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1932
The Danner Shoe Mfg. Company opened its doors in Chippewa Falls,
Wisconsin with five employees to begin the manufacture of low priced
handcrafted work boots. The country was in the midst of the
depression, labor costs were under 30 cents per hour and leather and
other raw materials needed were dirt cheap. The finished boots sold
for less than four dollars a pair.
1936
In his search for higher quality boots, Charles Danner discovered
that calked logging boots in the Pacific Northwest were selling for
more than twenty dollars a pair, a considerable amount of money in
1936. That year he moved his family and the Danner business out to
Portland, Oregon.
1957
By the end of World War II, the company had built a name for itself
making a logger style boot known as the "Shipyard Boot".
The business passed from father to sons Bill and John Danner. Bill
Danner purchased his brother's interest in the business and became
the sole owner of the Danner Shoe Mfg. Company.
1960's & 1970's
President Kennedy stressed the importance of exercise and, seemingly
overnight, outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, mountain
climbing became national fads. In response, Danner began making
hiking boots. The Danner Mountain Trail Boot was recognized by
Backpacker Magazine as being the "most ideal" hiking boot.
Light and flexible, yet sturdy and very comfortable, this boot began
the tradition of Danner Hiking Boots followed to this day.
1979
Using Gore-Tex® fabric, Danner developed and patented a completely
unique way of making a truly waterproof boot.
1983
After 50 years of shoe-making, Bill Danner decided to sell his
company to Eric Merk, under the condition that Eric follow the
tradition of quality and craftsmanship the Danner family had built
over the years. And he did, adding his own, even stricter adherence
to quality control.
1992
Danner boots and the Danner Airthotic are awarded the APMA seal of
acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Another
assurance of comfortable Danner footwear.
1993
Danner merges with LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. of La Crosse, Wisconsin
to form a major force in the footwear industry. Since 1897, the
LaCrosse brand has stood for premium quality handcrafted rubber
footwear. In recent years, the product line was expanded to include
a full line of rubber and vinyl products.
1996
The Danner Shoe Mfg. Company becomes the first shoe manufacturer in
the United States to earn ISO 9002 certification. ISO is an
international set of quality standards which provide customers the
assurance that their Danner Boots will be made to the highest
standards for comfort, durability, support and waterproofness.
1997
Danner's parent company, LaCrosse Footwear, Inc. celebrates its
100th anniversary. Not too far behind, Danner celebrates 65 years of
boot making.
Today and Beyond
Building on the same traditions and standards of quality instilled
by the Danner family years ago, the Danner Shoe Mfg. Company
continues to manufacture a complete line of Hiking, Fishing,
Hunting, Uniform, and Work Boots in their 30,000 square foot factory
in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.
Danner wholesales to specialty retail stores and mail order
companies throughout the country and has one company owned factory
retail outlet. International sales include Japan, England, Sweden,
and Italy, which account for approximately 10% of Danner's yearly
sales.
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Hunting Boots
Work Boots
Police and Military
Hiking and Outdoor
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