| L.L. Bean, Inc. | Casco St., Freeport, ME 04033 |
| www.llbean.com | (207) 865-4761 Fax: (207) 552-6821 |
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L.L. Cool Bean
When he combined lightweight leather tops with waterproof rubber bottoms to create the "Bean Boot" in 1912, Maine outdoorsman Leon Leonwood Bean was just warming up. After selling 100 "guaranteed" pairs, he had to refund 90 of them, because the stitching on the boots had failed. He improved the shoe, added more products, and by 1917, opened a showroom in his Maine workshop based on the demand his mail-order business had generated. In 1951, he "threw away the keys" to keep the store open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By the end of the 1950s, sales totaled about $2 million. L.L. Bean now sells more than 16,000 products with close to 30 catalogs. Although 3 million people now visit the flagship Freeport store annually, 80 percent of the company's business is still done through the mail - its mailing list exceeds 115 million.
Climbing to the top in mail-order
L.L. Bean died in 1967 at the age of 94. His long life, he said, was the result of his lifelong interest in the outdoors. Since then, Bean's grandson Leon A. Gorman - who has climbed Mount Rainier and Mount Kilimanjaro - has led the company to the top of the international mail-order business. While the company has always been strong in Canada and has made headway in Europe by setting up a toll-free line for British customers, its business in Japan has exploded in recent years. According to the Japan Postal Bureau, over 80 percent of the international express mail packages shipped into Japan in 1995 were from L.L. Bean. The company has established stores and a customer service center in Japan.
L.L. Bean sprouts
Kids need rugged weekend wear too, a fact that L.L. Bean has learned from the skyrocketing sales of the L.L. Kids division, started in 1993. The company opened a separate children's store in 1997, just across the parking lot from its flagship store. In keeping with its role as an innovator, L.L. Bean hopped onto the information superhighway in 1997, with the introduction of online ordering through its company web site. The site's hottest sellers so far: boots, bookpacks, and maple syrup.
In 1999, the company created a business casual womenswear catalog, Freeport Studio, and entered the wilderness market by announcing that it would open retail stores along the East Coast. Complementing the Maine flagship, L.L. Bean is building major stores in McLean, VA, and in Columbia, MD. The retailer has also recently teamed with Subaru to create the Outback H6-3.0 L.L.Bean Edition.
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Though the hiring process varies by department, many report that temping is the best way to get your foot in the door. Hiring is typically handled by Human Resources, and by the hiring manager of each department. "Most people get their foot in the door by accepting temporary positions," one insider reports, "the company really tries to promote from within." L.L. Bean hires a large number (close to 3,000) of seasonal employees for the peak holiday season, which begins for most areas of the company in May or June.
Resumes and cover letters should be sent to L.L. Bean, Inc., Employment Department, Casco St. Freeport Maine 04033. The company should acknowledge receipt of the resume within 30 days, and keeps the information active for a year. The vast majority of these hires are telephone representatives.
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Love that retail discount
Insiders turn in mixed reviews for the Maine-based retailer. One notes, "Questions about working for Bean can be answered with two words, "it depends." For most people, the LLB work experience is wonderful, for others it might not be the best choice. One unambiguous insider says Bean is "without a doubt the best company I have ever worked for." Invariably, insiders regard the retail discount (1/3 off for employees) as a major plus.
Hands-on may be an understatement
Company culture varies from department to department with the creative product development areas "a little looser," and the advertising and marketing planning divisions "more corporate-like." Dress also varies, but appears to tip toward the tight-buttoned side; one employee remarks that the workers "all enjoy" the Friday casual days. Another plus: insiders praise "lots of opportunities to learn about the company's products through hands-on experience." One notes: "Since I started working here, I've learned how to fly fish, kayak, and canoe. I've also taken classes in bicycle maintenance, cooking in the wilderness, use of a compass, and archery."
Way up north
On the downside, some report that working for Bean may not be as picture perfect as the company's catalogues. The company's rural locale, while a plus for many nature-lovers, doesn't always earn praise from Bean workers. "Maine is one of the biggest debates at Bean," says one insider. "It is a great place to live, but some feel removed from the outside world. In other words, if you live in New York City, there are literally hundreds of retail operations that you have to choose from. On the other hand, LLB is the only major retailer with a base in Maine, so if you don't like the company, the options are limited." "If you like the Maine lifestyle, it's great. It especially helps if you like snow & cold," another reports.
Down-to-earth hours and attire
A "strong work ethic" keeps employees working hard, but at "humane" hours. "People show up around 8 and it's pretty empty by 5," says one insider, "Still, it's expected that you'll get the work done." Career paths vary by department, though "people tend to stay in a functional area and then rise through the ranks." One insider reports, "Recently, there has been pretty slow growth, and that limits room for advancement." The dress code is becoming more casual, with many men leaving their ties at home. Many wear the "dressier clothes from the catalogue," for the majority of the week, and don jeans on casual Fridays. One reports, "there are the occasional pair of shorts in the summertime, and I've seen Tevas at more than one meeting."
Diversity lacking
Many criticize L.L. Bean for reflecting the patriarchal and provincial aspects of northern New England. "I have heard complaints that there are not enough women at the top of the ladder, but I think the company knows this and has been working to address this somewhat over the years," says one insider. The company's efforts may be working. One analyst in Information Services notes, "Bean has taken a strong position about treating everyone equally. As I have moved around the department, I have had just as many women as my boss as men." Another reports, "I think that women are well represented in all, but the highest levels of management." And as far as ethnic minorities are concerned, what color, without exception, are the faces in the L.L. Bean catalogs' Employees reported equal treatment of minorities, but one admitted that diversity is not a company strength: "Maine does not have large mixes of ethnic communities, but I think we have a population of minorities here proportional to the community and state." One Asian-American employee reports, "I have always felt that Bean's employee makeup simply reflects the general population, which is pretty white. The bigger issue is being a minority in Maine, not just being a minority at L.L. Bean."
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Human Resources
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Clothing; Outdoor Goods
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REI
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