Off Route 272, heading north towards Reading, past the rolling
farms and quaint antique shops of Adamstown, PA, you’ll find
Bollman Hat Company nestled in the center of the small, sleepy
town. Inside the sprawling factory at 110 East Main St., catwalks
and original glass-paned windows create a romantic backdrop
for the proud employee-owners working side-by-side to
produce nearly 7,000 hats a week. A love of craftsmanship is
palpable in this nostalgic, beautiful space, from the wool
carding and felting floor to the rows of sewing machines to the
wood-paneled boardroom. Founded in 1868 with a vision for
providing for the people and community, this is the story of how
Bollman Hat Company became, and remains, the oldest hat
manufacturer in America and a “Forever Company.”
Off Route 272, heading north towards Reading, past the rolling farms and quaint antique shops of Adamstown, PA, you’ll find Bollman Hat Company nestled in the center of the small, sleepy town. Inside the sprawling factory at 110 East Main St., catwalks and original glass-paned windows create a romantic backdrop for the proud employee-owners working side-by-side to produce nearly 7,000 hats a week. A love of craftsmanship is palpable in this nostalgic, beautiful space, from the wool carding and felting floor to the rows of sewing machines to the wood-paneled boardroom. Founded in 1868 with a vision for providing for the people and community, this is the story of how Bollman Hat Company became, and remains, the oldest hat manufacturer in America and a “Forever Company.”
The Story Behind Bollman Hat Company
Bollman Hat Company’s story begins with a 29-year-old young man named George Bollman who, following an apprenticeship at a nearby hat maker, decided to open his own hat factory.
On July 1, 1868, George rented an old whiskey distillery on Main Street in Adamstown to begin crafting his wool felt hats. The town’s proximity to water, which powered early factories, made the location ideal. Dozens of little hat makers existed during that time period throughout Berks and Lancaster counties; it has been said that hatmaking was Reading's oldest industry (yes, even before pretzels!).
After a few years, thanks to the ingenuity and determination of its founder, Bollman Hat Company outperformed many of its competitors, enabling George Bollman to purchase 22 adjacent acres on Main Street — the very same place the factory sits to this day. George Bollman made good use of the property and even of the old barn, stalling the company horse that transported finished hats to the nearby railroad station.
Times were good during the company’s early days. In the mid-1800s until about 1950s, nearly everyone wore a hat; it was unusual for a lady or a gentleman to leave their house without one! The hat industry was booming for the first 90 years of the company’s history. For decades, Bollman Hat Company operated largely within the sales, distribution and manufacturing model implemented by its original founder.
George W. Bollman took over ownership of the business at the age of 23, upon the death of his father in 1900. George W. led the business until his death in 1940.
But as the nation experienced rapid industrial, cultural and social change throughout the 20th century, the fashion and hat industry changed along with it. Hats evolved from a daily necessity to a fashion statement. Several times throughout the latter half of the century, Bollman Hat Company leaders found themselves staring down the barrel of a decision that many businesses face: Do we double-down on what’s worked, or do we step into the uncertain tides of change?
Time and time again, the company overcame adversity and pivoted to survive and grow with new strategies. First these strategies included becoming vertically integrated in wool hat production by buying a wool scouring plant in Texas and then acquiring other hat making capabilities, using fur, straw and cut and sewn cloth.
Within the last 50 years, Bollman Hat Company has weathered a whirlwind of evolution. In the 1980s, the company acquired its first brand, Bailey Hats, and announced it would become an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company. In the 1990s, it bought the domain hats.com to launch an ecommerce strategy and acquired Country Gentleman and Betmar. In the early 2000s, Bollman became more global by adding Kangol, a British brand, and Helen Kaminski, an Australian brand. Today, Bollman Hat Company is the only headwear company marketing three global brands including Bailey, Helen Kaminski and Kangol. Bollman distributes its products to individuals and retailers in 70 countries.
Bollman Hat Company tells a tale as old as time in America — a story of success that only arises from the ashes of continuous rebirth. And 155 years later, it’s a story about a company that remains anchored in its belief in creating opportunities to earn an honest living, its dedication to doing things right for the long term, and its pride in knowing that something beautiful was created with the skill of human hands and the strength of their hearts.
The Story Behind Bollman Hat Company
Bollman Hat Company’s story begins with a 29-year-old young man named George Bollman who, following an apprenticeship at a nearby hat maker, decided to open his own hat factory.
