FREEPORT, Maine — L.L. Bean, known for selling its trademark boots via catalog for more than a century, plans to make a bigger push into brick-and-mortar retail by more than tripling the number of locations in the next five years, officials said Wednesday.
The Maine-based company, which is coming off five years of increasing revenue, will open four stores this year before accelerating growth with a goal of “at least 100” by 2020, president and CEO Chris McCormick told workers in a memo Wednesday.
The retail push will include L.L. Bean’s first West Coast presence with the opening of stores in the Pacific Northwest. Bean currently has 26 full-price retail stores, including one in Park Meadows mall.
The retail strategy makes sense in an era where shoppers have come to expect the convenience of making purchases in stores, on phones and on computers, said retail analyst Walter Loeb.
“Brick-and-mortar stores will enable more customers to shop comfortably. It’s a good idea,” Loeb said.
