JanSport

JanSport is a brand of backpacks owned by VF Corporation, one of the world's largest apparel companies. The company was founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington by Skip Yowell, Jan Lewis (for whom the company is named) and Murray Pletz.

The company is now based in San Leandro, California, at VF Outdoors headquarters where it shares offices with divisional siblings Napapijri and The North Face. [Bruce Horovitz, "New 'badge' of cool: High-tech, high-fashion backpacks," "USA Today", 20 August 2007, 1A.] JanSport is the world's largest backpack maker, and together, JanSport and The North Face sell nearly half of all small backpacks sold in the United States. ["Ibid."]

JanSport is known for its lifetime warranty on its products, as well as its long history of innovations in backpack design. The JanSport brand is especially popular among students.

JanSport is one of a few American manufacturers of external frame backpacks, along with Kelty and Coleman.

JanSport retailers

Today, JanSport is distributed primarily through these channels:

* College bookstores
* Department stores like Macy's
* Sporting good stores like Dicks's and Sports Authority
* Outdoor stores like REI and Summit Hut
* Online retailers like Ebags.com
* Specialty luggage stores like Irvs
* Small stores that sell backpacks and luggage

In addition, JanSport markets its segmented line, [http://www.transpacks.com Trans: by JanSport] , through Target.

References

External links

* [http://jansport.com JanSport] official website
* [http://www.vfc.com VF Corporation]