You might not think something as mundane as a clothes hanger could be the cornerstone of a business. But Devon Rifkin does. Having launched the Great American Hanger Co. as an online-only business in 2000, Rifkin introduced a print catalog in January.
Great American Hanger mailed 260,000 copies of the 40-page catalog to new and existing customers, primarily Web requesters. The Miami-based company sells wooden, metal, plastic, padded, custom, and personalized hangers to retailers, hotels, cruise ships, and consumers. The average order size is $150.
Last year the company pulled in about $7 million in sales, and the company is forecasting sales in the double digits this year. It has been featured for two consecutive years on Inc. 500’s list of fastest-growing companies.
The next catalog mailing is scheduled for early fall. The company is planning on six mailings next year and a total circulation of more than 1 million consumers.