In celebration of its centennial year, L.L. Bean has rolled out a 13-foot-tall replica of the product that started its business—Leon Leonwood Bean's Maine hunting shoe, more commonly referred to as the "duck boot." The over-size imitation of Bean's iconic boot, a fiberglass structure sculpted to a Ford Super Duty truck, made its debut in the retailer's home state Maine, before traveling to New York on Wednesday for a two-hour public promotion.
"Our company founder, Leon Leonwood Bean, was an avid outdoorsman who believed that time spent in the outdoors added value to one's life," said L.L. Bean C.E.O. Chris McCormick in a press release. "In recognition of our 100th, we are looking to share his passion and re-ignite America's love of the outdoors. Today's kickoff is just the beginning of many outdoor adventures to come in our anniversary year."
Built to scale—20.5 times larger than a normal 12-inch-tall boot—the "Bootmobile" is outfitted with a number of details, including over-size shoelaces and the "Bean Boot" stamp on the heel. The roadworthy vehicle is even eco-friendly, generating zero percent carbon dioxide emissions by using a diesel engine with a urea tank and particulate filter.
For its New York debut, L.L. Bean parked the giant sculpture outside the Nasdaq building in Times Square and drew crowds with staffers distributing hand warmers. The retailer plans to take the Bootmobile to other major U.S. cities and in the summer will host a week of festivities for its employees and the public in Freeport, Maine.
Another component in the 100th anniversary effort is a partnership with the National Parks Foundation, through which it will donate $1 million to support the nonprofit's "America's Best Idea" program. The initiative, known as the Million Moment Mission, invites consumers to share stories—photos, videos, and words on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Plus, and Foursquare—about their favorite outdoor experiences.
