FinishLine sports shoes and apparel FINISH LINE

About Us
Finish Line, Inc. (NYSE: FINL) is the second largest athletic retailer based in the United States, with international headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company, founded in 1976 by Alan Cohen and David Klapper, operates over 700 stores in 48 states under the Finish Line name, 90 under Man Alive, and 15 under Paiva (closed in 2007).

The Finish Line Inc. recently announced plans to buy Genesco Inc. which operates under the brands: Hat World, Lids, Cap Connection, Hat Zone, Hat Shack, and Head Quarters, Lids Kids, Johnston & Murphy, Journeys, Journeys Kidz, shi by Journeys, and Underground Station. Finish Line outbid New York-based Foot Locker to buy Genesco.

History
In October 1976 two childhood friends, Alan Cohen and David Klapper opened the doors of Finish Line as a franchise of The Athlete's Foot at the Speedway Shopping Center in Speedway, Indiana.

By 1981, the owners' vision had widened beyond the 10 franchises they owned. They were ready to expand beyond Indiana, but The Athlete's Foot franchise rights ended at the Indiana border. At this point they decided to start their own company called The Finish Line. Cohen and Klapper approached another childhood friend, Larry Sablosky, with a full partnership opportunity. Dave Fagin, a manufacturer's rep who had been selling product to Cohen and Klapper, was offered the same deal.

By 1991, the company had grown to 105 stores located primarily in Midwestern and Southeastern states with an annual gross of nearly $100 million. The foursome took the company public in 1992.

Selection and product lines have expanded significantly since then. Known for its signature "shoe wall", a typical Finish Line store will show between 600 and 1,300 different kinds of athletic footwear, including basketball, running, walking, gym, aerobics, hiking, cross-training and skate shoes, not to mention cleats, casual shoes and sandals. Brands carried by Finish Line include Nike, Adidas, Reebok, New Balance, And 1, Oakley, Puma, Airwalk, Converse, Fila, Lugz, Saucony, Timberland, and Vans.

Today, approximately 20 percent of all sales come from apparel and accessories. This includes the latest in performance and fashion products from Nike, Oakley, Adidas, Fossil, Jansport, professional and collegiate licensed products, t-shirts, shorts, caps, and outerwear from other well-known manufacturers.

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