HISTORY OF STERLING ATHLETICS
Sterling Athletics began its mission back in 1994 when a former insurance salesman and entrepreneur teamed with his attorney and friend to create a ball company geared toward supplying custom logo balls to local basketball camps. Attorney, Terry Robinson, founder of Pro Camps Ltd., ran several camps for a variety of professional basketball players such as Brad Davis, Mitch Richmond, Dominique Wilkins, Antonio Daniels, Roy Rogers, Keith Van Horn, Mike Bibby, and, most notably, Nate McMillan from the Seattle Sonics. Disheartened by basketballs purchased from other suppliers, the two men sought a partnership abroad with a ball manufacturer who could create a custom logo basketball program to fit the needs of Sterling Athletics.
Once the Sterling brand was born, it began its daily operations out of the law office of Robinson, and warehousing in the garage at Robinson's home. Its first overseas shipment of merchandise was received in 1994. Ultimately, Sterling Athletics began incorporating all other products that camps required.
By 1995, as business grew and inventory grew, the garage became a small remote warehouse in Sumner, Washington, and Sterling set forth on a mission to become the industry leader in camp basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, and volleyballs. By the end of 1995 its sales force doubled to two people. For two years sales increased steadily to a point that necessitated hiring a full time graphic artist to create the custom logo designs. In addition to this, Sterling researched and developed relationships to broaden its product line and became a distributor for some of the best apparel companies in the United States.
By the year 2000, Sterling was supplying team and camp products to over 120 division one college programs in addition to thousands of high schools and other levels of college programs. Also in 2000 the site of the future home of Sterling was founded and purchased. During 2001 and 2002 during the planning and development of the proposed new location, Sterling grew. The staff increased and sales and profitability continued its growth at a steady rate. In January of 2003 Sterling finally moved into its permanent home which includes its state of the art office space and 40,000 square foot warehouse.
We look forward to developing relationships with many more clients who want the best quality and service in the sporting goods industry.
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