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CLOSE UP
T AGE 12, Michael Emoff was the master
of his trade—the trade being the hot-
stamping machine operator at Dayton,
Ohio-based distributor Shumsky, the promotional prod-
ucts company founded by his grandfather in 1953. “He
couldn’t figure out how to use it,” says Emoff of his
grandfather, “so he asked me to help. I became the
company hot stamper of leather and vinyl goods, for 50
cents per stamping.”
Emoff credits his exposure to cool gadgets and
products, and to burgeoning technology like digital cal-
culators, for spurring him on to work full-time at the
company after his graduation in 1980 from Indiana
University. Now he’s the chairman of Shumksy and Boost
Rewards. His wife, Anita, is co-owner of the company. In
addition, Emoff serves as chairman of the supervisory
board for IGC Global Promotions, a collective of promo-
tional companies.
Outside the office, Emoff and his family—Anita and
their sons: Grant, Brent, Cole and Adam—relax at the
family’s vacation home in Arizona, and the couple
enjoy taking bike rides together as well. Emoff volun-
teers with the American Heart Association and the
Alzheimer’s Association. For the past 11 years he’s
chaired the Dayton (Ohio) Air Show. “It’s a great way
for me to give back to the community,” he says.
What was your first job, and what lessons did you learn that
you apply today?
In college, I had the idea of selling party favors to fraternities
and sororities as a Shumsky representative. At 19, I was still
relatively new to the selling side of the business. I placed an
order for red cowboy hats for a sorority’s western-themed
party, but when the hats arrived, they were youth sizes instead
of adult sizes. To ensure I felt the pain of the mistake, my
grandfather made me pay for the entire order. It was a life-
changing experience for me; I learned that attention to detail
was critical to my future success.
What piece of advice would you share with an industry
newcomer?
Be different. Being different to enjoy a higher value is one
reason I started to invent and patent products. Don’t stay in
the boundaries of what you think you can and can’t do. If you
go outside your boundaries, you will find an audience that
values it.
Who are your mentors?
My mother, Jayne Emoff-Miller, was my greatest influence and
mentor. She worked with me at Shumsky for over 40 years and
she taught me that by doing good things for the community
and our business, good things happen in return. She was also
my creative inspiration at an early age. When I was 13, I
invented a “Star Trek” board game. My mom helped me hire an
artist to develop and package the game, and we sent my proto-
type to Milton Bradley—my first pitch. Three months later
they sent me back a letter saying “no thanks.”
80 •
PPB
• JULY 2015
CONNECT
Michael Emoff and his wife, Anita, enjoy a day out with son
Adam.
Creating A Unique Life
A
MICHAEL EMOFF’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE THE RESULT OF BLENDING CREATIVITY AND
BUSINESS ACUMEN.
BY JEN ALEXANDER