New Era expanding its business in WNY

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - New Era is capping off recent successes with an expansion in western New York. The Buffalo-based company is adding product lines and more than a hundred new jobs.

New Era is, and always will be, known for hats. But the company is adding new products as part of it's long-term growth plan, creating more of a "lifestyle" brand.

New Era President Pete Augustine said, "We own the head wear, but a lot of everything you see in the target consumer 16 to 30 demographic is going to be denim, the latest kicks, t-shirts and the hoodie. We like to think we own the head and we're working our way down from there."

This includes products like belts, watches and t-shirts. All this requires a lot in terms of marketing strategy, and more people to get that message and products, out there.

"We've added people from an apparel perspective, we've added from an accessories perspective as well as people to the core head wear team," said Augustine.

New Era has hired over 70 people over the past few months, and Augustine says he'd like to add 80 more employees to the team by the end of the year, just in the Buffalo office.

Augustine said, "From an administrative perspective, both in Buffalo and in Miami where our apparel efforts are housed, and now on the west coast where we're building a bigger marketing efforts and regional sales coverage and accessories team to drive that business."

The company will certainly be busy. The National Football League has designated New Era as its official cap beginning next year. New Era is already the designated cap for Major League Baseball. The company added Tokyo and Hong Kong stores earlier this year, with Chicago and L.A. opening later this year, a total of 12 stores worldwide, for this Queen City company.

New Era will have close to 400 people working at the Delaware Avenue headquarters in downtown Buffalo, and more than 500 work at the factory in Derby. To learn more about open positions at New Era, follow this link.