[Reader's gift available] NEWS: Giant bean boots appear all over Japan!? "LLBean BootsMobil Japan Tour" and the unchanging philosophy for 100 years

What comes to mind when you hear the brand LLBean? Hunting boots with leather sewn onto rubber soles? Or a durable tote bag on a campus site? Although both are iconic, they can be called American style, it is certain that, as a hard-working mountain enthusiast, they are not familiar to brands at least here in Japan.

But the truth is, that doesn't mean they don't make any gear for mountain climbing or hiking. The brand has been around for over 100 years in Freeport, Maine, and is known not only as the items listed above, but is now one of the best outdoor brands on the East Coast, selling a wide range of outdoor equipment, from everyday use to full-fledged trekking, and the high quality of hiking gear is often featured in major outdoor magazines . The lack of awareness of mountain climbing in Japan may be just a problem of image, such as not being listed at general outdoor mass retailers or being listed in mountain magazines.

LLBean recently visited the opening event to drive the BootsMobil, a promotional car based on the Bean Boots

Key people from home countries also came to this event, and we were able to hear about this outdoor brand that we seem to know but don't know much about. This time I would like to report on them. Finally, we'll also be informed of a present!

What is "LLBean BootsMobil Japan Tour"

To begin with, the "bootsmobile" was built in the United States in 2012 to commemorate its 100th anniversary, and began crossing 14 states, which spanned over 160,000 miles, for five years. After three years of planning, planning, concept and development, and planning to create a "bootmobile" that meets safety standards in Japan and can drive on public roads, it has finally been this spring that the Japanese-born "bootmobile" will make its debut. Large bean boots, approximately 3m high, 2m wide, and 5m long, are scheduled to appear all over Japan as cars.

On this day, a wide range of past models of Bean Boots, which have been a long-selling brand for over 100 years, were on display at the venue. You can feel the growing flavor, toughness, and the weight of the accumulated history as the wrinkles are engraved.

What is the LLBean philosophy that remains the same as "Bootsmobile" and "The LLBean" even through the times?

Bootmobiles in the United States have not only become a hot topic on social media, but their interactions with users and supporters along the way have become an irreplaceable asset for the brand. Eddie, who is also a driver on the US tour and is in charge of the Bootsmobile promotion, looks back on the memorable events of the time in a conversation with Arai, a mountain photographer and author.

The most memorable thing happened when the Red Sox won in 2013. Just like the bean boots with the team logo in red colored red that were given to the players to celebrate the victory of the local team, the Red Sox, they wrapped the bootmobile and marched around town for the championship parade. The excitement at that time was of course amazing, but I was so happy that many people, from LLBean fans to people who don't know the brand, turned to this wrapped bootmobile in other cities, left Boston and was still very memorable.

Another thing is that on a long tour we continued our journey with our own outdoor gear in the trunk of our bootmobile. When you find a good place on your journey, you can enjoy hunting and fishing. Through the experience of enjoying nature all over the United States, I once again felt the wonders of the outdoors and the power to heal people.

Eddie wants more people in Japan to know about LLBean through this campaign. Compared to America, where nature is connected to the outside of the home, in Japan, where it is difficult to get to experience the "real" outdoors from a child, what kind of message and thoughts do you want to convey as a brand?

It's a question that's difficult to answer easily, but the root of the question remains the same. The only thing we can do for people who have yet to realize the value of nature is that we have to strive to continue to drive them into the outdoors. This means that we must make appropriate suggestions by staff who have more contact points (stores) and have practical knowledge and experience. This is also the mission of LLBean, which leads to taking customers outside and leading them to wanting to play in nature.

We also asked about what I personally wanted to ask as a mountain lover, what strengths LLBean has about high-performance products aimed at serious hiking and Alpine, and what approach it uses to develop products.

It is true that items like bean boots and tote bags are popular in Japan, but I hope that people will learn that they offer products across all outdoor activities. In our home country in the United States, our team works together to create the best products that can withstand harsh hiking.

Taking the long-selling classic hiking boot "Cresta Hiker," the developers have spent a long period of field testing on the 2,500-mile Appalachian Trail, which begins in Maine, where the company is located. Many other employees, including designers, who are not directly involved in development, bring products that are currently under development into the field, and use the feedback there to develop them. All LLBean employees are outdoor enthusiasts, and in that sense they can take their products seriously. By the way, I often bring in fly fishing gear that is currently being developed in another section to test it in an environment where the river freezes and gets buried in snow.

Plus, as with all LLBean products, if you are not satisfied with the product you purchased, you can return it at any time. This spirit of "delving only products that will satisfy our users" has not changed by a millimeter since the beginning of LLBean's development of bean boots . I would be very happy if many of the products, which are filled with the desires of these brands, will become popular in Japan as well.

Although it was rarely talked about, I never thought that it would be this thorough, and I suddenly became interested. From now on, the editorial department will be looking forward to keeping an eye on LLBean's authentic outdoor gear, so please look forward to future reviews!

OGZ to readers: "Answer a survey and give away LLBean Boat and Tote Bags! '

To all our readers, LLBean has given us a not-for-sale model with a classic boat and tote bag (open top, small size) and a cute bootmobile embroidery! Therefore, we would like to give away four people (2 reds, 2 blues) from those who answer the survey using the link below. To apply, use the Google application form at the link below! The application period is until June 9th, 2017. Winners will be announced at a later date only to the winners.

"Answer the survey and receive a LLBean boat and tote bag! ' Application Form (Applications have closed)

Application period: Until 24:00 on June 9th, 2017 (applications are closed)

For more information about gift items, click here (go to LLBean online shopping site) ⇒

LLBean BootsMobil Japan Tour Promotion Campaign Overview

LLBean International Japan Branch will be holding city tours driving around the metropolitan area and events at stores, and will also be holding promotions to help people "rediscover" the appeal of LLBean through campaigns such as Twitter and Instagram, and aim to advance to becoming a brand that is even more popular and beloved in Japan.

Twitter: "Follow and retweet campaign commemorating the birth of Bootsmobile"

50 people who follow the official LLBean BootsMobil (@Bootmobile_JP) Twitter account and retweet tweets will be entered into a lottery to receive a bean, boots, and keychain.

Official Twitter account: https://twitter.com/Bootmobile_JP

Period: April 26, 2017 to the end of July 2017

Instagram and Twitter "Boots Mobile Photo Contest"

Ten people who discovered a bootmobile in the city, took a photo and uploaded an image with the "#Bootmobile" will receive 8-inch bean boots, a model of the bootmobile.

Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/llbeanJapan/

Period: Thursday, April 27th, 2017 to the end of September 2017

Store

A "bootsmobile" is coming to the store! Fun games and photo shoots where you can win coupons will be held on the following dates

• Saturday, May 13th and Sunday, May 14th 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 branch
• Saturday, July 8th and Sunday, July 9th Kameari Store
• Umeda store on Sunday, July 16th and Monday, July 17th
• Saturday, July 22nd and Sunday, July 23rd Tressa Yokohama Store
• Musashimurayama store, Saturday, July 29th and Sunday, July 30th

event

July 1st (Saturday) and 2nd (Sunday) Yoyogi Park Earth Garden "Summer" 2017 Exhibition Scheduled