Eddie Flaherty gets to do the job of his dreams on the Fourth of July, when he drives L.L. Bean’s iconic Bootmobile in the Freeport parade.
Flaherty, whose title is is senior bootmobile marketing specialist for L.L. Bean, says he gets all sorts of interesting responses when he drives the vehicle – a giant replica of the hunting shoe that made L.L. Bean famous – in special events.
“It’s truly an honor to travel the country promoting L.L. Bean as a Bootmobile driver,” he said.
Flaherty, 24, is from Portland. He graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a degree in outdoor recreation business administration in 2013.
The original L.L.Bean Bootmobile has covered more than 40,000 miles, appeared at hundreds of events in 10 states and dozen college campuses, and made tracks to every L.L. Bean store. It has been driven in parades celebrating Boston Red Sox championships, dressed up specially for the occasion.
The Bootmobile is 13 feet 6 inches high and built on a Ford F250 frame, with steel and fiberglass construction. The shoelaces are made of 12-strand braided mooring rope, capable of towing 106,000 pounds.
Flaherty answered questions regarding his experiences with the Bootmobile for the Tri-Town Weekly.
Q: You’re the invisible man riding around the Freeport Fourth of July parade in the L.L. Bean Bootmobile, yet the Bootmobile is one of the most recognized things in the parade. Talk a little about that.
A: It’s always an adventure behind the wheel of our iconic Bootmobile. We get honks, waves, and plenty of smiles everywhere we travel across the country. Whether we’re in Aroostook County or in the streets of New York City, the Bootmobile is always welcomed with smiles and excitement for seeing such an amazing vehicle on the road. We even have rare occasions where people will stick their Bean boots out of their windows as they drive by. It’s always very popular on social media, too, with folks posting their pictures and Tweeting about us. It’s also garnered an amazing amount of media attention, as it makes for a fun, whimsical story with reporters, not to mention great visuals for the camera.
Q: What position do you take in the parade? Is it always the same?
A: We tend to let the parade committee decide where the Bootmobile goes. It ranges from the front to the back, but we always seem to be a big hit as we set foot down Main Street for the parade.
Q: What do people say when you drive by? Do you get most attention from kids, or just from everybody?
A: We always get a wide variety of reactions from people when they meet the Bootmobile. From waves to people letting us know our “shoe is untied,” we get plenty of attention as we drive down the street. People of all ages get excited about our rolling icon, from the smallest kids to the adults who brought them to the parade. I mean what’s not to like? I don’t care who you are or where you come from, this crazy, wonderful Bootmobile always elicits smiles from whoever sees it.
Q: Is it hot in there?
A: Luckily our vehicles are well equipped with air conditioners. Some of my co-pilots even complain that I keep the Bootmobile at arctic temperatures when we are on long trips. We also keep it very clean. It always has that “new boot smell.”
Q: Are you patriotic about the Fourth of July parade?
A: We always enjoy the celebration of Fourth of July in Freeport and to see the community ring in the summer season on the coast of Maine. We kick the day off at the Fourth of July Road Race, roll through the parade and then get to enjoy the Summer in the Park Concert Series with fireworks to end an amazing day in the town of Freeport. It’s a fun, festive day and a great way to celebrate our independence.
Q: What other events do you ride the Bootmobile in?
A: We travel across the country in the Bootmobile throughout the whole year. In 2013 we built a second Bootmobile and now have a pair on the road that travel to promote L.L. Bean and the outdoor lifestyle that the company has built its reputation on. From Maine to Colorado, the Bootmobile heads to parades, events, college campuses, our new store openings and a variety of festivals. We’re out to encourage as many people as possible to get out and enjoy the outdoors as much as we do at L.L. Bean.
Q: How long have you been doing this? Do you have any other duties with the company?
A: I have been with the Bootmobile program for the last two years. I was fortunate enough to start driving the Bootmobile after graduating from the University of Maine at Farmington and now manage and coordinate the program with two vehicles and four staff that travel across the country. You can find our full schedule at llbean.com/bootmobile and follow our adventures on Twitter and Instagram at @bootmobile to see where we are setting foot when we aren’t celebrating the Fourth of July in Freeport.
Q. How did you get chosen to be the Bootmobile driver and is it a dream come true?
A: I went to school to get a degree in outdoor business with the intention of working for an outdoor company. Having grown up in Maine, L.L. Bean was always at the top of my list. After seeing the position open up during the spring of my senior year I applied and the rest is history. After multiple on-camera interviews, throwing the first pitch of a Red Sox game and meeting some of the best co-workers at an amazing company like L.L. Bean, it has certainly become a dream come true.
Eddie Flaherty will be heard but not seen when he drives the L.L. Bean Bootmobile in the Freeport Fourth of July Parade.Courtesy photoSend questions/comments to the editors.
