Posts Tagged ‘nametags’

Namify Your Product: Top Supplier’s Answer To The Recognition Industry

Namifiers brands promotional products to the advertising specialties industry that comprise a large choice of tags and accessories. The business offers economical pricing and assortment for name tag printers, cutters, magnetic clips and other backings, as well as laserable blanks, ID holders and custom lanyards, IPI Plastic, wholesale printing and embroidery completion.

Bryan Welton is the President and founder of Salt Lake City, Utah-based Namifiers, a business helping 78,000 clients and employing 85 people-no minor feat for a guy who is just 31 years old. “We consider ourselves to be in the business of brand marketing,” Welton says. “This is different than standard promotion because we produce the merchandise. We have a dozen diverse product lines, and within those product lines, we recommend individualized help to the consumer. For example, in a small business start-up, a business needs help getting off the ground. We facilitate them along with everything: their logo, embroidery, design, engraving, advertising, and branding. We don’t really offer a big package deal; in its place, we cater to every individual client. They might need a sign, full color name tags, and some t-shirts.”

Although Welton at this instant runs an motivated and growing identification small business, he came to Namifiers circuitously. Welton studied political science but became involved in ways to instill technology into businesses. “We began this business in 2001,” he says, “but I came interested in the industry after working in the search engine optimization (SEO) line of work. Due to a few family members and friends, I learned of a small engraving shop with good quality equipment doing more often than not local business.

“I approached them and offered my SEO services to get their production to the next level online,” he continues. “At that moment in time, people were still scared about doing business online in this industry. The impression was that the shopper sought to lay a hand on and feel the product. But we launched an deal with them in 2001, and a few years later we ended up buying the company and acquired a few companies along the way. In 2004 we came to what is at the present our existing force.”

In that somewhat brief period of time, Welton has seen significant change and contends he came to the business with a fresh eye, which helps continue his company running strong. “In the beginning, there were engraved name tags, custom printed lanyards, and badge holders at the company,” he says. “The added lines, like embroidery and apparel printing, happened here as time went on because of customer needs.”

A Fresh Viewpoint on Namifying Your Product
“Tripping” into this business gave Welton a creative perspective in an industry characterized by a lot of family-run businesses. “A a small number of big players were out there who understood how technology could take [a company] to the next level but mostly it was a few people with a few workers,” he says. “Then I came on board. I don’t have a specialized background. I had a bachelor’s degree in political science; I was getting prepared to go to law school. It was around the year 2000 and about 3 weeks before going, I determined to give it up and I told my wife I’d like to do some freelance things for a while. I got into this industry with that sort of uniqueness. I had fresh eyes, but I had a lot riding on the line. I gave up a lot to do this.”

Digging up business doesn’t appear to be a great effort for Namifiers. Welton says lean production and same-day delivery keep his products and services very much in demand. “The thing that helped us grow was that we took the same-day service model and a lean manufacturing method to more than a few industries,” he says. “Customers who needed 20 plaques regularly had to wait 3 days. We found that people don’t want to buy something and subsequently have to return 3 days later and pick it up. We told them that we could do the whole lot the same day. That’s the major avenue where we gained customers. People were receiving things a week or two behind promised delivery dates. Our goal is if you phone up at 11 am or even 1 pm, we can have a proof in 30 minutes, and everything produced that day. If a customer wants something sent overnight, we know how to do that.”

Welton is an sharp marketer and appreciates the effort it takes to secure and keep a growing clientele. “We invest in marketing and advertising, which includes everything from banner exchanges to Web links to help our SEO,” he says. “We are vested in all of the main search engines, which have verified to be some of the best channels for getting new clients. People can download to a Blackberry or iPhone. Our approach is very up to date.”

Employees Are Crucial to Company’s Success
Employees are also key to Namifiers’ success. Though most of the company’s workforce works at a facility situated about 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City, the business works on a international level. “We’ve got approximately 85 employees,” says Welton. “But we also hold some affiliate partnerships that are joint ventures out of the country for raw goods in China. And we spoil our people. We’ve got an 80,000 square foot opening, and 25,000 of that is office space. Everyone has a first-class sized 15 x 15-ft workplace. The personnel space houses our salespeople, marketing team, and graphic designers. People are surprised when they come to our facility.”

Welton plans to bring in even more surprises to the industry in the type of product thoughts. He sees security and combination applications as the next new movement for the identification and awards industry. “Things took a major shift in security after 9/11,” he says. As a result, we’ve seen the digital ID business grow to smart cards and data-embedded badges. As time goes on, people will set more radio frequency IDs on a name tag. One of the brands we’re helping develop makes the name tag more serviceable. People have by tradition carried an electrical device and then they’re also required to carry an ID badge. We’re looking to marry those thoughts. That’s what the outlook looks like - evolving technology and various functionality.” Join Namifiers Affiliate Program http://www.namifiers.com/Affiliates.aspx