Vibram, which was picked by REI as one of the vendors of the year for the second consecutive year, reached sales of nearly €200 million in 2011. The figure cannot be compared with the previous year because the company that represents Vibram in the U.S. is no longer a licensee, but an exclusive subcontractor. Therefore, U.S. sales are no longer just brand sales, but actual consolidated figures of the Italian company.
Besides Vibram's success with its FiveFingers, notably in the U.S., further growth seems likely, especially thanks to strong efforts in the field of ski boots, where Vibram works with several important brands such as Fischer, Scarpa, Burton, La Sportiva, K2, Crispi, Garmont, Dalbello and Deeluxe.
An innovation that is set to fuel sales in the snow segment is Vibram's new “Twinside” technology, which is a non-compressible sole that doesn't deform during descents, while increasing safety and comfort when walking. The concept is a sole made of two layers with two different compounds. The internal part is made of rather hard “Dura-Mont” compound while the external layer is a softer “Icetrek” compound. The new development meets TÜV standards for ski bindings. Additionally, Vibram is presenting “Megagrip,” a new compound that is designed for outstanding grip on wet surfaces.