On July 1, 1868, George rented an old whiskey distillery on Main Street in Adamstown to begin crafting his wool felt hats. The town’s proximity to water, which powered early factories, made the location ideal. Dozens of little hat makers existed during that time period throughout Berks and Lancaster counties; it has been said that hatmaking was Reading's oldest industry (yes, even before pretzels!).
After a few years, thanks to the ingenuity and determination of its founder, Bollman Hat Company outperformed many of its competitors, enabling George Bollman to purchase 22 adjacent acres on Main Street — the very same place the factory sits to this day. George Bollman made good use of the property and even of the old barn, stalling the company horse that transported finished hats to the nearby railroad station.
Times were good during the company’s early days. In the mid-1800s until about 1950s, nearly everyone wore a hat; it was unusual for a lady or a gentleman to leave their house without one! The hat industry was booming for the first 90 years of the company’s history. For decades, Bollman Hat Company operated largely within the sales, distribution and manufacturing model implemented by its original founder.
George W. Bollman took over ownership of the business at the age of 23, upon the death of his father in 1900. George W. led the business until his death in 1940.
But as the nation experienced rapid industrial, cultural and social change throughout the 20th century, the fashion and hat industry changed along with it. Hats evolved from a daily necessity to a fashion statement. Several times throughout the latter half of the century, Bollman Hat Company leaders found themselves staring down the barrel of a decision that many businesses face: Do we double-down on what’s worked, or do we step into the uncertain tides of change?
Time and time again, the company overcame adversity and pivoted to survive and grow with new strategies. First these strategies included becoming vertically integrated in wool hat production by buying a wool scouring plant in Texas and then acquiring other hat making capabilities, using fur, straw and cut and sewn cloth.
Within the last 50 years, Bollman Hat Company has weathered a whirlwind of evolution. In the 1980s, the company acquired its first brand, Bailey Hats, and announced it would become an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company. In the 1990s, it bought the domain hats.com to launch an ecommerce strategy and acquired Country Gentleman and Betmar. In the early 2000s, Bollman became more global by adding Kangol, a British brand, and Helen Kaminski, an Australian brand. Today, Bollman Hat Company is the only headwear company marketing three global brands including Bailey, Helen Kaminski and Kangol. Bollman distributes its products to individuals and retailers in 70 countries.
Bollman Hat Company tells a tale as old as time in America — a story of success that only arises from the ashes of continuous rebirth. And 155 years later, it’s a story about a company that remains anchored in its belief in creating opportunities to earn an honest living, its dedication to doing things right for the long term, and its pride in knowing that something beautiful was created with the skill of human hands and the strength of their hearts.
Meet Don Rongione
President and CEO, Bollman Hat Company
When Don arrived at Bollman Hat Company for his first day of work as a controller in 1982, he was immediately connected with what he saw, heard and felt when he walked through the doors.
Don’s father left high school to fight in World War II before graduation. When he returned after the war, he worked in an overcoat factory in Philadelphia. For his entire career, he cut fabric and made coats. Don remembers that his father was proud of producing something people could wear with his hands, made right here in America. Witnessing that same sense of pride echoing through the halls of the Bollman factory solidified Don’s decision to devote his career to the iconic hat maker.
Don quickly and steadily progressed in the company and credits his promotion to Corporate Secretary and member of the executive committee at the age of 26 to both being in the right place at the right time and working under leaders who saw his potential. In 2002, Don became the seventh individual to serve in the prestigious CEO and President role; three of his predecessors were named George Bollman. Don has overseen the company in his role for 21 years, helping to usher in innovative strategies for growth and expansion.
In addition to his CEO duties (setting vision, strategic planning, building the company culture, executive decision-making and safeguarding the company), Don knows it’s part of his role to keep his team unified and motivated. Conceived during a challenging year, one of Don’s passions includes publishing the Good News — a short weekly newsletter that tells stories of company wins, big and small. Good News flashes on the screens in the lunch rooms and is distributed to each and every employee-owner every Friday without fail.
“There’s something about it… When people work to create something with their hands, especially if it is a quality product that you can wear, the pride that comes along with that is very inspiring to me and my teammates.”
For the first 100 years of its existence, Bollman Hat Company focused on domestic manufacturing and making private label hats for other brands. Despite its history and renown, the vast majority of its products were not branded Bollman as Bollman was the anonymous maker. During those early years, Bollman Hat Company deliberately avoided branding Bollman itself, so as not to compete with its own customer base.
In 1986, Bollman Hat Company broke with that tradition and made a huge decision, one that had far-reaching effects: It purchased Bailey Hat Company.
