OPEMAN 10:00AM-11:30AM

Global History
40000 BC – First archeological evidence of protective foot covering found in Ice Age
settlements. 

4000 BC –First recorded mentioning of shoes as “flexible pieces of leather” came from Ancient
Egypt. 

3627 BC – Archeologist found the earliest known leather shoe near one of the cave dwellings in
Armenia. 

3rd to 1st millennia BC – Many civilizations around the world used simple leather sandals in
their daily life. Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen carried to his tomb exquisite sandals  
that were engraved with beautiful golden pictures of gods and religious symbols. 

1st millennia BC – Romans used platform sandals made from wood or cork soles. Buskin
shoes were also common in Greece and Rome, where they were worn by tragic actors, hunters
and soldiers. 

Around 1000 AD – Shoes and sandals become commonplace across Europe, but they
are often crude and hard to wear for long periods of time. Saxon wedding ritual in which bride
throws one of her shoes behind her back to determine which of her bridesmaids will
married next was born. 

12th and 13th century – Fashionable shoes started being produced for nobility and royalty. 
Their designs started focusing on extending the toes section, the larger the toes – the more they
represented wearers rank. 

16th century – Renaissance and rise of wealthy class of people marked the beginning of
the widespread footwear fashion. 

1533 – Italian noblewoman Catherine d’Medici introduced to France fashion of high heels.

1789 – French Revolution brought to the end the fashion of high heeled man and female
footwear, and popularized more “down to earth” designs. 

1790 – English inventors introduced shoelaces for the first time. 

1800 – In 19th century shoes finally became made for each foot individually. Before that,
majority of footwear could be used with both feet’s (so called “straight” shoes). 

1883 - African-American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger invented machine for automated
production of shoes. This invention changed the shoe industry forever. 

1888 – First high heeled shoe factory opened in United States. This event enabled US females
to largely abandon import of expensive shoes from France. 
1899 – Irish-American inventor Humphrey O'Sullivan successfully patented rubber heel for
shoes. 

1917 – First successful sneakers (canvas top design with rubber sole) started being sold
in United States. They received their name because of their lightness and silence that was
provided by soft rubber. They were initially used by kids and tennis players. 

1917 - Converse All-Star basketball shoe was introduced. 

1950s – Introduction of advanced rubber, plastic, synthetic cloth, and industrial materials
enabled the creation of many new shoe designs. 

1955 – High “comma” heel or “stiletto” heel was invented in Italy by the French fashion
designer Roger Vivier. Stiletto became extremely popular across the female population of the
world. 

1960 - Advances in rubbers and plastics led to a few important changes in the way that
shoes were made. However, the trend that arguably had the largest effect on the shoe industry
was the popularization of running as a hobby for regular people. 

1970 - The hippy movement also helped popularize brighter colors, decorative touches,
and many types of sandals. Many shoes even became associated with particular
cultural movements, i.e., Chuck Taylors and rock, Adidas and hip hop, or PF Flyers and the
streakers. 

1974 - Nike may be one of the biggest names in footwear, but the company began in relatively
humble fashion as an importer of Japanese shoes like the aforementioned Tiger Marathon a
Cortez shoes. 

1990’s - The Evolution of Style. Shoe styles in the 90’s wasn’t drastically different from
shoe styles in the 80’s, though new models like Reebok Pumps (which featured an internal
inflation mechanism that locked around the ankle) did become popular. In short, shoes
were fundamentally the same, though some new styles, like elevated heels and inflating shoes,
were introduced. 

1906 - William J. Riley, an Irish immigrant, founded the New Balance Arch Support
Company (registered as New Balance Arch Support Company, Inc. and later registered as New
Balance 
Arch Co., Inc.) in the Boston area, manufacturing arch supports and other accessories designed
to improve shoe fit. 

1996 - Under Armour was founded on September 25, 1996 by Kevin Plank, a then 24-year-old
former special teams captain of the University of Maryland football team. 

2000 - many 90s shoes were still around. Platform sandals and sneakers were the shoes that
almost everyone wore. New Balance, Nike and Keds were the most used sneakers.
Heelys were also a big thing during this time. 

