PPB December 2018

1 First, neoprene—the fabric used to make the coolies—arrives at the plant in large rolls. Customers can choose from 28 colors, like coral and placid blue to Texas orange and camo. 2 The neoprene is cut according to the selected design and quantity, and the coolies- to-be undergo the printing process. BEST offers screen-printing (one color) and four-color printing. It is during this phase that customers can add embellishments, including sparkly ribbon and rhinestones. 3 The coolies are sewn, depending on the size and style of the coolie order, and then shipped. BEST offers coolies for standard eight-, 12-, 16- and 24-ounce cans, glass beer or soda bottles, party cups, growlers, wine glasses and wine bottles, to name a few. They also offer boot coolies, and coolies with capes, straps or zippers. Danielle Renda is associate editor of PPB. “What’s special about our company is that we have people that are willing,” he says. “We don’t have departments. We have people that will do anything and everything to get the job done and that is deeply embedded in our culture. We have a lot of teamwork, and it’s the team that makes us successful.” It comes as no surprise that BEST— whose previous tagline was “Championship Service”—now carries the tagline, “We say ‘Yes.’” To help with BEST’s continued growth, the company became a subsidiary of Braintree, Massachusetts-based Hub Promotional Group in November 2017, which also owns Beacon, Hub Pen, Canyon Leather, Debco Creations, BCG and Origaudio. “We weren’t for sale, but we were growing so fast that I thought we needed a partner to help us grow,” Hicks says. “And it’s been great working with the world- class team at Hub.” In the works for 2019, Hicks plans to offer a full line of new stainless drinkware that involves the same customer- friendly services as his coolies. About BEST Promotions USA Founding date: June 2007 Principal: Michael Hicks, Founder and President Numbers of orders filled per month: 5,000 Most popular item: Beverage Insulators 1 2 3 BEST Coolies Step-By-Step | DECEMBER 2018 | 87 CONNECT