For Bombas, the opening of its first Los Angeles store represents more than an expansion of its physical retail footprint. The company sees its new Abbot Kinney location as an opportunity to introduce new customers to the brand, deepen its connection with existing shoppers and become an active participant in the Venice and greater Westside community. “Our first stores have shown us that physical retail is about much more than sales,” said Dennis Pettis, general manager of wholesale and retail at Bombas. While stores allow longtime customers to experience the full Bombas brand in person, more than half of the company’s in-store shoppers are new to Bombas—underscoring the important role brick-and-mortar retail plays in customer discovery and growth.
Pettis said the company’s early stores have also exceeded expectations and industry benchmarks across key measures, including traffic, conversion and return rates. But success is not being measured solely through transactions. Physical stores allow customers to connect more directly with Bombas’ mission and story while giving the company an opportunity to establish meaningful relationships within the neighborhoods it serves.
To celebrate the Venice opening, Bombas created an exclusive Los Angeles-themed sock as a gift for its first 150 customers. Beyond opening day, the company plans to collaborate with local businesses and organizations on community events and neighborhood activations that reflect the Bombas brand while helping reinforce Venice’s identity as a thriving retail destination.
That local commitment is closely tied to Bombas’ signature One Purchased = One Donated model. The company currently works with 434 Giving Partners across California, including 67 located within 15 miles of the Venice store. Through those partnerships, Bombas provides new, highly requested clothing essentials to organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and other forms of hardship throughout Los Angeles.
Bombas has already begun building relationships with nearby organizations, including Safe Place for Youth and The Midnight Mission, where its team has volunteered and learned more about local needs. “We’re looking forward to continuing to build relationships with our local Giving Partners and creating opportunities for our store employees and customers to get involved in the community,” Pettis said.
As the Venice store enters its first year, Bombas hopes it will become not only a place to discover its products, but also a platform for volunteerism, local partnerships and community-centered programming—embedding the brand’s social-impact mission within the neighborhood it now calls home.