2005 - Nike Free Dominates the Market. Nike later created the Free line of footwear as an
attempt to replicate the benefits of running barefoot. 
2009 - Born to Run Sparks Widespread Interest in Minimalism and barefoot running 

2010 - flats, heels and sneakers were the most used styles. Women especially wore reptile
skin flats and heels. Men wore sneakers and conservative shoes for the most part. 

2015 - Adidas launched the footwear industry's first reservation mobile app. The Adidas
Confirmed app allows consumers to get access to and reserve the brand's limited-edition
sneakers by using geo targeting technology 

2016 - the biggest shoe trend for most women is lace up shoes. Whether they're heels, sandals
or flats, lace ups are in. Nike and Adidas are also a must have for both men and women. 

2018 - The Air Jordan XXXIII (33) was released on October 18, 2018. This is the first Air
Jordan model to go lace less. 

2019 - Converse returned to the performance basketball scene with the All-Star Pro BB. Kelly
Oubre Jr. was the first player to try out the new product, which combined the
traditional Converse silhouette with the contemporary Nike technology. 

2021 - Nike acquired Datalogue, a New York based company focused on digital sales and
machine learning technology. 
 FOREIGN COMPANY (NEW BALANCE)

FOUNDER:

William J. Riley

DATE STARTED: 1906

INDUSTRY: Footwear Industry
ORIGINAL LOCATION: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, NEW BALANCE

ATHLETIC INC.
Joe Preston is President & CEO of New Balance Athletics Inc. Joe
is a 25+ year footwear industry veteran who began his career at
New Balance in 1995 as Sr Product Manager Running & Lifestyle.
He progressed through the company in roles including Vice
President, Asia Pacific; Executive Vice President International;
Executive Vice President, Global Product & Marketing and Chief
Commercial Officer before being named as President & CEO in
2018.

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL NEW

BALANCE ATHLETICS INC.
Alan Hed as EVP International. An executive with 25 years of experience in international
markets gained from leadership positions in sales, marketing and general management, Hed
has lived and worked in Asia, Europe and South Africa. Alan was most recently with Levis
Strauss & Co where he held increasingly responsible positions, including his most recent as
President of the Asia Pacific Division, an $850 million apparel business. Prior to Levis, Hed was
VP of sales and marketing for Citibank in Thailand. His previous experience was at Procter and
Gamble where he held sales and marketing positions in the US, Europe and Asia and
established P&G’s operations in Vietnam.

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, NEW BALANCE ATHLETICS INC.

John Withee has been Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice
President of New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. since February 2005.
Mr. Withee began his career with New Balance as the
Manufacturing Controller in 1989. During his tenure he has been
instrumental in guiding business during substantial growth periods
and he continues to counsel in both the financial and the
operational aspects of the business.

OVERVIEW:
 Over 120 countries worldwide.
 Number of employees 5,497 worldwide (2019)

MISSION

Our mission is to put the body in motion with the most advanced footwear technology on the
planet. By joining our Wear test team, you can help our products reach even greater heights.

NEW BALANCE ATHLETICS INC. PURPOSE

Our goal is to help you achieve yours.

Company History
1906 - In Boston, Massachusetts, an English immigrant named William J. Riley founds the New
Balance Arch Support Company. The company focuses on producing specialist arch supports
and orthopedic footwear to give customers greater comfort and ‘new balance’.
1927 - Riley hires a man named Arthur Hall to be a salesman for the New Balance Arch Support
Company. As New Balance products are not yet sold in retail stores, Hall becomes a travelling
salesman; this personalized approach helps the brand stand out over competitors.

1936 - Hall becomes a partner in the company and focuses selling arch support products to
people who spend a lot of the day standing up such as retail workers, firefighters and police
officers.

1938 - New Balance create their first ever running shoe for a local running club known as the
Boston Brown Bag Harriers. Designed by Riley, these specialist running shoes feature a crepe
sole and are made from kangaroo leather.

1941 - The company expands its product range with specialist footwear designed for sports
such as tennis, boxing and baseball. As a low-volume producer, all products are made in house
by a small team.

