The Coleman Company produces recreational equipment like camping gear, lawnmowers and other products. They are a well-known brand in the industry. They are the biggest outdoor products manufacturer in the world. They have a large range of products such as soft coolers, travel trailers with pop-ups and water skis.
Coleman began out as a small firm that sold gas lanterns. They soon expanded to other products. Coleman became the most prominent manufacturer of oil space heaters in the 1930s. They were also amongst the first to manufacture portable, gasoline burner stoves. They were known for their high quality products.
In the mid-1960s, they began making tents, canoes, as well as other camping gear. They expanded their line of products during the 1960s and became a trusted source for high-quality recreational equipment. In 1988, they had record sales. However, the Coleman family stopped investing and decided to stop supporting the company's growth.
Coleman was purchased by Mac Andrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., New York in 1989 for $545million. He then merged Coleman with Sunbeam (a heating and cooling company owned by Jones). Together, they developed a strategy for improving efficiency and reducing inventory costs.
The company sells products for residential, industrial, resort-amenity, and commercial markets. They collaborate with clients such as FedEx (Landmark 24 Homes), Georgia Ports Authority, Rolls Royce, and Rolls Royce. They have offices in Chicago, Illinois and facilities in Texas and Wichita (Kansas). They have an employee base of over 4,000.
Coleman's products began to suffer from a fall in demand due to recession. Additionally, they were saddled with enormous debt. Their total debt in 1996 was $586 million. They also had poor overseas sales force integration.
Coleman manufactures a variety of heating and cooling products for home, including hot water systems and generators. They have also started to focus on younger consumers, targeting Gen Z. The company is well-known for creating durable products at fair prices.
The company was a key supplier of heating equipment and air conditioning to the U.S. military during World War II. They were also the leading supplier of mobile homes' specialized furnaces. In the late 1940s, the United States military phased out Coleman's airplane parts contracts.
Coleman suffered a decrease in gasoline-burning stoves sales and lighting market. It suffered a 70 percent overall loss in 1960. Coleman was a major player within the civilian products and camping equipment markets in the mid-1970s.
In the middle of the 1980s, the company started to focus more on the outdoor and camping market. The company started to focus on offering expert advice and recommendation for customers. The Outdoor Expert campaign was created to help customers learn about different aspects of camping. They also introduce hundreds of new products.