This acquisition marked the first time Bollman Hat Company would claim ownership over a brand identity; thus creating closer connections with the consumer and taking more control of its own destiny. Over the course of the next two decades, Bollman Hat Company steadily acquired more brands, including Country Gentleman, Betmar, street fashion brand Kangol and burgeoning Australian women’s luxury brand Helen Kaminski.
Another key piece of Bollman Hat Company’s growth included the purchase of hats.com in the 1990s. The internet was just beginning to take off in individual households, and the massive investment in ecommerce at that time was a bit of a gamble. No one really knew how internet buying would take shape; ecommerce wasn’t in our collective vernacular yet and Amazon was still running out of Jeff Bezos’ garage.
The decision, however, paid off. Bollman Hat Company now owns the best known hat purchasing destination on the internet and is able to sell hats from across all its brands on the robust shopping hub. In addition to Hats.com, Bollman also sells direct to consumers through Baileyhats.com, Helenkaminski.com and Kangol.com.
For the first 100 years of its existence, Bollman Hat Company focused on domestic manufacturing and making private label hats for other brands. Despite its history and renown, the vast majority of its products were not branded Bollman as Bollman was the anonymous maker. During those early years, Bollman Hat Company deliberately avoided branding Bollman itself, so as not to compete with its own customer base.
In 1986, Bollman Hat Company broke with that tradition and made a huge decision, one that had far-reaching effects: It purchased Bailey Hat Company.
This acquisition marked the first time Bollman Hat Company would claim ownership over a brand identity; thus creating closer connections with the consumer and taking more control of its own destiny. Over the course of the next two decades, Bollman Hat Company steadily acquired more brands, including Country Gentleman, Betmar, street fashion brand Kangol and burgeoning Australian women’s luxury brand Helen Kaminski.
Another key piece of Bollman Hat Company’s growth included the purchase of hats.com in the 1990s. The internet was just beginning to take off in individual households, and the massive investment in ecommerce at that time was a bit of a gamble. No one really knew how internet buying would take shape; ecommerce wasn’t in our collective vernacular yet and Amazon was still running out of Jeff Bezos’ garage.
The decision, however, paid off. Bollman Hat Company now owns the best known hat purchasing destination on the internet and is able to sell hats from across all its brands on the robust shopping hub. In addition to Hats.com, Bollman also sells direct to consumers through Baileyhats.com, Helenkaminski.com and Kangol.com.
The 4th generation of the Bollman family had no interest in making hats. In the early 1980s, the five senior managers who acquired ownership from the Bollman family in 1974 were preparing to retire. The company desperately needed a transition plan or it would have to sell or participate in some sort of merger. Don was tasked with making a proposal. He researched and proposed an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) which was approved by the Bollman Board of Directors.
The former defined benefit retirement plan was terminated with annuities purchased for the participants and the ESOP was launched on Oct. 1, 1985!
The ESOP gave employee-owners an enhanced personal and financial stake in Bollman Hat Company. Implementing an ESOP cultivated a culture of pride, deeper caring, and solidified its core values of acting like an owner. The company is now 100% ESOP owned and well positioned to achieve its dream of becoming a “Forever Company.”
“There’s an old saying that ‘no one ever washed a rental car,’” Don laughed. “When you own something, you care more about it. We’re not looking to be here for just another 155 years, we are aiming for forever, and to do that, you have to have an ownership mindset. We are going to pass our company on to the next generation in a stronger condition because we act with the care of an owner.”
The 4th generation of the Bollman family had no interest in making hats. In the early 1980s, the five senior managers who acquired ownership from the Bollman family in 1974 were preparing to retire. The company desperately needed a transition plan or it would have to sell or participate in some sort of merger. Don was tasked with making a proposal. He researched and proposed an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) which was approved by the Bollman Board of Directors.
The former defined benefit retirement plan was terminated with annuities purchased for the participants and the ESOP was launched on Oct. 1, 1985!
The ESOP gave employee-owners an enhanced personal and financial stake in Bollman Hat Company. Implementing an ESOP cultivated a culture of pride, deeper caring, and solidified its core values of acting like an owner. The company is now 100% ESOP owned and well positioned to achieve its dream of becoming a “Forever Company.”
“There’s an old saying that ‘no one ever washed a rental car,’” Don laughed. “When you own something, you care more about it. We’re not looking to be here for just another 155 years, we are aiming for forever, and to do that, you have to have an ownership mindset. We are going to pass our company on to the next generation in a stronger condition because we act with the care of an owner.”
Along with increased globalization, China gaining “most favored nation” status and the rise of “fast fashion,” fewer and fewer products are manufactured and made in the United States.