1956 - Arthur Hall’s daughter Eleanor and her husband Paul Kidd buy the company. At first the
Kidd’s keep the main focus of the company on selling orthopedic footwear products, but soon
gain an interest in developing sports footwear to meet the specific requirements of athletes.

1960 - New Balance launch the Trackster. Initially made at home by the Kidd’s, the Trackster is
the first running shoe available in different width fittings, and quickly gains positive attention with
the wider running community.

1972 - On the day of the 1972 Boston Marathon, the company is purchased by Jim Davis. At
this point in time, the New Balance company only has six full-time workers making 20-30 pairs
of shoes per day. As the company continues to grow, Davis retains the focus on the original
idea of providing great quality products, excellent customer service, and being committed to
unique customer shoe preferences.

1976 - The 320 launches and is the first shoe to feature the now famous 'N' logo. New Balance
shoes start to use unique model numbers rather than names for their products so that
customers see each model as being equal, but designed for different purposes. The number
defines the type of shoe, the activity it was designed for and whether the shoe was built for
stability, speed and so on. Sales of the New Balance 320 skyrocket as the shoe is voted as the
number one running shoe on the market by Runner's World magazine.

1978 - New Balance release their first ever clothing products. They introduce nylon and mesh
tops and shorts, and also feature innovative Gore-Tex running suits.

1980 - The 620 launches and at the time is the lightest and most advanced running shoe on the
market. It’s also the first sneaker to break the $50 retail price barrier.

1982 - The iconic New Balance 420 is launched. With its combination suede and nylon upper
and foam midsole, the 420 has been released in a huge number of colorways over the years
and remains a favorite to this day. The same year, New Balance opens its first UK factory and
also releases the hi-tech 990, pushing the sneaker price barrier to $100 for the first time.
1984 - The 670 model is first released. The shoe has proven hugely popular over the years and
has been the focus of a number of collabs, including the New Balance X Norse Projects edition
released in 2009.

1985 - New Balance introduces the 1300. The model is designed for advanced stability and
constructed with high-quality comfort technologies. At $130, it’s the most expensive running
shoe ever released and New Balance claim the best running shoe ever made.

1988 - New Balance release their famous 574 model. Initially designed as a technical running
shoe to offer improved comfort, the 574 has since remained popular, being re-released a
number of times and transitioning into an iconic casual design. In 2017 New Balance released a
reworked version, the 574S.

1993 - The company releases their 1500 model which goes on to see high sales due to U.S
President Bill Clinton, who regularly wears a pair of 1500 shoes on his runs. All 1500s are
currently made in England at New Balance’s factory in Flimby.

1994 - New Balance release their delayed M1400 shoes, which was originally designed to be
released straight after the M1300 in 1985. Despite the delay, the M1400 is a hit and continues
to be one of the longest-selling New Balance model ranges.

1998 - Having not been as popular as expected at its original launch in 1988, New Balance
reissue the 576 and the model is featured on the cover of Elle Magazine, helping the 576 to gain
popularity in the fashion world.

2001 - The 991 drops and is the latest model in the legendary 99x series that first launched in
1982. The late Apple CEO Steve Jobs famously wore grey suede New Balance 991s for a
number of years. This is also the same year that New Balance acquires the famous trainer
brand P.F. Flyers.

2006 - New Balance collaborate with Offspring to release the NB X Offspring range, which is the
first collaboration for New Balance. Featuring autumnal colors, these shoes represent each of
Offspring's London stores with individual store numbers stitched into the shoe heels.

2009 - Despite a philosophy that they would be “Endorsed By No One”, New Balance decides to
break with tradition and start allowing professional athletes to endorse the brand, including
baseball players Miguel Cabrera and Curtis Granderson, and NBA star Matt Bonner.

2012 - Ahead of the US Presidential Election, New Balance creates a unique shoe for President
Barack Obama. The 990 'Made In USA' shoes are specially made before his 2012 re-election
campaign to demonstrate the importance of local industries in America.

2013 - New Balance Numeric is launched as the brand’s entry into the popular skate shoe
market. The products combine skate and street influences with New Balance’s famous attention
to detail, quality and fit.

