Printwear & Promotion The Total Promotional Package
This year sees Stormtech celebrate the milestone of 40 years of business operations.
The company started as a sporting goods import business back in 1977 and later evolved into a promotional products company supplying ‘beer gear’ to the top breweries at the top.
Gradually its product offering expanded to include technical apparel, bags and accessories.
Company founder and CEO, Blake Annable, said: “In the mid-80s, promotional products consisted primarily of T shirts and ball caps with logos on them. We wanted to offer businesses more sophistication and technicality in our product offerings, which ultimately led to the development of the first branded jacket with a fleece liner that could be zipped into a waterproof breathable shell. It was based on a highly successful product in the ski industry, but we wanted to produce it for companies looking for a more premium jacket.”
With its head office located in Vancouver, BC, Stormtech boasts over 140 employees across all office locations including Toronto, New York, San Francisco, London, and Brisbane. The Vancouver facility also acts as the global distribution centre with over 250,000sq ft that stocks over 600 styles with a total SKU base of 22,000.
The business remains family-run, with key family members involved in the business.
Mr Annable added: “It gives me tremendous pride to see the passion for Stormtech in my family and their willingness to work hard and learn all facets of the business. They are all very resourceful and customer-focused – critical factors in this business. In an environment where other major suppliers are being merged or bought by private equity groups, there is a nostalgia for family owned businesses. We receive a lot of positive feedback about that.”
