| As Featured in Corporate Logo Magazine - Feburary 2009
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Family businesses are not uncommon in the promotional industry. Often times, husbands and wives, parents and children, and multiple generations work side by side, fostering a successful business and a close family.
Sixty-Five years ago, Milton Rubin created such an environment, though he didn't know at the time that his sons, and eventually his grandson, would transform the business into a promotional powerhouse. Since 1943, when Milton formed M. Rubin, his dream has taken many shapes - and many names. When Don Rubin joined his father, the company became M. Rubin & Son. Next was Don's Brother, Bob, and they changed the "Son" to "Sons." When Current CEO and third brother Phil joined the business, it took on the name it holds today, M. Rubin & Sons Inc. But Phil wasn't the last of the family to join. About 33 years ago, his own son Eric came on board to make it a third-generation family business.
Over the years, the company's offerings have changed, along with its name. In the years after the brothers got out of the army, the company sold a great deal of army and navy apparel. They later imported and then dealt mainly in outerwear. After that, they got into shirts to focus on a product that sells year round.
While the company was doing well marketing to retailers large and small, including Wal-Mart, Target, and JCPenny, as well as private-label apparel, Eric had new ideas. In the mid-1990s, he launched Blue generation as M. Rubin's promotional division. Eric, now the president of Blue Generation, thought the advertising specialty market "would be good, but it turned out great," Phil says. And Eric was a natural fit to run Blue Generation. Growing up his father took him along on business trips overseas, and when he got his master's degree, he was ready to dive right in.
Phil says his son has brought new life to the business. "I think the chairs have changed, and the energy he brings to the biz is just phenomenal," he raves. This year, Eric has helped to update the company's computer systems with online ordering and a new web site - "all the up-to-date things that come with youthful management," Phil says before adding, "but he's now a seasoned professional."
Brothers Don, Bob and Phil, along with Eric, worked and lunched together every day until Bob and Don retired three years ago. The family suffered a great loss recently when Bob, an integral part of their family tradition, passed away. Still, the Rubins hope to keep the business in the family, and one 11-year-old in particular may be the next company leader. Matthew, Eric's son, has taken a keen interest in the business, Phil says, though he's quick to add that the boy has many options and possibilities for his future. Already a catalog model, Matthew "has a real passion for coming in here every minute he gets instead of playing with his friends," Phil says
In its relatively short time in the promotional industry, Blue Generation has managed several notable accomplishments. Carry 46 Stock colors in sizes up to 10XL in men's and 4XL in ladies' plus tall sizes. Phil calls their inventory the "rock of our business." They boast more than 95 percent complete and on-time order fulfillment, a five-star rating for quality by ASI, a place in Counselor Magazine's Top 40 supplier rankings and a consistent spot among the Top 10 apparel suppliers in Corporate Logo's own annual Best of Business reader poll.
But with this long list of accomplishments under their belts, the Rubins have no intentions of becoming complacent. "In a company 65 years old, you realize that we're spanning many decades and consequently every few years it's necessary to reinvent yourself to stay alive and stay ahead," Phil contends. Sounds like good advice for all of us. |
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