Boat shoes have been popular in for decades. Dock siders were one of the products that made Timberland a household name. Overall, the shoe style is a bit of a commodity. Pretty much every shoe company makes or has made them.
But can you name brands for the classic boat shoe?
Sperry is one of them and they are now trying to grow into a – wait for it – lifestyle brand. Reports NY Magazine:
… Sperry is expanding into accessories like swimsuits, belts, scarves, and sunglasses. Apparently business has been booming lately (probably owing to the same people who have been buying all those L.L. Bean duck boots), so the company’s signed a number of new licensing deals. The brand extensions, set to drop for spring 2013, will soon include apparel, if all goes well.
And then Sperry announced the signing of three new license agreements for luggage, watches and eyewear.
The new collections will launch in Spring 2013.
Distribution will be through wholly owned Sperry Top-Sider specialty retail stores, sperrytopsider.com and premium department stores and specialty retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
The licensee for luggage is Hartmann.
Geneva Watch Group took the license for watches.
L’Amy America is the licensee for sunglasses and ophthalmic eyewear.