Finish Line

Finish Line In 1976 two friends named David Klapper and Alan Cohen paired together to run a franchise that would come to be known as the Athlete’s Foot. Athlete’s Foot was a large athletic footwear business. By 1981 Klapper and Cohen’s vision grew larger than what the Athlete’s Foot franchise was able to contain. In this year Klapper and Cohen decided to open their own franchise as a spin off of the Athlete’s Foot; they named it Finish Line. Cohen and Klapper were phenomenal businessmen, but they needed help getting started. In 1981 they added two more partners named Larry Sablosky and Dave Fagin. This year, 1981, was the grand opening year of Finish Line. When Finish Line had first opened Klapper and Cohen still owned ten Athlete 's Foot stores. In 1986 Klapper and Cohen’s Athlete’s Foot franchises were due to expire. After the expiration Klapper and Cohen then converted all of the Athlete 's Foot stores that they had previously owned into Finish Line stores in 1986 when their franchises expired. Finish Line has had a lot of success in its lifetime. Leaders of the company say that this can be attributed to many things, such as: superior executive leadership, structured growth, great knowledge of the athletic industry, and great following of a well thought out mission. Their mission statement is clear and concise about what they will provide and attain to do and be. This mission states, "Finish Line will provide the best selection of sport inspired footwear, apparel and accessories to fit the fast culture of action addicted individuals." Finish Line executes this plan with now more than 11,500 employees, the main headquarters being located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Finish Line’s products have expanded significantly since its beginning. They are known for their wall of shoes which could have between 600 and 1,300 different kinds of athletic footwear. These include running, basketball, aerobics, gym, walking, hiking, cross-training, cleats,