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This is Chris Redgrave for Zions Bank Speaking on Business.
When Scott and Leslie Leoncini (Lee-on-chee-knee) decided it was time to leave California, they chose Utah as their new home. They were excited not just about Utah's wealth of recreational opportunities but also the strong business climate, which Forbes magazine has named the Best State for Business and Careers for three years running.
To keep themselves busy, they starting looking for an established business to buy and found what looked like a perfect match in AdWear, a company with over 30 years of experience in the advertising specialties business. With Leslie as the majority owner, this is a woman-owned business. Plus, Ad Wear also has 22 employees working in their 17,000 square foot office and manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City.
Ad Wear offers full-service custom embroidery, silk screening and promotional products to customers throughout the United States. That means companies can put their logos on garments, or even personalize items with an employee's name. Ad Wear also offers promotional items like pens, mugs, golf bags and equipment or even fleece throws, basically anything you can think of to extend your company's brand.
Scott says an important focus for Ad Wear right now is diversifying their customer base. When they bought the business it was heavily focused on one industry, and his sales team has been working to expand. That means opening new avenues, like the medical field for example. They're creating new and fun ideas they're brought to the market while they reinvent themselves. Soon, they'll be aggressively pursuing businesses in industries they haven't yet found opportunities with.
In an industry like this with a low barrier to entry, Scott and Leslie say the competition is fierce, especially with do-it-yourselfers and Internet-based companies, but there are also some well-established players. However, Ad Wear is one of the oldest promotional materials companies in Utah and works to distinguish themselves through excellent customer service as well as having a passion for innovation and growth. They're strategically releasing their sales team to go after businesses in industries where they're having success while seeking new prospects.
For Zions Bank, I'm Chris Redgrave, speaking on business.
Ad Wear, Inc. 3338 W. Parkway Blvd. Salt Lake City, UT 84119 801-973-4445 www.adwear.com
