NAME: Paul Guarino, Owner of PG Sports
YEAR: Senior
MAJOR: Sport Management
HOMETOWN: West Haven, CT
What are you involved in on campus?
Vice President, Sports Management Club
Vice President, Sports Media Club
PG Sports
What inspired you to start your company?
I love sports, so I made a twitter to tweet about my opinion on the latest news. Then I decided to make tees just to promote on my twitter page, but now PG Sports is a brand.
What has been your most memorable or rewarding moment in this business so far?
Most memorable was in September 2012 when Cincinnati Reds 2nd Baseman Brandon Phillips (@DatDudeBP) tweeted a picture wearing a PG Sports hat because I sent him the gear in summer and he didn’t follow me so I couldn’t DM him to tweet me a picture.
Most rewarding moment was the past two October when I made PG Sports Breast Cancer Awareness Tees and donated over 500 dollars to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
What’s the process been like so far in running a start up?
A rollercoaster, a lot of ups and downs, and a ton of research.
What obstacles do you run into the most often?
Besides finances, thinking of new ideas for designs.
At the beginning it was hard to the right manufacture but now I have at Tiny Fish Printing in Rochester, NY
Do you ever get discouraged?
Of course, but you just got to take it day by day and see what happens.
How does it feel when you see people walking around wearing your products?
Wow, that’s a good question. I’ve really never thought about it but it’s pretty awesome.
How did you get your company to be noticed?
Mostly through social media especially twitter. My family and my friends at other schools helped get PG Sports noticed. The Sacred Heart Football team helped me a lot too.
Will you be coming out with new products any time soon?
Yes, I started kickstarter which is a crowd funding website. It’s basically a huge pre-order form for PG Sports gear. I’m trying to raise $5000 in 31 days so I can mass produce. Check out the rewards you can receive here: