Viking Brandbook
Viking Brandbook
Viking Brandbook
But first and foremost this is our fingerprint. This is the essence of Viking. Who we are as a company has been shaped by our demanding geography and the outdoorsy people of Norway. If it works here, it will work anywhere is an irrefutable argument upon which we have always relied when making footwear. And that says a lot about what Viking is. Enjoy your reading!
Who is Viking?
Viking started out as an idea: Rubber, what can we use it for? Well, footwear for one thing. That is how it all began, the foundation for what Viking is today. The rest is history.
How do we do it?
In short, weve come a long way because of our own accumulated knowledge and our partners know-how. When you combine the two you can create something special and stay ahead. This is our technological advantage. Our technological advantage ............................. 28-29 GORE-TEX ................................................................ 30-31 UGC ............................................................................. 22-33 Boa Closure system .............................................. 34-35 World class leather ................................................. 36-37 Thermo (Polyurethane) ......................................... 38-39 Rubber technologies ............................................. 40-41
Foreword ............................................................................. 4 Contents .............................................................................. 5 PHILOSA values and vision ................................... 6-7 Our history ...................................................................... 8-9
Where we are today .............................................. 42-43 Presence ..................................................................... 44-45 Around the next corner ......................................... 46-47 Corporate social responsibility ................................ 48
PHILOSA
Professional
For us, being professional is all about meeting the expectation of those around us, and even exceeding them. We do so by maintaining the highest ethical standards and by meeting deadlines. Being professional is the only way to create strong and positive relationships with the world around us. It is how we build our reputation!
Long-term
Consistency and continuity are important key words for us. As a nearly 100 year old company with a solid history we are used to looking backwards while, at the same time, focusing on the future. This is because we focus on the long-term potential. Long-term relations with our employees, suppliers, clients and customers are important. And, last but not least: A long-term relationship with the environment is essential.
Honesty
It might go without saying, but honesty is extremely important to us. Honesty builds our credibility and creates trust, both internally and externally. We need to give open and accurate information in all our dealings. Half-truths or bribery are not acceptable. However, we cannot share the sources of our competitiveness. Still, honesty is something we rely on in all matters and it is important to us!
Innovative
Our innovation can be dated back to 1920. Our first product made by Per Mathias Rwde was an innovation. Our latest models are innovations. It is what brings our company and our brand forward. Innovation makes us seek effective collaborations and challenge existing truths. Innovation makes us open-minded and curious thats why its so important to us.
Today 2010 2006 1992 Present Still going strong Hello GORE-TEX! 1950s A new reality
The 70s marked a change for us. New and cheaper materials and rising labour costs forced Viking to think again. So, in 1971 a new product was launched: Cherrox a very popular childrens boot. New production methods and compounds represent an opportunity for us to be even more innovative! It is not often you can experience a game changer but GORE-TEX was! We were among the first to use this famous membrane in our boots. The advantages were perfect for us: A waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane is a perfect fit for the type of footwear Norwegian weather demands!
1934 1920
Viking celebrates 90 years a considerable age for a footwear company! Viking is actually one of the oldest brands in Norway and has shaped Norwegian industrial history. Not bad for a 90-year-old. But were saving the big celebration for 2020, the year we turn 100!
We still keep evolving and developing. In the last few years weve seen more innovation than in the preceding 90 years. Things are really happening in the footwear industry and we are happy to see that were still at the forefront. And thats where we want to stay!
663342,5N
The polar circle defines the arctic areas of the earth. Here, the climate can be very cold. Beyond this latitude the angle of the earth also creates a special phenomenon: During winter we have periods where the sun never rises; during the summer youll witness the midnight sun a period when the sun never sets.
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The coastline
The Norwegian coastline is 2,500 km long. If you include the fjords it increases to over 25,000 km! And we should include them - the 1,190 fjords define Norway! Breathtaking corridors stretch from open sea and well into the mainland. Some of them, like Geirangerfjord and Nryfjord, have been inscribed on UNESCOs World Heritage List.
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Performance Outdoor
Its all in the name, isnt it? Vikings Performance shoes and boots are designed for the toughest conditions, for the most extreme weather and the most demanding people.
Get a grip!
An essential feature for varying terrain and climates is grip. UGC Ultimate Grip Concept is Vikings own unique sole technology developed to suit Norwegian conditions. UGC combines keys factors like stability and grip with lightweight, durable properties. So when you go for a mountain walk we want you to enjoy nature, UGC will take care of the grip for you.
