccna) 1995. 1998, ccna became principally wholesaling business, serving 170 owned retail locations , 3,600 third party wholesale accounts, representing 14,200 retail outlets. sales increased 57 per cent 1995 2001, profits rose five-fold. infantino left company in 2010, replaced jim salzano @ helm of north american business until 2013, when ccna officially became americas region, 1 of 4 regions resulting part of re-organization initiated melissa potter.