View source for Brooks Sports

{{short description|Sportswear company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Brooks Sports, Inc.
| logo = Brooks Sports 201x logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
| caption = 
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1914}} in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| founder = John Brooks Goldenberg
| location = 
| location_city = [[Seattle]], Washington
| location_country = U.S.
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Dan Sheridan ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| industry = [[Sports equipment]]
| products = [[Sneakers]], [[clothing]]
| services = 
| revenue = {{increase}} {{US$|1.2 billion}} (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ciment |first=Shoshy |date=2023-02-21 |title=Brooks Global Sales Hit $1.2 Billion in 2022 As the Running Category Soars |url=https://footwearnews.com/shoes/outdoor-footwear/brooks-global-revenue-2022-running-market-1203412731/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=[[Footwear News]]}}</ref>
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| aum = 
| assets = 
| equity = 
| owner = 
| num_employees = {{circa|1,100}}
| parent = [[Berkshire Hathaway]]
| divisions = 
| subsid = 
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.brooksrunning.com/|brooksrunning.com}}
| footnotes = 
| intl = 
}}
'''Brooks Sports, Inc.''', also known as '''Brooks Running''', is an American [[sports equipment]] company that designs and markets high-performance men's and women's [[sneakers]], [[clothing]], and accessories. Headquartered in [[Seattle]], Washington, Brooks products are available in 60 countries worldwide. It is a subsidiary of [[Berkshire Hathaway]].<ref name="Inc Reinvented">{{cite news|last1=Tracy|first1=Abigail|title=How Brooks Reinvented Its Brand|url=https://www.inc.com/abigail-tracy/how-brooks-running-became-an-industry-leader.html|access-date=15 December 2017|work=Inc.|date=April 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name="CNBC">{{cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Lauren|title=Brooks Running sees double-digit sales growth despite unpredictability of sports retail|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/brooks-running-reports-double-digit-sales-growth.html|access-date=15 December 2017|work=CNBC|date=October 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Koopmans|first1=Kelley|title=How Brooks Running came back from the edge|url=http://komonews.com/news/local/how-brooks-running-came-back-from-the-edge|access-date=16 December 2017|work=KOMO News|date=February 23, 2017}}</ref>

Brooks, founded in 1914, originally manufactured shoes for a broad range of sports. Popular in the mid-1970s, the company faltered in the latter part of the decade, and filed for bankruptcy protection in 1981.<ref name="Inc Reinvented" /><ref name="Seattle Times 100">{{cite news|last1=Garnick|first1=Coral|title=Brooks Sports running strong at 100|url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2023884731_brooksanniversaryxml.html|access-date=17 December 2017|work=Seattle Times|date=June 19, 2014}}</ref> In 2001, the product line was cut by more than 50% to focus the brand solely on running, and its concentration on performance technology was increased. Brooks Running became the top selling brand in the specialty running shoe market in 2011,<ref name="Footwear News 2015">{{cite news|last1=Karlson|first1=Dana|title=Brooks Sprints Into 2015, Holds Top Spot with Runners|url=http://footwearnews.com/2015/focus/athletic-outdoor/brooks-sprints-into-2015-holds-top-spot-with-runners-8738/|access-date=17 December 2017|work=Footwear News|date=January 21, 2015}}</ref><ref name="nyt headquarters">{{cite news|last1=Max|first1=Sarah|title=Brooks Sports Moves New Home Closer to Trails|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/30/realestate/commercial/brooks-sports-moves-new-home-closer-to-trails.html?_r=0|access-date=19 December 2017|work=New York Times|date=July 29, 2014}}</ref> and remained so through 2017 with a 25% market share.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wahba|first=Phil|date=February 1, 2018|title=A Kindred Sole|url=<!--print edition-->|journal=Fortune|type=Print edition|page=30|issn=0015-8259}}</ref>

==History==
===Early history: Founding, Bruxshu Gymnasium Shoes, Carmen Manufacturing===

