ROGERS, Ark. — Doug Keller recalls watching college football on television around Halloween a couple of years ago and then being surprised when no little trick-or-treaters dressed as Arkansas Razorbacks showed up at his door. To Keller, the founder and chief executive officer of Infinity Headwear and Apparel Inc., that seemed like an opportunity.

“As big as apparel is in this category, it seemed like a no-brainer,” says Keller, who notes that sales of licensed products based on team sports are a $15 billion business in the United States.

Things moved quickly from that original idea to a new line of merchandise. Infinity reached a partnership with the Collegiate LicensingCo., an IMG company, and has launched an exclusive line of apparel inspired by collegiate mascots.

The new line, called the MascotWear collection, includes a varietyof products that allow children to dress up as their (or their parents’) favorite college mascot. The initial products in the line include infant and youth full-bodied Halloween costumes, hooded fashion tops, towels, bathrobes, sleepwear, and rainwear.

“MascotWear is an apparel and accessories line dedicated to representing the on-field mascot for both kids and adults,” Keller said. “We look forward to driving sales with this new category and increasingInfinity’s market share with iconic brands paired with innovative apparel and accessories at the retail level.”

Beginning August 2010, MascotWear products have been available through multiple select retail stores, college bookstores, and directly through the company’s e-commerce Web site, www.mascotwearnation.com.

The products were also introduced in about 80 Walmart stores, where Keller said they achieved sell-through of almost 20% in the first week. The line was due to be stocked in 1,200 Walmart stores on October 1.

The exclusive MascotWear program made its debut with merchandise for 22 collegiate institutions–including the University of Alabama, the University of Arkansas, Clemson University, the University of Florida, Louisiana State University, the University of Texas and West Virginia University. Infinity plans to add additional colleges and universities on a rolling basis, and is even working with some schools to develop mascot characters.

“Because this is a line of products that has never been done, all of a sudden we’re the experts,” Keller says. “So we helped develop a mascot for the Indiana Hoosiers, and we’re working with Ole Miss.”

The company is in talks with professional sports leagues as well, including the National Football League, about possible MascotWear products for their teams.

And while the initial product launch was focused on infant/toddlerand youth sizes, the company plans to add a collection for adults in2011.

The original article can be found on Vertical AR’s website here (you have to scroll down a bit to get to Doug).

DOUG KELLER

“While you’re here, what do you think about this?” says Doug Keller, president of Infinity Headwear and Apparel as he models a new utility-type vest his team has been designing, just minutes after shaking my hand for the first time.

Keller is undeniably enthusiastic about his company, Infinity Headwear and Apparel, which was founded in 1997 as an apparel licensee of brands which manufactures private label products for many specialty, mid-tier, and mass retailers. The newest branch of Infinity is MascotWear, a line aimed to provide mascot-inspired apparel, from children’s Halloween costumes to rain ponchos, seat covers and stadium blankets.

“We want to have practically anything that you can put a mascot on available,” says Keller. “The mascot is what identifies the teams—any time you watch ESPN or any sports program, when they talk about the teams it’s ‘the Razorbacks versus the Gators’—it just made sense to create a line that hones in on that identity.”

In just more than a year, Keller went from idea to product on the floor. While watching a Razorback football game on Halloween in 2009, he says he kept waiting for “little Razorbacks” to start showing up but they never did. Keller’s next move was going to China last December and worked on some of the prototypes, then went and got the licensing done with the NCAA and CLC as well as all of the independent schools.

“The original concept was just having children’s Halloween costumes, but we realized this could be a brand all on its own,” says Keller. “We’ve branded any wearable item that resembles the on-the-field mascot as MascotWear, so what we’ve done is created a category so that as we go to different segments of the market, like Kohl’s or Dollar General, we can have branches underneath that with each of them being segregated by class, specialty, discount and so on.”

Keller is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of starting a business. He stresses the importance of believing in yourself, building relationships with investors and a little faith.

“Start small, that’s what we did,” he says. “We didn’t have any sources, finances, any of that stuff when we started.”

“We did our first 400-500 piece order and next thing we knew, we did a couple thousand piece orders. It takes a lot of hard work and having the right people around you,” he continues. “And prayer, tons of prayer. The American dream is to work hard and get rewarded, not just get rewarded.”

Keller has no plans of slowing down the progress of his company. Since the success of the children’s Halloween line this past October, Keller says they have full plans to continue to grow both the Infinity Company and MascotWear. He attributes much of the quick success of the MascotWear line to having the right people around him.

“We went from idea all the way to product on the floor with exclusive agreements with the colleges and Wal-Mart,” he says. “We’ve got other retailers just begging for the product and I think you’re going to see an emergence of a whole new category in 2011. I’ll say again, believe in yourself and have the right people around you.”

In spite of his busy schedule, he makes time for the simpler things in life.

“I like fishin’ and golfin’ and huntin’,” he says in his most southern of accents. “And spending time with my wife and the kiddos of course.”

Infinity Headwear adds angel investors following launch of MascotWear

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nov 30, 2010 – Rogers, AR – Infinity Headwear and Apparel, Inc. (“Infinity”) today announced that it has secured an undisclosed amount of equity financing from a group of angel investors. Proceeds of the investment will provide operating capital to support Infinity’s recent launch of MascotWear, an exclusive collection of collegiate mascot-inspired clothing licensed through The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), an IMG Company.

The CLC license for MascotWear is the first of its kind to focus on official collegiate mascot apparel and is exclusive to Infinity in the 3-D Hooded Apparel category. The line launched with children’s MascotWear, with an adult line to follow in 2011. Current products include: Hooded Fleece Costumes, “Hoodies”, Hooded Bath Towels, and a pet line. Currently, MascotWear is produced for the following schools: Alabama Crimson Tide, Arkansas Razorbacks, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, LSU Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Oklahoma Sooners, South Carolina Gamecocks, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Longhorns, and USC Trojans.

