Over its long history, Trimfoot has navigated a changing marketplace with continuous reinvention and a focus on kids.
1913 — J.B. Reinhard Sr. founds the company as Wizard Lightfoot & Appliance Co. in St. Louis, making insoles, arch supports and heel pads.
1927 — Company name formally changes to Trimfoot.
1935 — J.B. Reinhart Jr. joins his father at the firm.
1938 — Baby Deer branded infant shoes and children’s footwear launches.
1941 — Offices, manufacturing and warehousing moves to a 40,000-sq.-ft. facility in Farmington, Mo.
1948 — Trimfoot obtains license from Walt Disney Productions to produce character slippers.
1949 — Company is sold to a group of St. Louis investors.
J.B. Reinhard Sr. becomes chairman of the board, while J.B. Reinhart Jr. assumes the role of president.
1959 — Firm introduces Davy Crocket Indian moccasins, Bambi shoes and a Mickey Mouse collection.
1962 — The Wee Kids brand launches.
1963 — Trimfoot acquires Moran Shoe Co., including a manufacturing plant in Carlyle, Ill.
1968 — Endicott Johnson purchases the firm.
Larry Skaggs joins the company as a purchasing agent.
1969 — McDonough Co. buys out Endicott Johnson.
D.M. Epstein is appointed president of Trimfoot.
1972 — Company buys Creavy Creations, a manufacturer of infant sleepwear.
1973 — Trimfoot begins importing shoes from Hong Kong.
1974 — Skaggs leaves the firm to become regional sales manager of Talon Zipper Co.
1977 — Working with retailers JCPenney and Montgomery Ward, Trimfoot launches the Select-a-Size program, a self-service fixture featuring color-coded sizing on packaging.
1981 — Trimfoot parent company McDonough Co. is sold to Hanson Industries.
Frank Figge replaces Epstein as president of Trimfoot.
Skaggs returns as a sales manager.
1981 — Licensing agreements are signed with Shirt Tales, Masters of the Universe and Rainbow Bright.
1982 — TrimKids division launches.
1983 — Construction begins on a 50,000-sq.-ft. warehouse in Farmington.
1985 — Company creates an import division.
Steve Stroup joins Trimfoot as a staff accountant.
1986 — Skaggs becomes president of the company.
1987 — The factory in Carlyle, Ill., closes.
1990 — Walmart chooses Trimfoot to pilot its first electronic data interchange reorder system.
1992 — Baby Deer introduces new fixturing and point-of-sale displays.
1994 — Tim Corbet becomes president of Trimfoot after Skaggs takes a sabbatical to pursue other business opportunities.
1995 — After a demerger, a newly formed company called U.S. Industries assumes all Hanson Industries holdings, while Endicott Johnson is spun off and renamed EJ Footwear Corp.
1998 — Stroup becomes Trimfoot’s CFO.
1999 — Trimfoot discontinues U.S. production and transitions into a total import business.
Company is purchased by Larry Skaggs and Joe Scott Jr.
Skaggs is named CEO, and Stroup is appointed SVP and GM.
2002 — Company adds a dance shoe division, including the Dance Class brand.
Trimfoot inks a sales and distribution agreement with BBC International to sell and market Disney footwear.
2007 — Firm signs a distribution agreement to market and sell Mia Shoes.
2008 — Stroup is named president of Trimfoot.
2013 — Trimfoot returns some production back to the U.S. through a license agreement with Butler Boot.
Wendy Bellissimo taps the firm for footwear licensing deal.