Brooks Sports, Inc. was founded in 1914 by John Brooks Goldenberg, following his purchase of the Quaker Shoe Company, a manufacturer of bathing shoes and ballet slippers.<ref name="Milestones">{{cite news|last1=FN Staff|title=Milestone: Brooks Looks Back at 100 Years|url=http://footwearnews.com/2014/business/news/milestone-brooks-looks-back-at-100-years-143799/|access-date=20 December 2017|work=Footwear News|date=May 12, 2014}}</ref> Based in Philadelphia, it operated as a partnership between John Goldenberg and his brothers, Michael and Frank. By 1920, Quaker Shoes had been renamed Brooks Shoe Manufacturing Co., Inc., and its shoes were sold under the brand name Bruxshu. In addition to bathing shoes and ballet slippers, it sold a gymnasium shoe, Ironclad Gyms.<ref name="1920 ad">{{cite news|title=Ironclad Gym Advertisement|url=http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1920/di1920-02-25.pdf|access-date=23 December 2017|work=Daily Iowan|date=February 25, 1920|page=5}}</ref> The company's innovations included the 1938 introduction of orthopedic shoes for children, Pedicraft,{{efn|They were also renowned for their football shoes, track shoes, baseball shoes and ice skates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/7743049/|title=Column|access-date=20 December 2017|work=Frederick News|date=September 29, 1966|page=14}}</ref>}} and rubber brakes for roller skates (then known as "quick stops"), patented in 1944.<ref name="patent for roller skates">{{cite web|title=US patent US2343007|url=http://www.google.sr/patents/US2343007|publisher=US Patent Office (Via Google), 1944|access-date=16 December 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Bruxshu_Ad_1920.jpg|thumb|170px|1920 ad for Bruxshu Gymnasium Shoes|left]]

In 1938, the Goldenbergs bought the Carmen Shoe Manufacturing Company in Hanover, Pennsylvania. Until 1957 a better grade leather was purchased, cut, stitched and fit in Philadelphia, while the same procedure in Hanover used lower grade materials. Both shoes were sold in Philadelphia under the Brooks name, and ranged from inexpensive to high-priced.<ref name="Union Law Suit">{{cite web|title=United Shoe Workers of America vs. Brooks vs. Brooks Manufacturing Co.|url=https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/183/568/1973464/|website=justia.com|publisher=US District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania|access-date=16 December 2017|date=May 2, 1960}}</ref> 
 
In 1956, after a series of operational changes, John notified his brother that he would not renew their partnership agreement, and Michael discussed expanding Carmen with his nephew, Frank's son Barton. In 1957, following the dissolution of the partnership, the existence of Brooks Shoe Manufacturing Company was terminated, and Michael and Barton each acquired 50% of Carmen. In 1958, Michael purchased Barton's interest in the company, and as the sole owner, he renamed Carmen the Brooks Manufacturing Company.<ref name="Union Law Suit" />
{{notelist}}

===1970s: Introduction of EVA, the Vantage, the Vanguard===
In 1975, under then CEO Jerome A. Turner, Brooks worked with elite runners, including [[Marty Liquori]], a former Olympian, to design a running shoe. The collaboration produced the Villanova, Brooks's first high-performance running shoe.<ref name="Run Happy">{{cite journal|last1=Terjesen, S. and|first1=Argue, E.|title=Run Happy: Entrepreneurship at Brooks|journal=International Journal of Sports Management and Marketing|date=2001|volume=7|issue=1/2|pages=133–139|url=https://www.academia.edu/3483651|access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref> It was the first running shoe to use [[Ethylene vinyl acetate|EVA]], an air-infused foam that was later adopted by other athletic brands.  Brooks followed the Villanova with the Vantage, a running shoe constructed with a wedge to address [[Pronation of the foot|overpronation]]. In 1977, based on newly developed measurements of cushioning, flexibility, and durability.<ref name="EVA runners world">{{cite news|last1=Beverly|first1=Jonathan|title=50 Years of (Mostly) Fantastic Footwear Innovation|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/running-shoes/50-years-of-mostly-fantastic-footwear-innovation|access-date=21 December 2017|work=Runners World|date=November 18, 2016}}</ref> The Vanguard was also introduced in the 1970s. Towards the end of the decade Brooks was among the top three selling brands in the US.<ref name="move to seattle 1991">{{cite news|last1=Gupta|first1=Hamanee|title=If the Shoe Fits: Firm Seeks Bigger Foothold In Market|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930621/1707542/if-the-shoe-fits----firm-seeks-bigger-foothold-in-market|access-date=21 December 2017|work=Seattle Times|date=June 21, 1994}}</ref>

===1980s: Bankruptcy, the Chariot, Brooks for Women===
In 1980, as a result of production issues with Brooks's manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico, defective shoes began to arrive at sporting goods stores. Nearly 30 percent of the shoes were returned, and Brooks scrapped 50,000 pairs. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and was purchased at auction by footwear manufacturer [[Wolverine World Wide]] in 1981.<ref name="Seattle Times 100" /><ref name="move to seattle 1991"/>

In 1982 Brooks introduced the Chariot, a medial post shoe that featured an angled wedge of harder-density foam in the midsole. It was thicker on the inside of the shoe and tapered toward the outside.<ref name="EVA runners world" /> In 1987 Brooks launched an anatomically adjusted line of shoes designed for women.<ref name="Milestones" />

