102 / 112
EmbroidMe/Decatur
PPAI# 619914 UPIC: E619914
EmbroidMe/Newton
PPAI# 619884 UPIC: E619884
EmbroidMe-Alexandria
PPAI# 455138 UPIC: EMBROIDA
EmbroidMe-Boise
PPAI# 455156 UPIC: E455156
EmbroidMe-Centerville
PPAI# 455046 UPIC: E455046
EmbroidMe-Davie
PPAI# 455196 UPIC: E455196
EmbroidMe-Louisville
PPAI# 455252 UPIC: E455252
EmbroidMe-Murfreesboro
PPAI# 455248 UPIC: E455248
EmbroidMe-Salt Lake City
PPAI# 455310 UPIC: EMBROISL
EmbroidMe-Waxahachie
PPAI# 455354 UPIC: E455354
Encompas Network, Inc.
PPAI# 630382 UPIC: Encompas
Ever-Mark, LLC
PPAI# 260658 UPIC: E260658
Express Printing
PPAI# 679103 UPIC: E679103
FASTSIGNS
PPAI# 679366 UPIC: F679366
FASTSIGNS of Dothan
PPAI# 678947 UPIC: F678947
Financial Supply, Inc.
PPAI# 104992 UPIC: chuckie
Fort Worth Camera
PPAI# 678919 UPIC: F678919
Forte Promotional Marketing
PPAI# 601066 UPIC: FORTEPRO
Free
Think
PPAI# 677058 UPIC: F677058
Georgia Imprints
PPAI# 678719 UPIC: G678719
Gish Graphix
PPAI# 678681 UPIC: G678681
GOIN POSTAL
PPAI# 674805 UPIC: G674805
Graffiti Apparel, LLC
PPAI# 678915 UPIC: G678915
HALO
PPAI# 678534 UPIC: H678534
Heart of Texas Performance
Marketing
PPAI# 651356 UPIC: H651356
Hudson Valley Awards, Inc.
PPAI# 280799 UPIC: goshen
Iconic Promotions, Inc.
PPAI# 679010 UPIC: ICONIC
Independent Creative
PPAI# 677026 UPIC: I677026
Innovative Automation
PPAI# 675659 UPIC: I675659
How did your company
get its start?
During our
old college days, back in
2009, every single person
at our school rode cheap, old beach cruisers. One day, we saw a
group of kids riding bikes called “fixies.” We had never seen them
before so we stopped them, asked how much they paid for the bikes
and where they got them. They told us $1,500 and they built the
bikes themselves. That was essentially the jumping-off point. Our
mission statement has evolved since that day, and now it’s our goal to
provide high-quality bicycles at an affordable price, delivered right to
your doorstep.
What led your company to enter the promotional products
market?
We’ve been creating custom bikes for corporate clients for
the past several years, however, over the past few years, we’ve really
noticed a huge demand for this option, specifically for bicycles. We
educated ourselves on the promotional products industry and realized
there was a huge opportunity to offer our product in this space. We
have been off to the races ever since and that is what brought us to
SAGE and of course PPAI.
What’s your favorite thing about being in the promotional
products industry?
Our favorite thing probably has been the people
we have met in the industry so far. It has been a really fun experience
getting to meet distributors and other suppliers all over the country
and learning about the different companies that use these products.
Aside from the people working with different brands, creating some
really amazing looking custom bike concepts has been really fun.
There is something different about creating a custom bike for a
company because it really can show the style and message of the
brand. We really are learning a little bit more each day and it has been
an exciting time for us.
Why did you join PPAI?
Well, when we met Kristi [Pullen, PPAI
business development account manager] at the SAGE Roadshow
this past spring, we were trying to learn as much as we could about
the promotional products industry as a whole. After speaking with
Kristi and doing some research when we got back from the show, we
realized how much the PPAI does for the industry. Along with what
PPAI provides and realizing that we needed to be in Las Vegas for the
annual trade show, it was obvious we should become members. The
outreach that PPAI provides is really not matched by anyone else in
the industry.
NEW
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
Paul Oakley
Director of Sales
Solé Bicycle Co.
Venice, California
PPAI# 671737
UPIC: S671737
100
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OCTOBER 2016
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