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Tshirts And Things
PPAI 391146
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& Promotions
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Veristitch, Inc.
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Virat Enterprises, Inc.
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Winideas, S.a. De C.v.
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Wolftech
PPAI 696618
Wow Imprints
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Writely Sew
PPAI 700446
WTSmedia
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xoxo studios
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Yellowkat Marketing, LLC
PPAI 522709
Z Group Global
PPAI 670527
Zippy Print
PPAI 702352
Zo Creative, Inc.
PPAI 622423
Zome Design
PPAI 620548
Suppliers
CO - US Division
PPAI 663237
Control Laser
PPAI 702107
Duluth Pack
PPAI 701190
Giant Media, LLC
PPAI 703387
Lil’ Respect, LLC
PPAI 703444
M J Apparel, LLC
PPAI 703506
Magna-Plus
PPAI 133677
Meridian Metal Works
PPAI 133153
Pacific Bridge Global, Inc.
PPAI 273369
Spectra USA
PPAI 560692
Spry Sports/Marma Sports
PPAI 315178
Square Golf Ball & USA
Custom Imprint/Bright
Valley Enterprises
PPAI 669521
Tree-Free Custom
PPAI 703503
Tribal Boards
PPAI 645271
96
|
APRIL 2017
|
CONNECT
NEW
MEMBER
SPOTLIGHT
How did your company get its start?
In 1995, I thought of the concept for a
square golf ball. I enjoy unique items and
felt for certain that this type of novelty item
was available. In 2000, when the internet
really became mainstream, I searched
globally, but could not locate the item. In
2012 after another exhaustive search, I
decided to make the product myself. After a year of hard work, trial and
error, and much lost sleep, the square golf ball was born.
I had a very difficult time locating a company to imprint messages
and logos on the square golf ball, so I ended up purchasing a high-end
professional UV ink printer. This was an excellent move, and it opened
my eyes to other possibilities. I purchased this printer for one purpose,
but quickly found that I could imprint on all types of products. Two years
into the square golf ball process, I had built up a good assortment of
products which I could custom imprint and sell directly via my website.
All of this time I was thinking retail, direct-to-consumer. In 2015 I
began to get inquiries and orders from companies wanting to imprint
their logo on the square golf ball, and over the course of the year my
activity switched from retail to corporate sales as the bulk of my orders
grew. My imprint business was built on no minimums and no setup fees,
as this type outlet was very much in the minority.
What led your company to enter the promotional products market?
I have 15 years of experience in broadcast TV promotions. Throughout
those years, representatives would come to me, and this is how I
secured promotional items for the TV station. I am keenly aware of
marketing and promotional opportunities. This background knowledge
provided a level of confidence that I knew if I created the square golf
ball, I could market it. I began marketing to retail outlets, corporate and
direct to consumers—everybody. I knew the corporate door would be
the hardest to open and my efforts netted only a few corporate clients.
In 2015 enough square golf balls were in the right hands, I suppose,
that they received greater corporate interest, although I still had difficulty
opening doors with new clients.
What’s your favorite thing about being in the promotional
products industry?
I currently maintain a direct-to-consumer website
where I fill very small orders, as in one to five items. I’d like to phase
that out. In all honesty it requires the same amount of effort to create
one item as it does to create much larger volumes of the same thing. I
would much rather deal with distributors who open doors at a corporate
level, and take orders for 50-500 at a time instead of one or two at a
time. I deal with distributors who understand promotions.
Why did you join PPAI?
With my promotional background, I decided
to seek out a venue where promotional items were offered. One of
my clients suggested I explore PPAI. This was the organization I had
been looking for. I had exhibited at several trade shows previously,
but quickly found that I wasn’t involved with the right audiences.
PPAI allowed me to speak directly to distributors within the
promotional world. These representatives “got it” and understood
the value of this new product.
That audience belongs to PPAI and another similar organization.
I researched both plus asked my client for a pros and cons list
comparing the two organizations. In every area compared, PPAI
seemed to afford a better opportunity for me and my business. I came
to PPAI to get exposure to large volumes of distributors. What I found
was that PPAI offered many more tools that I could pick and choose
from to assist with my own business development.
Phil Ellison
President
Square Golf Ball
& USA Custom
Imprint/Bright Valley
Enterprises
Corrales, New Mexico
PPAI 69521