The son of the founder of the Rockport Shoe Company died in Greenbrae, Calif., on June 26. He died at the age of75.
Roger said his brother died from a fall at his home.
The foundation of the business was created by Mr. Katz in the late 70s. The company was one of the first to use features like foot beds to provide internal comfort.
Robert Goldberg, the president of Harry's Shoes, said in a phone interview that Bruce was the first person to understand the concept of building footwear for walking and comfort. The rubber-soled shoe business grew from that.
If you were a foot, the ads for the shoe would make you want to vomit.
The campaign was designed to turn walking into a fitness activity. Robert Sweetgall, a chemical engineer, walked around the United States for a year in 1984 to demonstrate the cardiovascular benefits of walking. He promoted events with the American Lung Association and funded research about walking.
Mr. Katz told The Boston Globe that they wanted to walk like Jane Fonda. It takes a lot of people to make it happen.
The company had sales of $65 million in 1985. Reebok acquired the company for $118.6 million when it was expected to sell more than 100 million units.
Mr. Katz built a sailing yacht called Juliet, which he took around the world. The Well, an online community he bought in 1994, is one of the ventures he invested in.
After 27 years away from the shoe business, he came back and started the Samuel Hubbard Shoe Company.
He was born on February 17, 1947. The Hubbard Shoe Company was taken over by Saul's father after he was drafted by his grandfather. His mother was a social worker.
Bruce received a bachelor's degree in engineering physics from Cornell University. Cheap imports flooded the United States shoe market and caused the Hubbard Shoe Company to close. He and his brother gave their father money from their trust funds to start a business that would import shoes from Brazil.
Bruce had enough money in his trust fund to start his business. His brother said that he imported English double-decker buses and taxicabs to the U.S., as well as buying and selling steel to build a sailboat.
His father wanted to sell his shoes.
He had a container full of shoes from Brazil that was too late to be accepted by his original customers and was sitting in storage. He wanted to know if you could sell those for your boat project. I started selling moccasins around the countryside.
The boat was put on hold as he continued to sell shoes. He came up with a design for a lightweight, comfortable shoe that became the first popular product.
Roger said that his father and brother worked well together.
He said that his father was a manufacturing genius. He had no idea how to market. My brother was good at creating a brand and presence.
He said that the company was sold to Reebok because his father and brother were nearing the end of their lives.
Mr. Katz is survived by his family, including his brother, brother-in-law, and child.
While attending a trade show in Las Vegas, Mr. Katz met a man who was about to retire.
Mr Wyrsch said that he was told to walk around. He picked up a shoe here and a shoe there, imports from Vietnam and Cambodia, and decided to do it again. Let's teach them how to make shoes again.
Mr. Wyrsch served as senior vice president of product development. The company uses more luxurious European leathers and advanced technology, but still focuses on lightweight, casual comfort.
The architect who designed the distribution center for Rockport and the first store in Marlboro, Mass., said he was not surprised that his brother went back to the shoe business.
He said that Bruce didn't have the kind of success he wanted. He wanted another big success. He said that he was successful in shoes.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