===1990s: The Beast, Adrenaline, ownership changes, apparel, ''Run Happy''===
[[File:Brooks_Adrenaline_GTS_18.jpg|thumb|right|Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 (2017)]]
In 1992, Brooks launched the Beast, a motion control shoe that integrated diagonal rollbar technology. In 1994, the Adrenaline GTS—an abbreviation for go-to shoe—was released.  The Adrenaline GTS was built on a semi-curve, an accommodation for runners with a high arch and wide forefoot. The Beast became a best seller, and the Adrenaline GTS went on to become one of the best-selling running shoes of all time.<ref name="Footwear News 2015" /><ref name="Wayback wonders adrenaline">{{cite news|last1=RW staff|title=Wayback Wonders|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/running-shoes/wayback-wonders/slide/6|access-date=21 December 2017|work=Runner's World|date=September 10, 2013}}</ref>

Wolverine moved Brooks away from the niche running market to a generalist athletic brand. The "class to mass" strategy was unsuccessful, and Brooks was sold to Norwegian private equity company The Rokke Group for $21 million in 1993. Brooks moved to Rokke's Seattle location following its acquisition. In 1998, Rokke sold a majority interest in Brooks to J.H. Whitney & Co., a Connecticut private equity firm.<ref name="Buffett boook">{{cite book|last1=Cunningham|first1=Lawrence A.|title=Berkshire Beyond Buffett: The Enduring Value of Values|date=October 21, 2014|publisher=Columbia University Press|location=New York|isbn=9780231170048|pages=154, 155|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MVMZBQAAQBAJ&q=wolverine+sold+brooks&pg=PA154|access-date=23 December 2017}}</ref>

Brooks introduced a full-line of technical running and fitness apparel for women and men in the spring of 1997. It also expanded into the walking category with the introduction of performance walking shoes.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Apparel World: Companies|journal=Apparel International: The Journal of the Clothing and Footwear Institute|date=1997|volume=28}}</ref>

Brooks's ''Run Happy'' [[tag line]] first appeared in print advertising in 1999.<ref name="Seattle Times 100" /> Rather than depicting running as a grueling pursuit, as competitive brands did, ''Run Happy'' was based on the idea that runners love running, and suggested that Brooks products allowed "runners to have the running experience they were looking for".<ref name="NYT Transcend">{{cite news|last=Elliot|first=Stuart|title=New Running Shoe Line Says, 'Come Fly With Me'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/27/business/media/new-running-shoe-line-says-come-fly-with-me.html?_r=0|access-date=December 23, 2017|work=New York Times|date=January 27, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Run Happy" />

===2000s: Jim Weber, Berkshire Hathaway, BioMoGo===
In 2001, Jim Weber, a former Brooks board member, was named president and CEO of the company.  At the time, the company's market share was low, and bankruptcy had again become a concern. Weber cut lower-priced footwear from the Brooks product line, added an on-site lab and staff engineers, and focused the company on technical-performance running shoes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wahba|first1=Bill|title=How Buffett's Brooks Running plans to become a $1 billion brand|url=http://fortune.com/2014/10/31/how-buffetts-brooks-running-plans-to-become-a-1-billion-brand/|access-date=26 December 2017|work=Fortune|date=October 21, 2014}}</ref> As the brand was rebuilt, its annual revenue fell to $20 million. Three years later, it was $69 million.<ref name="Buffett boook" />

Brooks was acquired by [[Russell Athletic]] in 2004. In 2006, Russell was purchased by [[Fruit of the Loom]] and Brooks became a subsidiary of Fruit of the Loom's parent company, Berkshire Hathaway. It became an independent subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway in 2011.<ref name="Buffett boook" />

In the mid-2000s, Brooks introduced High Performance Green Rubber, a material it developed for outsoles that used sand rather than petroleum.<ref name="urbanmeisters">{{cite news|url=http://www.urbanmeisters.com/sustainable-running-leave-a-greener-footprint-with-sthical-sneakers/|title=URBANMEISTERS SELECTS THEIR FAVORITE BRAND|last1=Orlovi|first1=Orlovic|date=June 27, 2016|access-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829151744/http://www.urbanmeisters.com/sustainable-running-leave-a-greener-footprint-with-sthical-sneakers/|archive-date=29 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> It subsequently developed BioMoGo, a biodegradable mid-sole for running shoes.<ref name="Fast Co Green Silence">{{cite news|last1=Schwartz|first1=Ariel|title=Brooks Designs a Sustainable Running Shoe From the Bottom Up|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1301033/brooks-designs-sustainable-running-shoe-bottom|access-date=27 December 2017|work=Fast Company|date=June 29, 2009}}</ref> Brooks estimated that it would cut more than 30 million pounds of landfill waste over a 20-year period. The BioMoGo technology was [[Open-source license|open source]].<ref name="alt consumer green">{{cite news|last1=Staff|title=Brooks' BioMoGo Midsoles – a lighter impact|url=http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2009/06/10/brooks-biomogo-midsoles/|access-date=27 December 2017|work=Alternative Consumer|date=June 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824034148/http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2009/06/10/brooks-biomogo-midsoles/|archive-date=24 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2010s: DNA, $500 million milestone, Brooks Heritage===
{{Multiple image|total_width=300
| image1 = Desiree Linden.jpg
| image2 = Scott Jurek, Ultramarathon Champion.jpg
| footer = Brooks has signed long-distance runners [[Desiree Linden]] (''left'') and [[Scott Jurek]].
}}
Brooks DNA (and later Super DNA) was released in 2013. It adapted to the user's gender, weight and pace. It was engineered from [[Non-Newtonian fluid|non-Newtonian liquid]].<ref name="Complex DNA">{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Riley|title=Know Your Tech: Brooks DNA|url=http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2013/06/know-your-tech-brooks-dna|access-date=27 December 2017|work=Complex|date=June 4, 2013}}</ref>

