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IN 1930, SAMUEL J. KATZ, MY GRANDFATHER, BEGAN THE HUBBARD SHOE COMPANY, A SMALL CHILDREN’S SHOE FACTORY IN ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. He spent his life working with shoes, as did my father, Saul Katz, who entered the family business in 1943. Over the years, Hubbard grew to 900 employees and two factories, making shoes that quickly became known for fit, comfort and durability. As a family-owned business, we made footwear with a great deal of pride and attention to the smallest details. In 1973 Hubbard Shoe closed its doors, as did many New England shoe factories when shoemaking moved offshore to cheaper labor markets. That year, I joined my father and we started a new shoe business, sourcing our shoes in several small factories in Brazil. We went there and we taught them how to make very high quality shoes. We imported materials and machinery for them and stood in their factories to supervise the new products being made. Thus was born the new Katz family shoe business — The Rockport Company — where we were able to create our own shoe brand and to set high standards for every shoe.We are offering shoes of the very highest quality using the finest leathers from around the world. Fit and comfort are paramount in our designs and we have returned to Europe to work with some of the finest shoemakers in the world. As the third and fourth generation of a shoemaking family, we follow in the tradition of producing shoes that people love. In Samuel Hubbard shoes we make no compromises in comfort and craftsmanship. When there is a better method, we do it that way. When there is better leather or material, we use that. In presenting each new and innovative design, we honor our past and what we have learned over the past 85 years.
