Canada Goose opens U.S. headquarters

Canada Goose, the maker of the iconic puffy down winterparkas whose popularity has exploded in recent years, announced this week that it is opening its first U.S. office in the ski community of Denver.

"Denver is the gateway to the mountains and a major hub of the outdoor industry," the company said in a press release. "As a global leader in the premium outerwear market, we couldn't think of a better place to set up our U.S. headquarters, or city to call home."

The new headquarters will have a retail showroom and a new sales team headed by Ian Widmer, who has been with Canada Goose since 2009. The company has already been selling its productsat high-end U.S. retailers like Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, but the new office will allow it to expand sales further, it said.

U.S. sales of Canada Goose have grown by 1,500 per cent over the last five years while its business overall has grown by 3,500 per cent in the last decade, the company said.

The company continues to expand andopeneda new57,000-square-foot factory in Winnipeg just last month.

Itcalled the U.S. opening a "corporate milestone for the brand."

Canada Goose jackets have been around for more than 50 years and gained a reputation for holding up in extreme climates such as the High Arctic and the South Pole, becoming the parkas of choice for scientists and others who work in such areas.

More recently, they've caught on with urban consumers, who see them more as fashion statements than objects of necessity.

Many imitations that mimic Canada Goose's design have appeared on the market, and some have eventried to pass off as Canada Goose products.The company has been vocal about urging the government to do more to weed out the counterfeit jackets, which can sell for as little as $100 compared to between $600 and $800 for a genuine Canada Goose parka.

The company has also set itself apart from its competitors bycontinuing to make its jackets in Canada and has turned that aspect of its operationsinto a key component of its brand.