New Balance announced 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 said it 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 employs more than 4000 people around the globe, and in 2009 reported worldwide sales of $1.65 billion.