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Everyday Outdoor
Yes, every single day in Norway offers an outdoor opportunity. It doesnt really matter where you are. In most cases youll find the outdoors a few hundred meters from where you live.
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Under development
Kids, as well as grown ups, demand the best footwear with optimum functionality. An active family will be all over the place, from picking berries along the hillside, to strolling along the coast. Everyday outdoor footwear is, in other words, a pretty wide area to cover. We are still discovering new areas and specialized topographies to develop products for! Today, we cover most segments and every imaginable terrain. Our collection of kids boots and shoes is as impressive as the variety of shoes that the rest of us wear. So, whether you are power walking, light mountain walking or just messing around in the snow, Viking boots and shoes have every option covered.
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Waterproof
Some things just work without you noticing. When your feet are working at full capacity, sweating, splashing through water and struggling through mud, and youre still dry and comfortable then theres a good chance that youre wearing GORE-TEX footwear. But you dont notice, it just works! GORE-TEX is known throughout the world for its excellent waterproof and breathable properties and was discovered almost by accident in 1978. GORE-TEX is one of the wonders of the 20th century and remains W.L.Gores most successful invention. Viking was one of the first manufacturers of shoes and boots to put the now famous GORE-TEX technology to use. We have used it in our models since 1992. The Norwegian climate, with wet conditions and temperatures varying from freezing cold to rather warm, calls for a waterproof and breathable fabric. GORE-TEX is just that fabric. The membrane basically works like the human skin: it lets moisture out and repels water. This means feet stay dry and warm, even in the toughest conditions. GORE-TEX is also windproof. All in all, this makes GORE-TEX shoes and boots a necessity when walking in demanding conditions. Dry and comfortable feet are guaranteed.
Outer material
Protective layer
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A recessed torsion bar for extra grip when this part of the sole impacts upon rocks, roots and slippery surfaces
Lugs placed in different directions provide grip, traction and braking power at all conceivable angles and in all types of terrain
Vikings rubber mixture with a softness of 60 shore for maximum grip and durability
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Have you ever been annoyed by constantly having to re-adjust your laces? Well, some people were. Probably while running or walking and getting the undergrowth tangled up in the laces. So they invented a system that eliminates the lace completely. Thanks to them, you can run with no worries! The Boa Closure system is an ingenious lacing technology that consists of an interwoven cable made of aircraft grade stainless steel that is bundled into a super strong core. The cable runs through the shoe and is attached to a wheel, which, when turned, tightens the cable in a single movement. The reel allows you to adjust closure for a perfect, glove-like fit. Additionally, the wheel acts as a quick release button, just one pull, and you can step out of the shoes.
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Full grain leather is the highest quality there is. It has not been buffed or sanded, and often bears marks from the cattle it came from. Over time it will develop a natural patina and a genuine look.
Nubuck leather
Nubuck leather is top-grain leather that has been sanded or buffed on the outside to create a velvetlike surface of short protein fibers from the skin. It is durable and very resistant to scratch marks.
Suede
Suede is made from the inner part of a hide. Suede has a napped finish that creates a textured layer and a more refined look. It is thinner than regular leather, so it is softer and lighter, and takes color well.
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Insulated by air!
BASF Elastopan
The best lightweight insulating polyurethane for winter boots. Engineered in Germany.
Polyurethane is a versatile material and can take any shape or color. Thats why our kids boots come in a wide range of many playful colors!
Wool lining: The wool and synthetic inner lining creates the best possible insulation. Soft and flexible: Polyurethane stays soft and flexible, even at very low
temperatures.
Durable: Polyurethane is an abrasion-resistant and highly durable material. Quick drying: Thermo have a removable inlay sole for easy drying.
They are also easy to wash.
Special fit: Thermo models are built on a Nordic last, which is slightly
wider. This provides space for an extra sock, if required.
A natural advantage
Hevea brasiliensis is the Latin name for the rubber tree. Its magnificent properties have been known since the early 1700s, but it was the discovery of the vulcanization procedure (1839) that led to commercial cultivation and harvesting of the rubber tree. Natural rubber is the sap from the rubber tree, and is harvested by making incisions in the bark. In liquid form, natural rubber is also known as latex. For Viking, this is the starting point for a journey from sap to handmade rubber boots. In the vulcanization process, additives are added to the raw material. An irreversible heating/pressuring process then changes this compound, giving it the desired characteristics for each part of the boot, whether it is the upper, midsole or bottom sole. We harvest our rubber in Malaysia. Mostly because of the top quality rubber from the plantations. And natural rubber is a key component in almost all of our products.
