Christian apparel company posts record growth

The year 2005 was a year of record-setting milestones for the world’s largest producer of Christian-themed apparel.
Just shy of its 20-year anniversary, Kerusso closed out 2005 with significant growth in three key categories—number of employees, facility expansion and overall sales.
The company expanded its corporate staff by 35% in 2005, going from 57 in January to 77 during the same period in 2006 and doubling the staff that was in place in 2004.
The extra employees and increased amount of productivity they produced warranted an increase in workspace. The company added 22,000 square feet to its newest warehouse, bringing the total square footage of the campus that includes a fitness center in its Berryville, Ark., location to over 80,000.
Sales for the year were up a commanding 52% over 2004, with sales coming across the board from an expansion in the jewelry and gift categories to its continued leadership in the apparel industry. Kerusso sold more than one million T-shirts last year and is among the top 60 screen-printers in the U.S. as identified by Impressions Magazine.
The year 2005 also brought unprecedented media coverage with Kerusso capturing headlines in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and many other top newspapers. In addition to print media, Kerusso president Vic Kennett was a featured guest on Fox News Channel's The Big Story with John Gibson. ABC's Good Morning America and World News Tonight also highlighted Kerusso products in news features.
The company also got a shot in the arm from its universally appealing product lines. Kerusso saw success of the Live for Him wristband project, selling over 1 million wristbands within six months and raising $250,000 for Compassion International. And licensing agreements were either expanded or forged with Women of Faith, Faithgirlz, Max Lucado and the End of the Spear movie.

About Kerusso: Founded by president and CEO Vic Kennett in 1987, Kerusso occupies over 80,000 square feet of state of the art design and manufacturing facilities in Northwest Arkansas. The company is the world’s leading designer and producer of Christian-themed apparel and continues to grow and expand their product offerings that include jewelry, gifts and accessories. More information is available at Kerusso’s website, www.kerusso.com, or by calling 1-800-424-0943