L.L.Bean has added Von Maur Department Store as a Wholesale Partner for its iconic outdoor gear. Starting this fall, the company’s stores and online channels will begin offering the latest assortment of L.L.Bean favorites for men, women and kids, including select outerwear, clothing, footwear and accessories.
The two private, family-owned companies have each been in business for well over a century.
“For more than 150 years, we have prided ourselves on the company we keep,” said Jim von Maur, president and fourth-generation leader, Von Maur Department Stores. “With L.L.Bean, we share a kindred spirit grounded in offering great products delivered with great service. We are thrilled this iconic American company will offer Von Maur shoppers a new way to outfit their family’s active lifestyle through their high-quality and reasonably priced products.”
Von Maur currently operates 37 department stores in 15 states and will open two new stores – at South Hills Village in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Fall 2024) and at West Acres Mall in Fargo, N.D. (Spring 2025), continuing the 152-year-old retailer’s strategic national growth strategy. In addition to its two new planned locations, Von Maur is also in the midst of an extensive, multi-phased, $100 million renovation of its stores over the next five years.
“Wholesale partnerships continue to be an important part of how we make the L.L.Bean brand accessible to customers across the U.S. and advance our purpose of enabling people to experience the restorative power of being outside,” said Charlie Bruder, VP of Wholesale, L.L.Bean. “As we evaluate potential wholesale partnerships through our brand lens, Von Maur’s retail expertise, values, and commitment to customer service made it feel like a natural fit for L.L.Bean.”
Last fall, L.L.Bean added Dillard’s and Academy Sports + Outdoor as Wholesale Partners.
L.L.Bean opened its first wholesale accounts through an agreement in 2018 to sell products in Sporting Life, Hudson’s Bay and Mountain Equipment Co-Op stores in Canada. The brand did not have any stores in Canada at the time.
In the U.S., L.L.Bean opened its first wholesale accounts in 2020 when it agreed to sell its products in Nordstrom, Staples and Scheels. At the time, the retailer stated that its products were under-represented in the marketplace through its owned stores and e-commerce site.
Image courtesy L.L.Bean