Jansport Marketing Plan
Organization Background
JanSport Company is the leading designer not only for backpacks, but with shoulder bags, luggage and laptops bags. It was founded in Washington State during the year of 1967. It was started by a Seattle native named Murray Pletz. Since then JanSport has changed dramatically and now is available nationwide.
Murray Pletz had won a competition sponsored by the Alcoa aluminum company. The idea was to design a new backpack using aluminum. Murray Pletz designed an aluminum flexible-frame backpack and that allowed him first place in this competition. That is when he thought about starting a new business that makes high quality backpacks. His goal was to make great hiking bags.
With his winnings from the backpack design he decided to start the JanSport Company. He turned to his cousin Skip Howell for his business partner. They formed the company and as they started to make the backpacks, he decided that he was going to need another person that was able to sew.
This is when he turned to his girlfriends at the time. Her name is Jan Lewis. He offered her a deal that she could not refuse. If she was to help him sew what he needed so that he could sell the backpacks, that he would name the company after her. Also, he added that she had to marry him in order for this work. That is how the company got its name. They were married in 1972 and were married until 1984.
They eventually became divorced and split apart. Murray Pletz left the company to return to his normal life and his cousin Skip and Jan continued to keep the company going. Jan and Skip were searching for answers in what to do with the company since it had lost it leader.
In 1986, Jan and Skip sold the company to the VF Corporation. This is same company that makes Lee, wrangler jeans. Since then, then company has gained much strength and power. They turned from a small three man team to a large company known nationwide.
In the 1990s is when Jansport took off in sales. A lot of it was help
JanSport Company is the leading designer not only for backpacks, but with shoulder bags, luggage and laptops bags. It was founded in Washington State during the year of 1967. It was started by a Seattle native named Murray Pletz. Since then JanSport has changed dramatically and now is available nationwide.
Murray Pletz had won a competition sponsored by the Alcoa aluminum company. The idea was to design a new backpack using aluminum. Murray Pletz designed an aluminum flexible-frame backpack and that allowed him first place in this competition. That is when he thought about starting a new business that makes high quality backpacks. His goal was to make great hiking bags.
With his winnings from the backpack design he decided to start the JanSport Company. He turned to his cousin Skip Howell for his business partner. They formed the company and as they started to make the backpacks, he decided that he was going to need another person that was able to sew.
This is when he turned to his girlfriends at the time. Her name is Jan Lewis. He offered her a deal that she could not refuse. If she was to help him sew what he needed so that he could sell the backpacks, that he would name the company after her. Also, he added that she had to marry him in order for this work. That is how the company got its name. They were married in 1972 and were married until 1984.
They eventually became divorced and split apart. Murray Pletz left the company to return to his normal life and his cousin Skip and Jan continued to keep the company going. Jan and Skip were searching for answers in what to do with the company since it had lost it leader.
In 1986, Jan and Skip sold the company to the VF Corporation. This is same company that makes Lee, wrangler jeans. Since then, then company has gained much strength and power. They turned from a small three man team to a large company known nationwide.
In the 1990s is when Jansport took off in sales. A lot of it was help
References: * "History of JanSport, Inc. – FundingUniverse." Find Funding with Banks, Investors, and Other Funding Sources | FundingUniverse. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/jansport-inc-history/>. * "Jansport." Free educational resources for Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Colleges and Universities . N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infomat.net/infomat/rd741/rd * JanSport - Home." JanSport. N.p., n.d. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. http://www.jansport.com/js_home.php * Size. (n.d.). JanSport History » eBags Video . eBags Video » Home . Retrieved October 9, 2012, from http://video.ebags.com/v/564/jansport-history-backpack-superbreak-colors-livewire/