Consumer Goods

Athletic Propulsion Labs Shoes (APL) Corporate Office

Twin brothers Adam and Ryan Goldston began working on their business idea while they were still attending college at USC. The brothers played on both the football and basketball teams at college when they decided to design an athletic shoe that would help improve their game.

They became legends almost overnight. While designing and selling other types of athletic shoes on a small time basis, they found that the NBA had banned the use of their basketball shoe called the APL Concept 1, as it gave players an “unfair advantage.” Adam stated in one interview that the company sold more shoes in the 4 day period after the ban than they had in 6 weeks.

Currently, the company sells its products online or at selected retailers, such as Lululemon.

While the company won’t give actual sales figures or revenue numbers, they do say they are currently returning all profits back into the company for development and expansion. The Goldston’s hope to have running and other shoes ready for Olympic teams in 2020.

Athletic Propulsion Labs, commonly referred to as APL, have headquarters in Beverly Hills, California. The company recently introduced the worlds most expensive sneakers, made from crocodile skin and dipped in 24K gold.

Athletic Propulsion Labs (API)

History

Currently, the company sells its products online or at selected retailers, such as Lululemon.

West Marine Corporate Office

In 1968, Randy Repass began selling nylon ropes for fishing and boating out of his garage in Sunnyvale, California. He opened his first store in 1975 in Palo Alto, California, called West Coast Ropes. In 1977, the company acquired West Products and changed its name to West Marine.

In 1991, the company began to expand and open stores on the east coast of the US. The company went public in 1993 on the NASDAQ but unregistered their stock in September of 2017.

The company merged with E&B Marine in 1996 and began offering a larger amount of boat and fishing equipment.

In 2003 the company acquired BoatU.S. Product Division.

In 2008, the company went international, opening their first locations in Turkey and Canada.

In 2014, the company announced that it would close all of its Canadian locations. As of September 2017, the company operates as a subsidiary of Monomoy Capital Partners, who acquired the company for $328 million.

Currently, the company sells more than 75,000 products either at store locations or online. Headquarters are located in Watsonville, California.

West Marine

In 1991, the company began to expand and open stores on the east coast of the US. The company went public in 1993 on the NASDAQ but unregistered their stock in September of 2017.

History

The company merged with E&B Marine in 1996 and began offering a larger amount of boat and fishing equipment.

In 2003 the company acquired BoatU.S. Product Division.

In 2008, the company went international, opening their first locations in Turkey and Canada.

Currently, the company sells more than 75,000 products either at store locations or online. Headquarters are located in Watsonville, California.

Yeti Coolers Corporate Office

Ryan and Roy Seiders are brothers who grew up in Driftwood, Texas, spending a great deal of their free time fishing. Their father designed and built fishing rods, so it made sense that the brothers would do the same.

In 2005, the brothers sold their businesses to start a new venture together, building coolers designed for fisherman and other outdoor loving folks. Yeti Coolers, commonly referred to as just Yeti, was founded in 2006.

The company designs, manufactures and sells coolers, bait keepers, chairs, drink cups, ice buckets, sporting apparel, such as shirts and hats, as well as soft-sided insulated lunch bags.

Yeti was sold in June of 2012 to the private equity firm Cortec Group for $67 million.

In 2016, the company filed with the SEC for an initial public offering but withdrew their request in early 2018 citing “market conditions”.

In April 2018, the company stopped supporting and doing business with the NRA, as well as eliminating a discount for NRA members.

YETI sells their products in over 6,000 retailers such as West Marine, Bass Pro, Cabelas, REI, Dicks Sporting Goods. Company earnings in 2015 were $14.2 million and in 2016 are $72.2 million.

The company has a currently has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Headquarters are still located in Austin, Texas.

Yeti Coolers

History

The company designs, manufactures and sells coolers, bait keepers, chairs, drink cups, ice buckets, sporting apparel, such as shirts and hats, as well as soft-sided insulated lunch bags.

Yeti was sold in June of 2012 to the private equity firm Cortec Group for $67 million.

In 2016, the company filed with the SEC for an initial public offering but withdrew their request in early 2018 citing “market conditions”.

In April 2018, the company stopped supporting and doing business with the NRA, as well as eliminating a discount for NRA members.

YETI sells their products in over 6,000 retailers such as West Marine, Bass Pro, Cabelas, REI, Dicks Sporting Goods. Company earnings in 2015 were $14.2 million and in 2016 are $72.2 million.

The company has a currently has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Headquarters are still located in Austin, Texas.

Bennett Auto Supply Corporate Office

Bennett Auto Supply can trace its roots back to 1946 when Allen and Lettie Bennett opened a service station in Oakpark, Florida. The gas station also had a small grocery store and Allen used to repair bicycles and sell bicycle parts in the back.

By 1954, Bennett began selling tires and batteries to other service stations in the area. In 1957, the Bennett’s realized that auto parts were a major part of their overall business and decided to focus strictly on that. For better distribution, the company created a warehouse under the name Ben Clair, Inc.

The company expanded quickly in the 1960’s and is now the largest supplier of auto parts in southern Florida.

Bennett Auto Supply is still family owned and operated with Allen’s sons Barry and Harold as the executive team, as well as Allen’s grandchildren now working at the business.

The company has a 92,000 square foot warehouse and 34 locations throughout South Florida. Company headquarters are now located in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Bennett Auto Supply

History

The company expanded quickly in the 1960’s and is now the largest supplier of auto parts in southern Florida.

Bennett Auto Supply is still family owned and operated with Allen’s sons Barry and Harold as the executive team, as well as Allen’s grandchildren now working at the business.

The company has a 92,000 square foot warehouse and 34 locations throughout South Florida. Company headquarters are now located in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Chalk Couture Corporate Office

Chalk Couture was founded by Tara Roark in 2017. While attending design school, Roark purchased an overly large frame for her home. After deciding that she didn’t want a photo or painting in the frame, she purchased a large magnetic chalkboard. Roark became disappointed when she couldn’t find any magnetic letters or other designs for adults and decided to create her own.

The company designs and fabricates a chalk type of paint, along with reusable vinyl stickers so that clients can create their own artwork or buy artwork from other creators.

The vinyl transfers can be used on almost any surface, including glass, painted surfaces, metal, or whiteboards. The chalk goes on wet and dries hard, but can be removed with a wet rag or made permanent with a spray poly.

The company has expanded tremendously in the past year and expects to sign up as many as 500 new clients within the next 6 months. The corporate office is currently located in Midvale, Utah.

Chalk Couture

The company designs and fabricates a chalk type of paint, along with reusable vinyl stickers so that clients can create their own artwork or buy artwork from other creators.

History

The company has expanded tremendously in the past year and expects to sign up as many as 500 new clients within the next 6 months. The corporate office is currently located in Midvale, Utah.