In 1906, William J. Riley founded the New Balance Arch Support Company in Boston. In 1961, his sons designed the "Trackster," the first sneaker with grooves in the sole for added grip. During the running boom of the seventies, supply of products in the USA increased and NB became a global giant. In recent years, the house has managed to keep US and UK factories open, limiting the production of low-cost products in the Far East, contrary to what competing companies like Nike, Adidas, and Reebok are doing.