The MascotWear product was launched in August 2010 and debuted to double-digit weekly sales in the first 90 days. The product is currently being sold exclusively on a retail level at Wal-Mart, and directly through the company’s website at http://MascotWearNation.com. Infinity CEO, Doug Keller, stated, “We are thrilled to have new investors who bring relevant experience and expertise to support Infinity as we enter this very exciting phase of growth. The response to MascotWear has been phenomenal, and we look forward to increasing our physical retail presence, as well as our ecommerce platform”.

MascotWear will be adding additional institutions and other sports properties on a rolling basis.

ABOUT INFINITY HEADWEAR AND APPAREL, INC.


Infinity Headwear and Apparel, Inc. is a privately held manufacturer and marketer of headwear, apparel and accessories headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas, with additional offices in New York. Founded in 1997, Infinity is a licensee of major brands, including: General Motors, Team Realtree, Wrangler, Miller Brewing Co., and the NCAA. In addition, Infinity manufactures private label headwear, apparel and accessories for major branded apparel companies and specialty, mid-tier and mass retailers.



ABOUT MASCOTWEAR BY INFINITY


The MascotWear brand and category was created in 2010 as the result of an exclusive license between Infinity Headwear and Apparel, Inc. and The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC) to launch an exclusive collection focused on collegiate mascot-inspired apparel.. MascotWear products can be found on the company’s website, http://mascotwearnation.com. 



ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE LICENSING COMPANY


CLC is a division of global sports and entertainment company IMG. Founded in 1981, CLC is the oldest and largest collegiate licensing agency in the U.S. and currently represents nearly 200 colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, The Heisman Trophy and the NCAA. The mission of CLC is to be the guiding force in collegiate trademark licensing and one of the top sports licensing firms in the country. CLC is dedicated to being a center of excellence in providing licensing services of the highest quality to its member institutions, licensees, retailers and consumers. Headquartered in Atlanta (Ga.), CLC is a full-service licensing representative, which employs a staff of more than 80 licensing professionals who provide full-service capabilities in brand protection, brand management, and brand development. For more information on CLC, visit: http://www.clc.com or http://www.imgworld.com.

Rogers, A.R. (July 16, 2010) – Infinity Headwear and Apparel, Inc. today announced a partnership with The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), an IMG Company, to launch an exclusive MascotWear collection focused on collegiate mascot-inspired apparel.

The new line features an array of products that allow children the opportunity to dress up as his or her favorite college mascot. Initial products in the line will include infant and youth full-bodied Halloween costumes, hooded fashion tops, towels, bathrobes, sleepwear, and rainwear.

“We are thrilled to have obtained the exclusive license for a new category of apparel and accessories with The Collegiate Licensing Company,” said Doug Keller, President and Founder, Infinity Headwear and Apparel, Inc. “MascotWear is an apparel and accessories line dedicated to representing the on-field mascot for both kids and adults. We look forward to driving sales with this new category and increasing Infinity’s market share with iconic brands paired with innovative apparel and accessories at the retail level,” he continued.

“We have long believed college mascots would have great applications as costumes, but finding the right partner to execute such a program proved challenging,” said Scott Bouyack, Vice President of Apparel Marketing, The Collegiate Licensing Company. “We’re very excited to launch this new relationship with Infinity Headwear & Apparel, and have great confidence in their ability to make this a successful new category of business for our collegiate clients and their loyal fans.”

Beginning August 2010, MascotWear products will be available through multiple channels including select retail stores, bookstores, and directly through its ecommerce website, www.mascotwearnation.com. The initial launch will be available in infant/toddler and youth sizes, with an adult collection to be introduced in 2011.

The exclusive MascotWear program will debut with 22 collegiate institutions including The University of Alabama, The University of Arizona, University of Arkansas, Auburn University, Clemson University, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Illinois, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, Louisiana State University, University of Mississippi, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, University of North Carolina, Oklahoma State University, University of South Carolina, University of Tennessee, The University of Texas, Texas Tech University, West Virginia University, and University of Wisconsin. Infinity Headwear & Apparel will be adding additional colleges and universities on a rolling basis.

ABOUT INFINITY HEADWEAR AND APPAREL, INC.
Infinity Headwear and Apparel, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Rogers, Arkansas, with additional offices in New York. Founded in 1997, Infinity headwear is a licensee of brands, including: General Motors, Team Realtree, Wrangler, Miller Brewing Co., and the NCAA. Infinity manufactures private label product for many specialty, mid-tier and mass retailers.

ABOUT MASCOTWEAR BY INFINITY
The MascotWear brand and category was created in 2010 as the result of a license between Infinity Headwear and Apparel, Inc. and The Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC). MascotWear products can be found on the company’s website, http://mascotwearnation.com.

ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE LICENSING COMPANY
CLC is a division of global sports and entertainment company IMG. Founded in 1981, CLC is the oldest and largest collegiate licensing agency in the U.S. and currently represents nearly 200 colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, The Heisman Trophy and the NCAA. The mission of CLC is to be the guiding force in collegiate trademark licensing and one of the top sports licensing firms in the country. CLC is dedicated to being a center of excellence in providing licensing services of the highest quality to its member institutions, licensees, retailers and consumers. Headquartered in Atlanta (Ga.), CLC is a full-service licensing representative, which employs a staff of more than 80 licensing professionals who provide full-service capabilities in brand protection, brand management, and brand development. For more information on CLC, visit: www.clc.com or www.imgworld.com.