[Gifts for readers] NEWS: Giant Bean Boots appearing all over Japan!? "LLBean Bootmobile Japan Tour" and the philosophy that has remained unchanged for 100 years
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
What comes to mind when you hear the name LL Bean? Hunting boots with leather stitched onto rubber soles? Or sturdy canvas tote bags? Both are iconic pieces that represent the quintessential American style, but for hardcore mountain enthusiasts, at least here in Japan, LL Bean is a brand that is relatively unknown
However, that doesn't mean they don't actually make mountaineering or hiking gear. This brand, which has been in business for over 100 years in Freeport, Maine, not only offers the items mentioned above, but is now known as one of the leading outdoor brands on the East Coast, offering a wide range of outdoor gear from everyday use to full-scale trekking, and the high quality of their hiking gear is often featured in major outdoor magazines . The low awareness of mountaineering in Japan may simply be due to the fact that their products are not available at general outdoor retailers or featured in mountain magazines.
LLBean will be running a promotional car called the "Bootmobile," which is based on the brand's iconic " Boots, " in Japan, so I recently attended the opening event.
Key people from the UK also attended the event, and we were able to hear about this outdoor brand that we think we know but actually don't know much about. This time, we'll be reporting on that. We'll also be announcing a giveaway at the end!
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What is the "LLBean Bootsmobile Japan Tour"?
The original "Bootmobile" was created in the United States in 2012 to commemorate the company's 100th anniversary, and traveled over 160,000 miles across 14 states over the course of five years. After three years of planning, conception, and development, the Japanese-made "Bootmobile" will finally make its debut this spring. The giant bean boot, measuring approximately 3m high, 2m wide, and 5m long, is scheduled to appear all over Japan
On display at the venue that day was a full line-up of Bean Boots, a long-selling brand for over 100 years. You could really feel the texture and toughness that increases with the creases that form, as well as the weight of the accumulated history
The "Bootmobile" and the LLBean philosophy that remains unchanged through the ages
Not only did the Bootmobile in America become a hot topic on social media, but the interactions with users and supporters along the way also became an invaluable asset for the brand. Eddie, who is also a driver on the US tour and in charge of promoting the Bootmobile, looked back on some memorable events from that time in a conversation with mountain photographer and author Arai
The most memorable experience was when the Red Sox won the championship in 2013. We gave the players red LL Bean boots with the team logo to celebrate their victory, and we wrapped the Bootmobile in the same color as them and marched together in the victory parade. The excitement at the time was amazing, of course, but I was also thrilled to see so many people, from LL Bean fans to people who had never heard of the brand, turn their heads when we saw the Bootmobile in other cities outside of Boston. It's something that still stays in my heart
Another thing is that on long tours, we put our outdoor gear in the trunk of our bootmobile and continued our journey. When we found a good spot along the way, we would stop by to enjoy hunting or fishing. Through the experience of enjoying nature all over the United States, I was reminded once again of the wonder of the outdoors and its power to heal people
Eddie hopes that this campaign will help more people in Japan become aware of LLBean. Compared to the United States, where nature is right outside the home, it is difficult for children in Japan to experience the "real" outdoors from an early age. What kind of message or message does the brand want to convey?
It's a difficult question to answer, but the root of the problem remains the same. For people who haven't yet recognized the value of nature, all we can do is continue to strive to encourage them to get outdoors. That means having more points of contact (stores) and providing appropriate suggestions through staff with practical knowledge and experience. This is LLBean's mission, which is to get customers outside and encourage them to want to play in nature
Furthermore, as a mountain lover, I personally wanted to ask him about LLBean's strengths in high-performance products for serious hiking and alpine activities, and what approach they take to product development
It's true that items like Bean Boots and tote bags are popular in Japan, but I hope people will know that we actually offer a wide range of products for outdoor activities. In the United States, our team works together to create the best products that can withstand even the toughest hikes
For example, the development team for the Cresta Hiker, a long-selling classic hiking boot, conducted extensive field testing on the 2,500-mile Appalachian Trail, which begins in Maine, where the company is located. Designers and many other employees not directly involved in development also bring products under development into the field, incorporating feedback into future development. All LLBean employees are outdoor enthusiasts, and in that sense, they take their products seriously. Incidentally, I myself often test fly fishing gear, which is currently under development in a different department, in environments where rivers freeze over and become buried in snow
Furthermore, as with all LLBean products, if you are not satisfied with your purchase, you can always return it 100%. This philosophy of "delivering only products that will satisfy our customers" has not changed one bit since the days when LLBean first developed the Bean Boots, which is the origin of LLBean . I would be very happy if many products filled with this brand's spirit become popular in Japan as well.
Although it's not often talked about, I never imagined it would be this thorough, and it has suddenly piqued my interest. From now on, our editorial team will be keeping an eye on LLBean's full-fledged outdoor gear, so please look forward to future reviews!
OGZ is calling on readers to "Answer our survey and win an LLBean Boat and Tote Bag!"
LLBean has kindly gifted all of our readers a not-for-sale model of their classic Boat and Tote Bag (open top, small size) with a cute Bootmobile embroidery! We will be randomly selecting four lucky winners (two red, two blue) from those who complete the survey at the link below. To enter, please fill out the Google application form at the link below! The application period is until June 9, 2017. We will contact the winners at a later date
"Answer the survey and win an LLBean Boat and Tote Bag!" Application Form (Applications are now closed)
Application period: Until midnight on June 9, 2017 (applications are now closed)
For details on the gift items, please click here (LLBean online store) ⇒
LLBean Bootsmobile Japan Tour Promotion Campaign Overview
LLBean International's Japan branch will be holding city tours in the Tokyo metropolitan area and events at its stores, as well as campaigns on social media such as Twitter and Instagram to help people "rediscover" the appeal of LLBean, with the aim of making it an even more familiar and beloved brand in Japan
Twitter "Bootsmobile Launch Celebration! Follow & Retweet Campaign"
Follow the official LLBean Bootmobile (@Bootmobile_JP) Twitter account and retweet the tweet to enter a draw to win a Bean Boots keychain for 50 people
Official Twitter account: https://twitter.com/Bootmobile_JP
Period: April 26, 2017 to the end of July 2017
Instagram & Twitter "Bootsmobile Photo Contest"
Ten lucky winners who find a Bootmobile around town, take a photo, and upload the image with the hashtag "Bootmobile" will receive an 8-inch Bean Boot, the model for the Bootmobile
Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/llbeanJapan/
Period: Thursday, April 27, 2017 to the end of September 2017
Store
The "Bootsmobile" is coming to stores! We'll be holding fun games and photo sessions with coupons on the following dates:
- May 13th (Sat) and 14th (Sun) Yokohama store
- May 20th (Sat) and 21st (Sun) Hibiya store
- May 27th (Sat) and 28th (Sun) Toyosu store
- June 10th (Sat) and 11th (Sun) Kawaguchi store
- July 8th (Sat) and 9th (Sun) Kameari store
- July 16th (Sun) and 17th (Mon) Umeda store
- July 22nd (Sat) and 23rd (Sun) Tressa Yokohama
- July 29th (Sat) and 30th (Sun) Musashimurayama store
event
July 1st (Sat) and 2nd (Sun) Yoyogi Park Earth Garden "Summer" 2017
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