Oh, what a year it has been. From kicking off our 100th Anniversary with a giant boot-on-wheels to celebrating with family and friends at our Hometown Celebration in Freeport, we have had a year full of new memories, giveaways, roadtrips and outdoor discoveries. We say “thank you” to all our customers, fans, friends and neighbors for celebrating 100 years with L.L.Bean. Now, let’s take a look back at some of our favorite moments during this milestone year.
Fireworks at L.L.Bean’s Hometown Celebration
The Million Moment Mission
Your moments this year were worth a million. We kicked off a year-long Mission in January with one goal – for every “moment” shared with us on social media (a Facebook like, a tweet, a visit to our Bootmobile, a Foursquare check-in, etc.), we would donate $1 to the National Park Foundation’s “America’s Best Idea Program.” The program connects underserved youths with our national parks – and we wouldn’t have been able to help without you.
We completed the Mission, and the donation went right to work, making the outdoors accessible to over 60,000 children.
Here are some “moments” that you shared with us throughout the year.
Your adorable L.L.Bean babies.
And your adorable L.L.Bean pets.
You shared your outdoor activities of all kinds.
The Get Out(fitted) Gear Giveaway and Discover Something Advertising Campaign
You also shared with us through our Gear Giveaway, which was a great success with over 15k entries. We asked you what outdoor experience you always wanted to have and what gear you would need to get started. Here are a few of our winners:
Some Gear Giveaway entries became part of our national advertising campaign, “Discover Something.” That’s what happened to Ashlyn O.
L.L.Bean customer, Steven Gadecki, sent his beloved backpack to our archives. We liked his story so much that we made him a part of our advertising as well – and he continued to support the Mission as the year went on.
Steven Gadecki and his family
The Bootmobile
Our Bootmobile, created just for our 100th anniversary, provided many opportunities to share in special moments with you – from New York to Boston to special “gear deliveries.”
Wally the Green Monster visits the Bootmobile during opening day for the Boston Red Sox
Gear Giveaway winner David P. with Bootmobile driver Chris.
The Bootmobile, during the Fourth of July Parade at Hometown Celebration
L.L.Bean and Fenway Park
Another icon – Fenway Park – also celebrated 100 years in 2012. Our shared milestone anniversaries inspired the creation of a limited-edition Fenway Boat and Tote. We handcrafted 2,012 totes, made from the 2011 season infield rain delay tarp, in our Brunswick, Maine, factory.
Fenway Boat and Tote #1,912 signed by the Red Sox 2012 team roster and donated to its Jimmy Fund Auction
L.L.Bear joined Wally the Green Monster, and Maine mascots Crusher and Bananas the Black Bear for Maine Day at Fenway Park.
We surprised Red Sox fans wearing L.L.Bean with free gift cards.
New Store Grand Opening – Danbury, Connecticut
We set up a photo booth at the new L.L.Bean Danbury store and asked customers to get creative with the photo props.
Special Catalog Covers and Guest Bloggers
Indeed, we celebrated in all sorts of ways throughout the year. For example, we commissioned four reinterpretations of classic catalog covers by photographer Randal Ford.
Summer 2012 catalog
And, in celebration of National Parks and Recreation Month, we featured five guest bloggers from national parks across the country: Acadia, The Everglades, Hawaii Volcanoes, Yellowstone and Denali.
Guest blogger and Denali Kennels Manager Jen Raffaeli
Guest blogger and Acadia ranger Ardrianna
The Final Four
We then rounded out the year with four special activities. We hosted an Art Car Campout in Freeport, Maine, with some of the Bootmobile’s buddies.
The Peeps Peepster, the Bootmobile, the Lindt Gold Bunny Car and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile with their drivers.
We brought a “Wintervention” to ten college campuses across the Northeast in an attempt to save some college students from the chilly weather.
And we celebrated the holidays with our annual Northern Lights celebration in Freeport and a “very merry” Pet Photo Contest.
Northern Lights Tree Lighting at our flagship store
One of our Pet Photo Contest winners – Kenzie and Timber
You can see more of our favorite moments from the year here.
Thanks again to all our fans and friends, for without you we wouldn’t have made one million moments and 100 years of quality memories. We’re looking forward to our next 100 years!
Do you have a favorite L.L.Bean moment from 2012? What are you most looking forward to in 2013?
Emily B | December 25, 2012 | 11:29 am
A lovely wrap up! What a year…
Robby | December 29, 2012 | 10:11 am
Such a great store with great tradition, quality and products. Here’s to your next 100 years. Keep up the good work.
Debby P. | January 20, 2013 | 9:55 am
Have ‘loved’ LL Bean products for many years! I always ‘check you out’ first when in
the ‘market’ to buy. Would like to ask something ‘special’ from you, though. Lately,
I’ve been looking for flannel shirts for my husband. He is an ‘older’ man and gets cold
easily, even inside! He is just under six feet tall and doesn’t really ‘qualify’ for the Tall
Mens’ sizes in shirts. However, his shirts always pull out in the back and really annoys
him! So, we’ve been looking for the old-fashioned Long-tailed flannel shirts. Spent hours
searching on-line with very limited results! The few we did find would require us to take
out a ‘loan’ to be able to afford! So, we don’t need ‘lined’ Flannel shirts, just something
longer so it stays tucked in! If reasonably priced, I’d buy him a ‘wardrobe’ of them!
Hope you’ll consider offering this item. He can’t be the ‘only’ guy needing some ‘extra
length’ to his shirts! Thank You!
Transplanted Yankee! :)
Laurie | L.L.Bean | January 20, 2013 | 4:44 pm
Hi Debbie, Thanks for sharing your comments and suggestion. Has he tried our tall shirts? You can always give it a try and return it if it doesn’t work out for him. Thanks ^LB
EUGENE ROSS | March 7, 2013 | 10:36 am
LL BEAN:
YOU’LL BE HAPPY TO KNOW WHEN I DRESSED THIS MORNING I WAS
I WAS A BEAN SUIT, SHOES, SOCKS, PANTS,SHIRT, AND JACKET.
EUGENE ROSS