History

 

OUR HERITAGE

Pro Image Sports has been at the forefront of the sports licensed industry for over 30 years. Here is a look at the history of our company and some memorable milestones and product you’re sure to remember.

2016

Pro Image Sports Canada

Pro Image Sports furthers its international expansion opening its first store in Canada.

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2015

Pro Image Sports Dominican Republic

Pro Image Sports Dominican Republic

In January 2015, the first international Pro Image Sports store opened in the Dominican Republic. The Melo family, longtime accomplished businessmen and retailers, opened at the Megacentro Mall in baseball crazed Santo Domingo. Brothers Juan, Alex and Angel were joined by family friend Edward Felix to build their business. There had been a handful of international Pro Image stores in the early 90’s when the company was owned by Rentrak.

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2014

In-Store Updates

Pro Image Sports updates the in-store shopping experience with a more stylish interior design.

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2012

Rebranding

Pro Image Sports rebrands itself and gets a new logo.

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2011

E-Commerce Site Launched

E-Commerce Site Launched

E-commerce site launched on proimage.net allowing franchisees to sell their product directly to customers from one central website. The site has since been redone and resides on www.proimagesports.com 

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2010

The Retro Rebound

The Retro Rebound

Retro snapbacks make a huge comeback.

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2006

The Blue & Orange Store

The Blue & Orange Store

The Hawkes open the first college exclusive Pro Image, The Blue & Orange Store.

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2005

Novelty Era

Novelty Era

Novelty items continue to grow in popularity.

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2002

Throw It Back

Throw It Back

Mitchell and Ness throwback jerseys blow-up from hip hop to the streets.

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2001

Game Day Jerseys

Game Day Jerseys

Reebok becomes first vendor to have the license to produce game day jerseys & apparel for all 32 NFL teams.

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2001

Gifts Galore

Gifts Galore

Paul Shillingstad opens the first Pro Image to offer exclusively novelty and gift items.

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2000

Pop Up Pros

Pop Up Pros

Chris Edwards opens first retail tent at College World Series

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1999

New Era of New Era

New Era of New Era

New Era 59/50 customs change the headwear business.

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1999

Capz

Capz

Bill & Travis Hawkes opens the first Capz store.

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1998

100 Pro Image Stores

100 Pro Image Stores

In 1998 the 100th Pro Image Sports store was opened.

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1997

Fast Growth

Fast Growth

Pro Image buys Merle Harmon’s Fan Fair, adding 35 new stores to the system.

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1996

pro image sports leaders

Changing Hands

A group led by CEO Dave Riley purchases Pro Image. Many of the original members of the corporate staff are still here today. (Burr Calapp, back row 2nd from the left; Ryan Laws, back row 4th from the left; Jake Riley, front row with hat on; Dave Riley, 3rd from the left;)

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1994

Rentrak

Rentrak

Rentrak purchases Pro Image from original founders.

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1992

So Wavy

So Wavy

Zubaz takes comfort and fashion where no sports fan has gone before. Or since…

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1991

Starter Jackets

Starter Jackets

There are certain products we all remember. Starter jackets are definitely one of them, because we all had one. MTV and hip hop swept the nation during this time, and many artists were seen rocking Starter jackets in their videos, which caused every kid to race to the mall to find one.

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1989

National Success

National Success

Pro Image was such a success that then CEO Chad Olsen received Entrepreneur of the year award from President George H. Bush in 1989.

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1988

Caricatures

Caricatures

Salem caricature T-shirts take-off as one of the most popular apparel items in the early Pro Image stores. Adults and children alike, loved seeing their favorite players cartoon likeness on the front of a shirt.

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1987

Across the Nation

Across the Nation

During the same period of time that Pro Image was bringing authentic apparel and hats to local shopping malls across the country, novelty companies like the Costaco Brothers posters became must have items to decorate kids’ bedrooms across the country.

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1986

From One to Many

From One to Many

The Pro Image at ZCMI Center is so successful, the brothers quickly begin franchising the concept, and it becomes one of the fastest growing franchises in the country.

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1985

Humble Beginnings

Humble Beginnings

Brothers Chad & Kevin Olsen open the first Pro Image store at ZCMI Center in Salt Lake City, UT. Unable to find authentic sports apparel for their children unless they attended a game, the Olsen’s decided to start their own business so they would never have that problem again.

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1979

The First Sports Fan Gift Shops

The First Sports Fan Gift Shops

Merle Harmon, a longtime radio announcer for the Milwaukee Brewers, went into business opening Merle Harmon’s Fan Fair, a chain of retail stores devoted to licensed sports merchandise. It became the first sports fan gift shop franchise, and grew to 140 stores nationwide before he sold the business to Pro Image in 1996.

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