Ted Stahl Inducted into NSGA Sporting Goods Hall of Fame for 2011
Online, May 24, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Stahls' ID Direct, a leader in heat printing technologies for apparel decorating, is pleased to announce that Ted Stahl, Chairman of the GroupeSTAHL companies, was inducted into the Sporting Goods Hall of Fame for 2011 at the 47th Annual National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) Conference & 13th Annual Team Dealer Summit on Tuesday, May 3, 2011. Since 1956, the sporting goods industry has honored its pioneers, innovators and leaders, and the induction of the 2011 recipients brings the total number of Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Famers to 150.
Ted Stahl, who was recognized for his dedication to the sporting goods industry for the past 30-40 years, was inducted into the 2011 Hall of Fame alongside Jim Baugh of Wilson Sporting Goods Co. and Tom Raynor of Fleet Fleet, Inc. More than 200 people attended the award ceremony, which was held at Loews Ventana Canyon in Tucson, AZ. A historical video showing the span of their careers and documenting their contributions to the industry was shown at the ceremony. Attendees included owners and representatives from major sporting good chains, manufacturers, and long-term customers of the GroupeSTAHL companies. The award cemented Stahl's place in history along side such names as Nike, Adidas, Cabelas, Browning, Remington, Minuzo, and Russell.
About Ted Stahl
Ted Stahl is the executive chairman of GroupeSTAHL, an international group of companies dedicated to providing a wide range of alternatives in garment decoration, specializing in heat printing methods. GroupeSTAHL is both a manufacturer as well as a provider of garment decoration services.
Stahl is the third generation owner of GroupeSTAHL and its associated companies. Founded in 1932, by Stahl's grandfather A.C., this once small company has flourished under his leadership and now sells an estimated $150 million a year in heat printing technologies, employs more than 900 employees, and has operations in 17 countries.
Stahl is well-known within the industry and has more than 40 years experience in all aspects of apparel graphics, from manufacturing and marketing, to product design and retail operations. He has been awarded many patents for products including Thermo-FILM™, the world's most popular athletic material for letters and numbers on jerseys and uniforms. In addition to patents for solvents, fabrics, and other garment decorating products, he has developed patents for several of the heat presses in the Hotronix® line. The Hotronix® Fusion, which functions as both a swinger and a draw, is the newest and most innovated press and considered to be an engineering marvel.
As Stahl strived to make it easier for garment decorators and team dealers to decorate apparel, he also introduced CAD-CUT® technology which works with graphic design software and vinyl cutters to create custom logos. CAD-CUT® takes the concept of cutting graphics on-demand mainstream. With CAD-CUT® technology and its line of patented CAD-CUT® materials, sporting goods stores can cut and apply their own custom player names, numbers and logos in-house and on-demand.
Stahl has developed a large niche around the world. While end users may not be familiar with GroupeSTAHL, the National Hockey League, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball all use products from GroupeSTAHL on uniforms, practice jerseys, and fan wear. The innovations and advancements in uniform decorating are also well know amongst team dealers and even small mom-and-pop shops that personalize anything from T-shirts to team uniforms to corporate work wear using a heat press.
Stahl is a member various organization including the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association. He also founded the Stahls' Automotive Foundation which preserves, restores and exhibits specific vintage vehicles of the 20th century for educational purposes. Stahl has seven children and lives with his wife, Mary, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.
As Stahl accepted his award and was inducted into the Sporting Goods Hall of Fame, he thanked the more than 900 employees, both domestically and internationally, with whom he says he is proud to share the award.
Stahls' ID Direct™ is a world leader specializing in the development, manufacturing, and distribution of heat printing technologies. Stahls' ID Direct™ provides customers with the most cost effective and efficient ways to decorate garments. Stahls' ID Direct™ is located in St. Clair Shores, MI with GroupeSTAHL operations located throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
For more information, visit StahlsID.com or join Stahls - All Things Heat Printing on Facebook.