From The Scoop: Steve Geppi Acquires Sports Apparel Maker Now & Then
From the April 15 issue of Gemstone Publishing's The
Scoop:
Baltimore businessman Stephen A. Geppi announced today that he has acquired a controlling interest in sports apparel manufacturer Now & Then in conjunction with his previously announced acquisition of a controlling interest in the sports auction house now known as Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show.
Now & Then manufactures T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and eyewear under license from a wide variety of well-known sports figures. The company's initial launch product, a T-shirt featuring the likenesses of Yankee greats Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, was first offered at Yankee Stadium two days before the play-offs started and it sold out immediately. Orders were again filled for opening day 2005 and again the shirts immediately sold out.
Like Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show, Now & Then is dedicated to providing authentic items, which are fully licensed by the players concerned, their families, or their appointed representatives. Produced under license from the Maris and Mantle families, this T-Shirt is the first time since 1961 that the two Yankee greats have been co-marketed on a shirt. It was also the first joint venture involving the two families.
Among the company's Board of Advisors are noted sports collector Barry Halper, a minority owner of the New York Yankees, and baseball legend Bobby Murcer. Additional projects for the company will be announced shortly.
Mr. Geppi is the owner of Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest distributor of English-language comics, toys, collectibles and related merchandise. Geppi also owns Diamond International Galleries, the only facility of its kind that displays a collection of some of the finest examples of comic books, toys, original comic art and memorabilia presented in a museum quality setting. Diamond International Galleries recently acquired Morphy Auctions, just over a year after it purchased Hake's Americana & Collectibles.
Gemstone Publishing, another of his companies, is licensed to produce Disney's standard characters in comic book form, and also publishes the "bible" of comic book guides, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
The company's new headquarters is 1966 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, Maryland 21093. The telephone number is (800) 452-6642, and the fax number is (800) 329-2878. Now & Then will maintain a satellite office at 3000 Marcus Avenue, Lake Success, NY 11042, telephone (516) 918-3200.
• Produced for the benefit of all who enjoy the hobby of collecting, Gemstone Publishing's The Scoop is available free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. To view the latest edition, or to sign up, visit The Scoop online by at http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com.
Baltimore businessman Stephen A. Geppi announced today that he has acquired a controlling interest in sports apparel manufacturer Now & Then in conjunction with his previously announced acquisition of a controlling interest in the sports auction house now known as Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show.
Now & Then manufactures T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, and eyewear under license from a wide variety of well-known sports figures. The company's initial launch product, a T-shirt featuring the likenesses of Yankee greats Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, was first offered at Yankee Stadium two days before the play-offs started and it sold out immediately. Orders were again filled for opening day 2005 and again the shirts immediately sold out.
Like Geppi's Memorabilia Road Show, Now & Then is dedicated to providing authentic items, which are fully licensed by the players concerned, their families, or their appointed representatives. Produced under license from the Maris and Mantle families, this T-Shirt is the first time since 1961 that the two Yankee greats have been co-marketed on a shirt. It was also the first joint venture involving the two families.
Among the company's Board of Advisors are noted sports collector Barry Halper, a minority owner of the New York Yankees, and baseball legend Bobby Murcer. Additional projects for the company will be announced shortly.
Mr. Geppi is the owner of Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest distributor of English-language comics, toys, collectibles and related merchandise. Geppi also owns Diamond International Galleries, the only facility of its kind that displays a collection of some of the finest examples of comic books, toys, original comic art and memorabilia presented in a museum quality setting. Diamond International Galleries recently acquired Morphy Auctions, just over a year after it purchased Hake's Americana & Collectibles.
Gemstone Publishing, another of his companies, is licensed to produce Disney's standard characters in comic book form, and also publishes the "bible" of comic book guides, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
The company's new headquarters is 1966 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, Maryland 21093. The telephone number is (800) 452-6642, and the fax number is (800) 329-2878. Now & Then will maintain a satellite office at 3000 Marcus Avenue, Lake Success, NY 11042, telephone (516) 918-3200.
• Produced for the benefit of all who enjoy the hobby of collecting, Gemstone Publishing's The Scoop is available free of charge to anyone who wishes to receive it. To view the latest edition, or to sign up, visit The Scoop online by at http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com.
