An American manufacturing success story.
New Balance is the only athletic shoe company still producing in the US.
Watch the associates of our Skowhegan, Maine factory in their Made in the USA video.
Tag Archives: 993
New Balance: U.S. Manufacturing Commitment
by: Molly Line
As companies across America look to cut costs, shipping jobs overseas, finding a ‘made in the USA’ label can be hard to do, particularly when it comes to apparel and footwear.
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There are more than 30 companies that manufacture footwear in American, but only one athletic shoe company that still makes shoes in the United States. Boston based New Balance churns out 7 million pairs a year from five New England factories- two in Massachusetts, three in Maine.
25% percent of the company’s shoes sold in North America are made or assembled by U.S. workers .
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over the last decade, from January 2000 to June 2010, more than 5.6 million manufacturing jobs have been lost in the United States. That’s a staggering decline of nearly 33 percent.
New Balance CEO, Rob Demartini, admits it’s a challenge to stay competitive in the world market but says the company’s commitment to domestic manufacturing is firm.
“It’s really part of the fabric of the company. we’ve been manufacturing athletic shoes since 1938,” said DeMartini. “We think in an industry where there a lot of shared manufacturing, knowing how to make the product, helps us. It also gets us a lot closer to the consumer.”
Since it’s founding in 1906, New Balance has grown into a global brand with world wide annual sales topping 1.6 billion dollars.
“I think every business faces challenges everyday and I think the differentials that exist between markets are getting closer together as the global economy is becoming more intertwined,” said DeMartini. “Yeah, it’s definitely a challenge, but we accept it and have been very successful at it.”
DeMartini said the company is growing modestly, despite the recession, due to efforts to keep manufacturing lean and streamlined.
Regional manufacturing manager, Claudio Gelman, says a dedicated workforce deserves the credit for increasing production speeds and maintaining quality.
“Six years ago it would take us eight days, from the moment of cutting a shoe, I’m talking about the made in the USA shoe, to packing,” said Gelman. “Which means there was a lot of inventory, which we’ve reduced 90 percent and a lot of travel time that we’ve reduced by 60 percent. And the lead time, the time it took to make a pair of shoes, went from eight days to three hours.”
New Balance also maintains a manufacturing and client base in Asia and Europe.
“We’re growing in a number of places right now, our Asia business in particular. In Korea and China we are growing very rapidly. We’ve had a strong business for well over 20 years in Japan. It’s our second biggest market outside of the US and we’re feeling very good about that business,” explains DeMartini. “In Europe, where Adidas is kind of on the continent and Nike had been there longer than us, we have our challenges but we’re making real inroads in a tough elite running market in Germany and France and that’s got us very encouraged as well.”
New Balance: official footwear and apparel provider for the United States Military
–Press Release–
New Balance Opens Retail Store in Pentagon
July 14th 2010
Boston, MA – New Balance is pleased to announce the opening of a retail store in the Pentagon in Washington, DC on July 14, 2010. The store will specialize in athletic and lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories and will carry New Balance’s line of military 993 running shoes that are manufactured in the United States.
“New Balance is extremely honored to be selected as one of the retail stores located in the Pentagon,” said Stephanie Smith, vice president of retail for New Balance. “With our strong American heritage, we are thrilled at the opportunity to showcase our brand in this prestigious location.”
The 3600 square foot store will offer a complete line of New Balance performance footwear specifically designed for athletic activities such as running, walking, tennis, training and basketball. Styles for men, women and kids are available in widths ranging from 2A to 6E, and the store will also feature a full line of New Balance high-performance apparel and athletic accessories. The store will carry a full line of Dunham rugged casual footwear and Aravon® comfort performance footwear.
“The New Balance Store in the Pentagon’s design is all about welcoming and connecting with our consumers,” says Kirsten Marchand, senior store planner for New Balance. “Through the store’s design, historical New Balance images are merged with new ones, celebrating the company’s rich heritage in design and development, and translating it into New Balance’s current product innovation.”
The New Balance store will feature environmentally-responsible design elements including a Dakota Burl slat wall — a composite material made out of recycled sunflower seed husks for the store’s perimeter, a cash wrap counter made out of 75% recycled materials, renewable linoleum flooring, and the use of low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and fixture finishes.
“For New Balance, lowering our environmental impact is a continual and evolving process,” adds Marchand.
The New Balance store will be located on the Pentagon Concourse, the Pentagon’s retail shopping area and will be accessible to Pentagon employees and visitors.
“New Balance is committed to serving our government and military customers,” says Portia Blunt, military business manager for New Balance. “Our new retail store in the Pentagon will offer easy access and expanded services to the Pentagon populace and make buying high performance athletic footwear and apparel easier than ever.”
New Balance has been designated as an official footwear and apparel provider for the United States Military. New Balance holds the distinction as the only athletic shoe company that currently manufactures shoes in the U.S.
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. New Balance employs more than 4000 people around the globe, and in 2009 reported worldwide sales of $1.65 billion.
Everything New Balance
Good Diabetic Shoes
Diabetic neuropathy refers to nerve damage that can cause loss of sensation or numbness or the opposite, hypersensitivity. This condition usually manifests itself in the feet and lower extremities first.
Shoe Recommendations:
Running: 1123, 1012, 993, 760, 587
Pressure Relief Insole and an SL-2 shoe with plenty of room.
See ALL approved New Balance styles HERE
SADMERC & PDAC Approved Styles |
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| The Pricing, Data Analysis and Coding (PDAC) has reviewed the documentation and information submitted for HCPCS Coding. The PDAC conducts reviews of products to determine the correct HCPCS code(s) of DMEPOS for Medicare billing.
