Finish Line - Case Study

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Recommended: Athletic footwear industry analysis

History

In 1976, two friends, Alan Cohen and David Klapper, partnered to run a franchise called Athlete’s Foot. Athlete’s Foot was a large athletic footwear business. By 1981, Cohen and Klapper’s vision had grown larger than what Athlete’s Foot was able to contain. Therefore, in 1981, Cohen and Klapper decided to open their own company as a spin off of Athlete’s Foot. They decided to call it Finish Line. At the time of Finish Line’s start up, Cohen and Klapper still maintained 10 Athlete’s Foot stores. After the first Finish Line stores were opened, Cohen and Klapper converted all previous Athlete’s Foot stores into Finish Line stores in 1986 when their franchises expired. As of 2002, Finish line was the second largest athletic retailer with over 550 stores in 46 states.

Finish Line’s success can be attributed to many things, such as, great knowledge of the athletic industry, structured growth, superior executive leadership, and great following of a well thought out mission. This mission states, “Finish Line will provide the best selection of sport inspired footwear, apparel and accessories to fit the fast culture of action addicted individuals.” Finish Line’s success has come via many milestones throughout their history. Finish Line’s milestones are documented in the following timeline.

Finish Line Timeline

• October 1976 - Finish Line opens its doors for the first time as a chain of the Athlete's Foot.

• 1981 - Two additional partners, Dave Fagin and Larry Sablosky, are brought on board, and the first Finish Line stores are opened.

• 1986 - The Athlete's Foot franchise expires, and all Athlete's Foot stores are converted to Finish Line.

• October 1991 - Finish Line opens 100th store. Stores are located primarily in the Midwest

• 1992 - Finish Line becomes a publicly traded company traded on NASDAQ (FINL).

• July 1995 - Finish Line opens 200th store.

• November 1997 - Finish Line opens 300th store.

• February 1999 - Finish Line hits a record $500 million in sales (for Fiscal 1998).

• July 1999 - Finish Line records its first online sales on www.finishline.com.

• September 1999 - Finish Line opens 400th store.

• 2002 - Finish Line becomes the second largest athletic retailer (based on sales revenues), and expands the company to over 480 stores across the nation.

• June 10, 2003 - Finish Line breaks ground on $20 million expansion to its Indianapolis based corporate headquarters and distribution center.

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