Natural rubber
Natural rubber is an ideal material for making waterproof footwear because it has the advantage of retaining its softness and flexibility at both high and low temperatures. Grip, waterproofness, traction and abrasion resistance are some of its properties.
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Symbols of conquest
Cairns are found atop every peak in Norway, no matter how big or small. People tend to build them everywhere, and that says a lot about how outgoing people are here. Cairns were originally built to measure distances for maps or to form landmarks. In other words, they were tools to control our surroundings. Today they are used for marking trails, but in most cases they are built just to say: I was here.
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Presence
Our footprints are clear throughout Europe. As a brand we are not the biggest, but our reputation has taken us far. Today, our head office and parent company Viking fotty AS is situated in Lrenskog, right outside Oslo, the capital of Norway. Viking fotty employs more than 50 people in the organization, including sales agents. We have subsidiary companies in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Germany, while our presence in the rest of the world is supported through distributors. This has brought our products to countries such as Russia, Iceland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Switzerland, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Greece, Bulgaria and even China.
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NORWAY
Viking Footwear AS Luhrtoppen 2 P.O. Box 143 N-1471 Lrenskog Tel.: +47 22 07 24 00 Fax: +47 22 07 24 99 Fax customer service desk: +47 22 07 24 80 E-mail: viking@vikingfootwear.com
DENMARK Viking Footwear AS Jernholmen 38, 2 sal DK-2650 HVIDOVRE Tel.: customer service desk: +45 72 11 81 80 Fax: customer service desk: +45 72 11 81 82 E-mail: vikingdk@vikingfootwear.com
ICELAND J.S. Gunnarsson HF Fossaleynir 10 IS-112 REYKJAVIK Tel.: +354 535 1600 Fax: +354 535 1601 E-mail: steindor@gunnarsson.is oskar@gunnarsson.is SWITZERLAND Bodag Schuh AG Stansstaderstrasse 104 CH-6371 STANS Tel.: +41 (0)41 620 87 00 Fax: +41 (0)41 620 87 01 E-mail: info@bodagschuh.ch www.viking-footwear.ch ITALY Sanolo S.R.L Via XXIV Maggio, 27 31044 MONTEBELLUNA (TV) Tel.: +39 (0) 423289089 Fax: +39 (0) 423249525 E-mail: info@sanolo.it CZECH REPUBLIC Planet Shoe s.r.o. Svermova 474 CZ-25210 MNISEK POD BRDY Tel.: 00420-318-520567 Fax: 00420-318-520568 E-mail: info@vikingfootwear.cz SLOVAKIA Profi Haus, s.r.o. Tupho 25 831 01 BRATISLAVA Tel.: +421 948 525 855 E-mail: cariboo@cariboo.sk POLAND Lynx Distribution ul.Norymberska 10c/80 30-376 Krakw Tel.: (0048)- 609-362-224 E-mail: makowskimaciek@gmail.com
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SWEDEN Viking Footwear AB Gamla Almedalsvgen 6 412 63 Gteborg Tel.: customer service desk: +46 (0) 31 98 50 90 Fax: customer service desk: +46 (0) 31 98 50 91 E-mail: vikingsv@vikingfootwear.com
FINLAND Viking Jalkineet OY Pakkalankuja 6 SF-01510 VANTAA Tel.: customer service desk: +358 9 838 61 80 Fax: customer service desk: +358 9 838 61 82 0 E-mail: vikingfi@vikingfootwear.com
GERMANY / AUSTRIA Viking Footwear GmbH MOC Raum D 126-128 Lilienthalallee 40 D-80939 Mnchen Tel.: +49 (0) 89 32186879 Fax: +49 (0) 89 32195299 E-mail: vikingde@vikingfootwear.com www.vikingfootwear.com/de
BlueSign
BlueSign provides us with an independent international standard for the whole production line from raw material to consumer.
RUSSIA Rusdel Ltd Obraztsova str. 14 127055, Moscow Tel.: +7 (495) 787 91 07 Fax : +7 (495) 937 13 86 E-mail: info@rusdel.ru
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BL reklamebyr - Photos by: Vegard Breie, Jarle Nyttingnes, John Lerskau, Johan Wildhagen & Nasjonalbiblioteket.
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www.vikingfootwear.com
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