It is our determination that the Medicare HCPCS code(s) to bill the four Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carriers (DMERCs) is/are: A550 For diabetics only, fitting (including follow-up), custom preparation and supply of off-the-shelf depth-inlay shoe manufactured to accommodate multi-density insert(s) per shoe. This HCPCS coding decision applies to the submitted products(s) as presented to and reviewed by the PDAC. Any modifications to the products(s) could change the HCPCS code and would need to be reviewed for coding verification. The assignment of a HCPCS code the product(s) should in no way be construed as an approval or endorsement of the product(s) by PDAC or Medicare, nor does it imply or guarantee claim reimbursement or coverage. For questions regarding claim coverage or reimbursement please contact your regional DMERC here. |
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Shoes that Help with Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar refers to the sole, while fascia is a fibrous band of elastic tissue connected from the heel to all five joints (metatarsal heads) behind the toes. The inflammation of this tissue is plantar fasciitis which causes heel and arch pain.
Shoe Recommendations:
Running: 1226, 1225, 1123, 1012, 993, 760, 587
Cross-Training: 855
Stabilizer Insole, Ultra Arch Insole
Additional, the Pro-Stretch.
HEEL PAIN CAN BE CURED
Heel pain among weekend sports participants, runners, and those beginning exercise programs is reaching epidemic proportions. Furthermore, heel pain is one of the most common and persistent foot problems affecting men and women. It originates deep within the foot, directly on the heel bone, or within the foot’s connective tissue — the fascia. The plantar fascia is a very thick band of tissue that covers the bones on the bottom of the foot. Pain results in the heel or arch when these tissues become irritated or inflamed or when small spurs grow on the heel bone itself.
It is estimated that 15 percent of all adult foot complaints involve plantar fasciitis, the type of heel pain caused by chronic inflammation of the connective tissue extending from the heel bone to the toes.
Plantar fasciitis occurs most frequently in adults 40 years and older, especially women. Being overweight and wearing inappropriate footwear are common contributing factors. The pain is most noticeable after getting out of bed in the morning, and it tends to decrease after a few minutes and returns during the day as time on the feet increases.
Many patients attempt self remedies for heel pain, such as anti-inflammatory medications and over-the-counter heel pads, before seeking medical advice. To help diagnose the origin of heel pain, physicians take a thorough history to learn the time of day when the heel pain occurs, types of shoes worn most frequently, activity levels at work or during recreation, and if there has been any recent trauma to the area. X-rays often are taken to check for heel spurs, which indicate that the condition has been present for 6 to 12 months. Generally, the longer that heel pain persists, the longer it takes to cure it.
Not all heel pain, however, is caused by plantar fasciitis. It also can occur from inflammation of the Achilles tendon, bursitis, arthritis, gout, stress fractures, or irritation of one or more of the nerves in the region. Sometimes in such cases, heel pain could be a symptom of a serious medical condition that should be diagnosed and treated separately.
- Stretching the calf muscles regularly
- Wearing the proper shoes. Shoes that do well to help with plantar fasciitis include those with strong arch support (This is different than high arch support). To determine whether or not a shoe has strong arch support, a torsion test is required. During the torsion test look for shoes that are stiff in the arch area and do not bend/flex in that area. If an athletic shoe bends in the middle, it may not provide the required stability and protection against heel pain. A shoe should bend in the area in which the toes bend and not at the arch.
- Using over-the-counter orthotics by New Balance, Spenco, Powerstep or Lynco (these orthotics are firm/hard through the arch; they are not soft, cushioned all-purpose inserts like Dr. Scholl’s).
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications
- Padding and strapping of the foot around the arch
- Injections of corticosterioids.Most patients with plantar fasciitis respond to conservative treatment within six weeks. If improvement occurs, initial therapy is continued until the heel pain is resolved. But if heel pain persists, the patient should be referred to a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon for further evaluation and more specialized treatment.
Conservative Treatment Works
Initial treatment options for heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis include the following:
Treatments for Persistent Heel Pain
When conservative treatment fails to remedy heel pain, surgical options that may be considered are removal of a heel spur and separation of the fascial tissue from the heel bone (plantar fasciotomy). During surgery to separate fascial tissue, the podiatric foot and ankle surgeon makes a small incision on the inside of the heel and gently cuts away the tissue. During this procedure, if heel spurs are present they may removed after the fascial tissue is detached from the heel bone.
Heel pain surgery normally is performed on an outpatient basis. A cast might be needed to immobilize the foot for two or three weeks after surgery and about a month of physical therapy is recommended after that. With no complications, recovery is complete in six to eight weeks.
A relatively new non-invasive technique, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, also is effective for treating severe, chronic heel pain in adults. This new procedure uses a lithotriptor device — similar to those used to eliminate kidney stones — to generate shock waves aimed at the treatment site. The shock waves achieve therapeutic results by increasing blood flow to trigger a healing response. This eases inflammation in the heel and relieves chronic pain.
With several surgical and non-surgical treatment alternatives available, heel pain should not be tolerated as a consequence of aging, injury, disease or regular physical activity. Sometimes a simple modification of daily activities to reduce stress on the feet can help relieve it. But for those with persistent heel pain, podiatric foot and ankle surgeons are the experts to consult for determining the most appropriate treatments.
Kerri Russell sports 993s
Actress Keri Russell sports her New Balance 993s as she walks about town.
Oprah and Jennifer Hudson trying out New Balance rock&tone
Eliza Dushku and Rick Fox 993s
Eliza Dushku and Rick Fox sport their 993s for Children’s Hospital charity event in held in Boston.
TriCity New Balance 