PPB November 2018

Chr i s t l Mah f ouz D eep in the heart of Cajun Country in Lafayette, Louisiana, sits Ace Specialties, LLC, a promotional products business founded by Christl Mahfouz in 2007. Her company initially sold safety gloves for workers in the oil and gas industry and has since morphed into a multimillion-dollar enterprise that offers marketing services, website design and a full-production fulfillment center for companies and organizations of all sizes. Ace Specialties also boasts a high-profile client recognizable the world over: the POTUS. Since 2015, the company has sold more than $23 million in hats, yard signs, stickers, decals and clothing promoting President Trump’s campaign. When Ace Specialties earned the distinction as the official merchandiser for Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., you could say it was a “yuge” moment for Mahfouz. Here’s how she earned the business and what she has learned along the way. What has beenone of your proudest moments as a business owner? I will never forget the immense feeling of pride and joy that I felt on election night when Donald J. Trump became president-elect. Howdid you earn the distinctionof providing logoed products for President Trump’s campaign? With the oil and gas industry being hit hard in 2015, our sales dropped in half and I foundmyself not knowing how I was going to paymy bills. I prayed each night asking God for direction and where He wantedme to be next. As soon as Donald Trump announced he was running for president, I saw people in the background of videos wearing Trumpmerchandise theymade for themselves. I knew that was my new direction. I then connected with amember of the teamwho gaveme the opportunity to pitch my business. Meet Christl Mahfouz, the woman behind President Trump’s multimillion-dollar promotional products empire. by Audrey Sellers Presidential Promotions Photos provided by Face Magazine 82 | NOVEMBER 2018 | CONNECT