Vans, the company that supplied the original waffle sole grip shoe, has recently reached $2 billions in revenue, reported the Orange County Register. Vans has become an iconic company in the surf, skate and action sports industry. Students agree Vans has become an everyday shoe that has influenced the action sports world for the better. “I like the way that they look and that they can go universally with just about anything. You can wear them skating, running and even dancing. They give off a pretty relaxed vibe but they are still the original skate shoe,” said Jeff Facer, a junior from California studying business. According to Vans.com, on March 16, 1966, Paul Van Doren and his three partners opened up their first ever store in Anaheim, Calif., and the Vans dream was born. The Van Doren Rubber Company was unique in that it manufactured shoes and sold them directly to the public. On that first morning, 12 customers purchased shoes, which were made that day and ready for pick-up in the afternoon. Vans has continued to grow and is now a household name around the world. “Vans is one of the companies that helped the skate community to grow and become what it is today. Now they are getting a lot more involved in the surfing world too. They sponsor athletes from all around the world helping to spread the good vibes of Vans with everyone,” said Facer. According to Vans.com, in just 10 years, the action-sports brand has gone from about $320 million in revenue to $2 billion, a growth rare in an industry that has seen its share of downfalls in recent years. The latest figures put Vans on top of the food chain for the action-sports industry, surpassing surfing giants like Quiksilver and Billabong.Seth Young, a recent graduate from Arizona, said, “I feel like Vans are a shoe you can still wear even when they're torn up and it's still cool, maybe even cooler that way to some people. I think they used to be more for skaters or surfers but they've expanded a lot to meet the hipster demand.”Vans shoes are appealing to all types of people now. Skater, surfers, boys, girls, just about everyone is familiar with Vans, said Alex Krohnfeldt, a senior studying exercise science from California. “I wear Vans everyday. Personally, I love Vans. I have about 12 different pairs. Vans represents a mix of style and comfort and are shoes you can do anything in. I've always worn the classic lace ups. I love Vans because they fit my style and are comfy but still cute,” she said.Uploaded March 10, 2015
Writer: Trenton McCullough