American manufacturing is built on a rich tradition and legacy; one that Bollman Hat Company hopes to preserve for centuries to come. But remaining dedicated to the principles of American manufacturing hasn’t always been easy.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the fashion industry got flooded with products from overseas — in some cases, fully finished products sold at retail for less than the mere production costs from U.S. companies like Bollman. Because the United States holds strict standards when it comes to wages, environmental compliance and safety, the costs of American manufacturing can be significantly higher than items produced in other nations.
Bollman Hat Company, like many others, experienced some heartbreaking seasons of downsizing to survive — an experience it wants to prevent in the future not only for itself, but for its fellow American manufacturers.
In response, Bollman Hat Company launched its American Made Matters campaign on July 4, 2009. American Made Matters educates consumers about the importance of buying American-made products to strengthen the American dream, and encourages them to leverage their individual purchasing power to create jobs.
Consumers, by nature of where and how they spend their hard-earned dollars, have the ability to pull American-made products back through our retail channels; thus creating more American jobs, a stronger economy and more independence for our country.
Along with increased globalization, China gaining “most favored nation” status and the rise of “fast fashion,” fewer and fewer products are manufactured and made in the United States.
American manufacturing is built on a rich tradition and legacy; one that Bollman Hat Company hopes to preserve for centuries to come. But remaining dedicated to the principles of American manufacturing hasn’t always been easy.
In the 1990s and 2000s, the fashion industry got flooded with products from overseas — in some cases, fully finished products sold at retail for less than the mere production costs from U.S. companies like Bollman. Because the United States holds strict standards when it comes to wages, environmental compliance and safety, the costs of American manufacturing can be significantly higher than items produced in other nations.
Bollman Hat Company, like many others, experienced some heartbreaking seasons of downsizing to survive — an experience it wants to prevent in the future not only for itself, but for its fellow American manufacturers.
In response, Bollman Hat Company launched its American Made Matters campaign on July 4, 2009. American Made Matters educates consumers about the importance of buying American-made products to strengthen the American dream, and encourages them to leverage their individual purchasing power to create jobs.
Consumers, by nature of where and how they spend their hard-earned dollars, have the ability to pull American-made products back through our retail channels; thus creating more American jobs, a stronger economy and more independence for our country.
Innovation on
the Horizon
So what's next for Bollman Hat Company?
The question isn’t whether Bollman Hat Company can stand the test of time; the question is “Where will Bollman Hat Company go next?”
From a practical perspective, Bollman Hat Company plans to continue investing in its top brands. It is exploring ways to enhance the retail buying experience, such as offering innovative, flexible pop-up shops and interactive digital experiences. It’s also tapping into the power of social media and influencer marketing, knowing that many of these platforms unlock new opportunities for reaching new customers. But if we peel back another layer, the company has its sights set on something a little deeper.
The early mornings, the long nights, and the relentless passion shown by Bollman Hat Company and the generations who made Bollman their “life’s work” all point towards a singular goal: creating beautiful fashion that resonates and stands the test of time. Beneath the wool, the machines, the fabric and the boxes, Bollman Hat Company inspires people to boldly express their personal style. It can take some courage to wear a hat today (although that trend will likely ebb and flow). Bollman Hat Company offers people a subtle way to make a statement to define their character and mood; to share something about themselves with the world.
So when you put on a hat created by Bollman or one of its brands, the Bollman team hopes you’ll wear it confidently and with pride — just like those who created it.
Innovation on the Horizon
So what's next for Bollman Hat Company?
The question isn’t whether Bollman Hat Company can stand the test of time; the question is “Where will Bollman Hat Company go next?”
From a practical perspective, Bollman Hat Company plans to continue investing in its top brands. It is exploring ways to enhance the retail buying experience, such as offering innovative, flexible pop-up shops and interactive digital experiences. It’s also tapping into the power of social media and influencer marketing, knowing that many of these platforms unlock new opportunities for reaching new customers. But if we peel back another layer, the company has its sights set on something a little deeper.
The early mornings, the long nights, and the relentless passion shown by Bollman Hat Company and the generations who made Bollman their “life’s work” all point towards a singular goal: creating beautiful fashion that resonates and stands the test of time. Beneath the wool, the machines, the fabric and the boxes, Bollman Hat Company inspires people to boldly express their personal style. It can take some courage to wear a hat today (although that trend will likely ebb and flow). Bollman Hat Company offers people a subtle way to make a statement to define their character and mood; to share something about themselves with the world.
So when you put on a hat created by Bollman or one of its brands, the Bollman team hopes you’ll wear it confidently and with pride — just like those who created it.
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