PPB January 2015

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JANUARY 2015 • PPB • 61
On The Up And Up
PINNACLE PROMOTIONS (D)
Norcross, Georgia
Dave Weintraub, president (right)
Mitch Weintraub, CEO
• Founded: 1994
• 2014 Inc. 5000 Ranking: 3472
• Three-Year Growth Rate: 95%
• 2013 Revenue: $24.5 million
• Number of Employees: 88 (40 new jobs added within
the past three years)
• Previous Years On Inc. 5000 list: First timer
All In The Family Is A Winning Strategy
Brothers David and Mitch Weintraub have always been close. In
1994, after completing his MBA and working as a financial analyst,
Mitch decided to start a business with David. He looked back at his
college days, where he designed and sold t-shirts to fraternities and
other groups, and decided this was the path he wanted to take.
Within months of David completing law school and passing the
bar exam, the two started Pinnacle Promotions in the bedroom of
Mitch’s Atlanta apartment. Twenty years later it has grown into a
multi-million promotional marketing agency with expertise in design,
sourcing and production of branded merchandise and corporate apparel.
Clients have included Coca-Cola, USAA and FedEx.
“We like to constantly challenge each other; we never want to just
sit,” says David. “We are both intelligent, curious, fun and outgoing.
We have a very dynamic partnership. Our vision started 20 years ago
when we painted our own canvas.”
Strategy For Growth
The company grown consistently since the beginning and has a
number of clients who have grown with it, says David. That concur-
rent success is an extension of the marketing concepts employed by
the diversified company. “We were one of the first adoptees of the
internet. Our company is all about its infrastructure,” he says.
This year is the first for the brothers to be recognized on the Inc.
5000 list—and the first year for them to apply.
Creating Differentiation
“There is no secret sauce, no silver bullet,” says Mitch Weintraub,
CEO. “We grind it day in and day out.” Pinnacle Promotions also
believes in the abilities of its employees. “We have incredible people
and we teach them our process. It is all about promotional products,
and all about servicing,” says Mitch.
“Mitch and I are perfectionists,” says David. “All those here have
adopted that idea—pushing the entire company never to be satisfied.
[We are about] bringing in customers and keeping customers.”
Sustaining Growth
The company’s culture and brand is what keeps the company
strong and growing. “We hire the right people and then get out of
their way,” says Mitch. “That is what’s really helped us. We have an
amazing business and so many great people.”
Pinnacle Promotions takes care of the employees and has created
an environment where employees can thrive. “They go out, take care
of customers and do all the things at the highest level possible. We
provide a three-week training for everyone and teach them how the
business works. That’s a big thing.”
What’s Ahead In 2015
Pinnacle has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, landed a new
brand and moved into a modern, 22,000-square-foot office designed
to feel like an ad agency environment. Each conference room has
piped-in music as well as décor that features an inspirational message
and colors that tie into the company brand. There’s also an “Elvis”
room, a special break room and even a “brainstorming” room—and
employees can bring their pets to work, too.
“We brought in a space planner who surveyed our employees and
asked them what they wanted and needed,” says Mitch of the new
building. “A lot of company owners don’t think about their people,”
says David. “We really love what our employees do and it shines
through. Our customers know this. Ours is a people business—people,
process, product.”
Pinnacle is fine-tuning its systems, people and training to pave the
way for the company’s future with an eye on being its clients’ most
trusted adviser.