2014 - Fresh Foam technology launches as a newly generated shock-absorption system that
provides wearers with a stable and high-performance shoe. The same year, New Balance
reveal Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic as their first ever ambassador and release a
sportswear line in collaboration with supermodel Heidi Klum.
2015 - After signing Milos Raonic as their first ambassador, New Balance decide to work more
closely with the tennis industry and bring British tennis player Heather Watson on-board as
another brand ambassador.

2016 - New Balance launches the 247, a model that combines contemporary and classic
influences and is designed for a 24/7 lifestyle. The range debuts with the limited ‘Friends &
Family’ edition, of which all 247 pairs are given to influencers in the sneaker and fashion
communities. The UK’s first flagship New Balance store also opens on London’s Oxford Street.

2017 - The 365-model line is launched on New Balance’s new ‘NB Exclusives’ platform, which
offers products exclusively for one week. The Fuel core Sonic also launches, using an
innovative BOA lacing system where the shoe is tightened or loosened by turning a dial.

2018 - New Balance teams up with Marvel to release two models in honor of the movie Black
Panther; the Marvel X New Balance 574 Sport and the Marvel X New Balance 990v4. New
Balance also reissues the US made 990 in its original grey colorway, priced at $100 (the same
as it sold for when first released in 1982) and launches the X90, a modern sneaker inspired by
heritage models.

2019 - the company released its first Kawhi Leonard-signature sneaker, named OMN1S.

2020 - The company announced a multi-year sponsorship deal with the NBA, and launched its
new line of Kawhi Leonard-signature sneakers, named "KAWHI”. Also in February, the company
launched a FuelCell branded shoe with a carbon plate, after new running guidelines allowing the
plates in competitive races were approved.

2021 - The New Balance 550 has been extremely popular because to Aimé Leon Dore's Teddy
Santis, who was appointed Creative Director of Made in USA.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Moving the environment forward.

 Environment

New Balance is taking significant steps to ensure a healthier planet. We are constantly looking
for ways to minimize and prevent negative environmental impacts in our operations and
throughout our global supply chain – with an eye towards zero impacts and bringing greater
positive change to our local environment.

Our Approach
Energy and Climate
Water
 Moving forward together.
Initiatives

Doing well and doing good is part of the unchanging core and future vision of New Balance.
Through grants, global volunteerism, cooperative marketing, sponsorships, in-kind donations
and more, New Balance and the New Balance Foundation aim to improve the health and well-
being of children and families worldwide. We bring our NB Gives Back mission to life through
these initiatives.

NB Foundation Initiatives:

Established in 2011, The New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston
Children’s Hospital builds evidence-based strategies to promote better nutrition, increase
physical activity and facilitate behavioral change in the fight to eradicate childhood obesity. With
$18 million in funding from New Balance Foundation, the Center is committed to translating
state-of-the-art research into effective prevention and treatment programs for children and
families.
New Balance Foundation recognizes the importance of driving moderate-to-vigorous physical
activity in all children. Beginning in 2013, New Balance Foundation has supported large-scale
youth running initiatives, like 100 Mile Club, in an effort to increase opportunities for movement.
100 Mile Club is a school-based program challenging students to run, jog, or walk 100 miles
over the course of the year, earning keepsake milestone incentives along the way.

New Balance Foundation has a long history of supporting local Boys & Girls Clubs. Significant
annual grants to four clubs in Massachusetts and Maine fund innovative fitness, nutrition and
academic programming, impacting hundreds of children and teens each year.

Since 2004, New Balance Foundation has donated more than $3 million to urban lacrosse youth
development programs. Harlem Lacrosse (HL) is an innovative school-based youth
development organization whose mission is to provide a safe, structured environment for
children to compete and learn while they develop into leaders for their community. Harlem
Lacrosse operates 31 programs in Baltimore, Boston, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia
and currently serves more than 1,100 underserved middle school students.

As a dedicated member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP)
since 2012, New Balance has made an annual commitment of $500,000 to help ensure the Red
Cross has the critical resources necessary to prepare for and respond quickly and
compassionately to emergencies of all sizes, whenever and wherever they may happen.
Generous annual support from New Balance Foundation ensures the Red Cross is ready to
respond with help immediately when requested and enables them to strengthen vulnerable
populations across the globe through community preparedness and capacity building programs.
New Balance Foundation is a lead funder of Rising New York Road Runners, the national youth
program of the New York Road Runners, organizer of the TCS New York City Marathon. Rising
New York Road Runners is designed to improve a child’s physical literacy by teaching
fundamental movement skills in order to build the confidence in those skills and drive a desire to
be physically active for life.

NB Initiatives:

The Fitness Challenge was originally founded with help from Curtis Granderson to motivate kids
to get outside and to get moving. The community program promotes our mission to fuel the next
generation’s passion for movement and the pursuit of lifelong health, well-being and success.
We want to inspire kids to discover and nurture their movement spark.

In 2019, for every pair of shoes sold to a customer at the NYRR RUNCENTER, New Balance
and NYRR shall donate a pair of shoes to a New York Road Runners supported youth program,
up to a maximum cost of $300,000.
New Balance is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the Run to Home Base. The Run to
Home Base supports our nation’s Veterans and Service Members and helps raise much needed
funds for Home Base. Proceeds from the event will fund the clinical care provided to Veterans,
Service Members and their Families. Home Base is dedicated to healing the invisible wounds
for Veterans, Service Members and their Families through world-class clinical care, wellness,
education and research.

New Balance is proud to support Cycle for Survival, the movement to beat rare cancers and the
fastest-growing athletic fundraising event in the country. 100% of every donation to Cycle for
Survival is directly allocated to research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center within six
months of the events. New Balance is the Official Apparel Sponsor of the 2019 - 2021 Memorial
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Cycle for Survival events.

New Balance is proud to be the Co-Presenting and exclusive Footwear and Apparel Sponsor of
the Pan-Mass Challenge. The PMC, the country’s most successful athletic fundraising event,
donates 100% of every dollar raised to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Moving forward, giving back.

NB Gives Back

Associate Volunteerism and Giving

We are committed to deepening our impact in New Balance communities worldwide by
dedicating our time and talent through service. New Balance also offers "Give Back Benefits" to
support causes and organizations that associates care about, including Personal Volunteer
Time, Corporate Match and Dollars for Doers.
New Balance Volunteer Program: New Balance associates worldwide help bring NB's give-back
mission to life through service. Our associates participate year-round in meaningful, hands-on
projects during work hours with New Balance Foundation-supported and other charities.

NB Global Volunteer Week: In 2014, New Balance launched

this program to unite all associates worldwide in local service
projects to help ignite a lifetime of movement and healthy
eating in children. Since then, thousands of associates
worldwide have rallied to demonstrate their commitment to
improving their communities.

New Balance also offers a NB Give Back Benefits Program to

support causes and organizations that associates care about.
We’re proud to offer benefits including Corporate Match,
Dollars for Doers and Personal Volunteer Time.

Corporate Governance
PRODUCTION PROCESS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd7j0mJ1OSo

HEALTH AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

New Balance seeks to ensure that the people who make our products – no matter where they
are in the world – are treated with dignity and respect. We believe that all people have a right to
make their voices heard, earn a fair wage and work in a safe and healthy environment.

 We believe in the importance of regular and constructive worker management dialogue in

the worker.
 We are committed to ensuring the people who make our product are treated our dignity and
respect. - and that’s include the fair compensation
 We seek to invest in programs that benefits the health, safety and well-being of people in
the workplace in beyond.
 We enforce strict zero tolerance policies that prohibit child and forced labor as well as
harassment and discrimination of any kind.

PRODUCTS
New Balance manufactures a range of shoes and apparel for runners, other athletes and non-
athletes. The company also collaborates with celebrities to launch branded product lines.

Running shoes
New Balance's running shoes include its Fresh Foam and Fuel Cell lines, named for the type of
foam in their soles

Basketball shoes
The company markets a line of Kawhi Leonard-branded signature basketball shoes. The first
version was called OMN1S, and the second version was named "KAWHI".

