Now celebrating its 65th year in business, Jacksonville-based Holmes Custom designs, manufactures, and retails personalized products across 8 web brands. How does a business that was started in the 1950s stand the test of time? There’s only one way: Innovation.
What began as a rubber stamp manufacturer in a garage has evolved into a multi-million-dollar enterprise operating in three U.S. locations and shipping thousands of personalized products each day. Core products include rubber stamps, custom signs, name tags, photo IDs, and employee recognition awards, trophies, and plaques. Setting Holmes Custom apart from other product shops nationwide is its seamless online ordering experience and unparalleled back-end technology, which processes orders within seconds. In fact, 98% of orders reach customers within 3 business days, and 99% ship the next business day.
“We made a conscious decision a few years ago,” says owner and CEO Bryan Croft, “to really invest in our technology to process orders faster than anyone ever thought was possible.” Holmes Custom’s tech team is comprised of over 15 individuals highly skilled in web programming and engineering, who developed proprietary software to automate order entry and processing, even with customized orders.
“Now that we have orders flowing quickly through our facility, our next step is to innovate the way in which we produce our personalized products,” Croft adds. The company is investing heavily in upgrading equipment and streamlining production to boost efficiency. This continuous innovation drives the company’s growth, which averages about 25% per year.
Many describe Croft as a visionary—energetic, passionate, and full of life. He generates hundreds of ideas each month to push the business forward. His partner, CFO & Owner Steven Fernandez, serves as an integrator to flesh out and implement the top ideas. Not all ideas make it downstream, but the selected few ensure the company continues to progress and innovate.
A few years ago, Holmes Custom added personalized gifts to its core product lineup. Personalized bible covers and cutting boards have become top-selling items on 904custom.com, and Croft is already envisioning the next core products. A dedicated team of 10 individuals actively tests new hard goods daily, always on the lookout for the next “big thing” as part of the company’s growth strategy.
Central to this strategy is enhanced service for Holmes Custom’s Corporate Partners. Although it might not sound innovative at first, closer inspection reveals a team dedicated to superior service and setting up Company Stores—password-protected portals for easy reordering of approved, branded merchandise. VP of Strategic Partnerships Libby O’Regan notes that over 150 customers, including more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies, utilize these Company Stores.
What’s next for Holmes Custom will likely include further advancements in technology, product, and service, as the company continuously innovates to carry this over-half-century-old business into the future.
