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COACH
Coach is an American leather goods company founded in 1941 in Manhattan, New York. A group of six leather craftsmen founded the original business, first called the Gail Manufacturing Company. In 1946, Miles and Lillian Cahn joined the company. Already experienced in the manufacture of leather goods and handbags, and with good business sense, the Cahns would lead the company in the direction that would help it become one of the most popular American handbag designers.
Miles Cahn took over the Gail Manufacturing Company in 1950. Wallets and small leather goods produced by the company were profitable, but Cahn's interest in new technologies and materials helped the business expand in the production of women's handbags. In 1961, the Brand Gail Leather Products, Inc. was born. The handbags produced by this company reduced the gap between the high-priced design pieces and the low-quality, economic imitations that constituted the women's handbag market of the time. The trainer used quality cowhide and developed a process that made it smooth and durable, and when designer Bonnie Cashin joined aboard in 1962, the company's handbag demand skyrocketed.
The collaboration with Cashin lasted until 1974, and its use of color, hardware, pockets and other features revolutionized the company's line. The company also began producing small accessories such as pens and keychains, and expanded to the shoes under his direction. In the mid-1970s, Gail Leather Products, Inc. changed its name to Coach Products, Inc.
Coach began offering his products by mail, and eventually expanded into department stores, specialty stores and partnerships with selected suppliers.
In 1980, the company changed its name back to Coach Leatherware Company, and in 1985, the company was sold to American food manufacturer Sara Lee Corporation.
Under Sara Lee, the Coach brand opened specialty boutiques outside of New York and was offering its products through department stores, effectively expanding throughout America in the company that is recognized today.
The coach was sold by Sara Lee and became a publicly traded corporation in 2000. Today, there are more than 500 Coach stores in the United States and Canada, and a wholly owned subsidiary focused on the Japanese market, Coach Japan. Coach is also widely distributed in department stores in the United States and is available in more than 200 stores outside the U.S. market. The company's headquarters remain in Manhattan, and Coach's offering has expanded to include clothing, shoes, goggles, luggage, non-leather accessories and fragrances.
Coach's first fragrance, the female fragrance of the same name Coach, was launched in 2007. Today's Coach fragrances are offered in conjunction with Estee Lauder companies.