Baseball shoes
New Balance manufactures a line of baseball shoes that are described as a runner's shoe with
spikes. The underfoot is designed to relieve spike pressure.

Skateboarding shoes
New Balance Numeric is the company's skateboarding shoe brand, which is distributed by Black
Box Distribution, a company founded by professional skateboarder Jamie Thomas.[31] The
brand also consists of a sponsored team that is coordinated by professional skateboarder John
Rattray. The team includes professional skateboarders PJ Ladd, Tiago Lemos, Arto Saari,
Brandon Westgate and Jamie Foy.

Everyday sneakers
The company manufactures the Made in USA line of everyday sneakers known for being
manufactured in the United States. It also manufactures a line called Made by Women, created
by women who work at New Balance's design and manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts.

Apparel
New Balance's athletic apparel includes running caps, athletic socks and water bottles. The
company also manufactures a line of everyday apparel including snap button shirt-jackets,
windbreakers, long-sleeved shirts and track pants, as well as hoodies, sweaters and
sweatpants.

ACTION PLAN #1- RECOMMENDATION NO. 1 INTRODUCE MORE PRODUCT DIVERSITY,

WHICH PROVIDES BUYERS WITH MORE PURCHASING OPTION

Course of Action Department Time Frame Expected Outcome

Involve

Find out what kind of shoes
style preferred base on
customers
Research 1 month The more you know about
Department your customer, it will assist
Team you in determining which
shoe styles your customer
like. It will help you making
improvements to your
product.

Create a shoe with Production 3 months This will increase sales, and
affordable price Team shoes will appeal to a wider
audience.
Evaluate the cost Finance 1 months
Introduce to the customers Outlet & 2 weeks
Branches
ACTION PLAN #2 – RECOMMENDATION NO. 2 INVEST IN A SHOES PRODUCTION
MACHINE

Course of Action Department Time Frame Expected Outcome

Involve

Analyzing how the machine Quality Control 1 week

will work & Assurance Innovation of the
machines for production
process.
Conducting a seminar on Human
employees on how the Resource 1 week
machine will work

Customer feedback Marketing Team 2 weeks It will help you to know

how durable the shoes
made by the new
machine and you can
evaluate if the machine
you bought is worth it.
ACTION PLAN #3 – RECOMMENDATION NO. 3 INNOVATE SHOES PACKAGING DESIGN

Course of Action Department Time Expected Outcome

Involve Frame

Create a design that Production 1 week The developed designs will

unique, easily to attract Team be used in the manufacturing
customers specially the process.
kids

Ensure the quality of General 3 weeks It will give satisfaction to the

packaging materials Management customers.
Team
ACTION PLAN #4 – RECOMMENDATION NO. 4 IMPROVE PERFORMANCE

Course of Action Department Time Expected Outcome

Involve Frame

Be active in posting Marketing 1 week It can lead you to a loyal

advertisements on social customer. This will increase
media sales, and shoes will appeal
to a wider audience.

Adapt the needs of your Marketing 1 week

audience

Seek feedback and show Human 1 month

you genuinely care Resource
Department
 POSSIBLE OUTCOME

After all the implementation of the recommendations, it can lead to loyal customers and
good relationship with customer. Taking care of customers and meeting their
expectations may improve the company’s reputation as well as the number of their
sales. New Balance production of footwear may improve with the help of new machines
to operate and make affordable quality items for customers to become satisfied and
have trust in New balance products.

ISO CERTIFICATION
https://www.newbalance.com/about-new-balance-content-assets/inside-nb-overview.html?
fbclid=IwAR3ZVD97nFvVww4pLmcsu8thgquzE50Yi3QpO8rNkxyWE6rYPGcWM6LTGKk#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Balance
https://www.fatbuddhastore.com/new-balance-timeline-i205?
fbclid=IwAR27Pd1TEtQCPM9GMqK2rHc5gA0AOyuDGctGdV0ba5YiZWoF7iqLFIZ5IME
https://www.tiongliong.com/en/page/quality-assurance.html