In 2011, Brooks became the leading running shoe in the specialty market with revenue of $500 million.<ref name="Buffett boook" /><ref name="Inc Reinvented" /><ref name="CNBC" />

The Brooks Heritage Collection was launched in 2016, returning the Vanguard, the Chariot, and the Beast to the market. Only the technology was updated; the details of the original shoes, including the colorways, were replicated.<ref name="Esquire heritage">{{cite news|last1=Forester|first1=Pete|title=The Heritage Sneaker Brand You Need on Your Radar|url=http://www.esquire.com/style/news/a50177/brooks-heritage/|access-date=27 December 2017|work=Esquire|date=October 21, 2016}}</ref>

In 2017, Brooks shoes were named Best Running Shoe (The Glycerine and the Launch, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'');<ref name="SI Best">{{cite magazine|title=Best Women's Running Shoes|url=https://www.si.com/edge/best-womens-running-shoes|access-date=28 December 2017|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last1=SI Staff|title=The Best Men's Running Shoes 2017|url=https://www.si.com/edge/best-mens-running-shoes|access-date=28 December 2017|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=March 14, 2017}}</ref> and Editor's Top Choice (The Adrenaline GTS 18, ''[[Runner's World]]'').

==Sponsorships==
Brooks sponsors the [[Brooks Beast Track Club]] and [[Hansons-Brooks Distance Project]]. Notable past or present sponsors include two-time Olympic Medalist [[Josh Kerr (runner)|Josh Kerr]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Josh Kerr {{!}} Brooks Athletes {{!}} Brooks Running |url=https://www.brooksrunning.com/en_fi/athletes-sponsored-by-brooks-running/josh-kerr/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=www.brooksrunning.com}}</ref> Olympic runner [[Dathan Ritzenhein]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-12 |title=New Sponsor, New Attitude. Can Dathan Ritzenhein Make the 2020 Olympic Team? |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a20858035/new-sponsor-new-attitude-can-dathan-ritzenhein-make-the-2020-olympic-team/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Runner's World |language=en-US}}</ref> two-time Olympian [[Kara Goucher]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Battaglia |first=Joe |date=2024-01-29 |title=Kara Goucher Signs Footwear Deal With Brooks |url=https://www.flotrack.org/articles/12000644-kara-goucher-signs-footwear-deal-with-brooks |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=FloTrack |language=en}}</ref> Olympic runner Jess McClain,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-25 |title=Olympic Alternate Jess McClain Signs Sponsorship Contract With Brooks |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a60285906/jess-mcclain-signs-with-brooks/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Runner's World |language=en-US}}</ref> and three-time Ironman World Champion [[Chrissie Wellington]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hichens |first=Liz |date=2010-01-19 |title=Brooks Sports Partners With Three-Time Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington |url=https://www.triathlete.com/culture/news/brooks-sports-partners-with-three-time-ironman-world-champion-chrissie-wellington/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Triathlete |language=en-US}}</ref>. 

In June 2025 they became the main shirt sponsor for [[EFL League Two]] side [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Brooks announced as new Front-of-Shirt Sponsor|url=https://www.cambridgeunited.com/news/brooks-announced-new-front-shirt-sponsor |publisher=Cambridge United F.C.|date=16 June 2025 |access-date=20 June 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
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{{Berkshire Hathaway}}
{{Sports equipment brands}}
{{Running Shoe Brands}}
{{Queens Park Rangers F.C. shirt sponsors}}

[[Category:1914 establishments in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Athletic shoe brands]]
[[Category:Berkshire Hathaway]]
[[Category:Clothing companies established in 1914]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in Seattle]]
[[Category:Shoe companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Sportswear brands]]
[[Category:Wallingford, Seattle]]