The Gift of Bling It For Me
Mark Twain said, “If you find a job you enjoy doing, you’ll never work a day in your life.” True words for Lisa and Tamera, co-founders of BIFM branded apparel and gifts. And while there are no accidents in life, the company’s 2009 beginnings are rooted in serendipity.
“I’ve spent years supporting my sons’ youth hockey leagues, not just in their sports performance development, but in the planning, scheduling, and marketing of team events as they traveled across the country,” says Tamera, who loved every minute of it.
Aside from her years as an operations executive for various national companies across the U.S., Tamera also has a decades-long pining and talent for creating unique merchandise covering corporate, sports and spirit wear, as well as unique gifts for special occasions. What she brought to her boys’ sports world now leads her business endeavors with co-founder and partner Lisa.
“After years of working in the tech and data sectors at the executive level, I’ve seen event planning and execution done well, and not so much,” Lisa says. When she met Tamera and saw her creative work, she knew they had a kinship—a shared purpose in developing better swag offerings. Within three months, ideation blossomed into a business and the women haven’t looked back.
“Finding the right swag to represent your business or special event can be all-consuming,” Lisa says, “especially with all the choices out there.” She adds that key differentiators lie in the quality of the product, the creativity involved, and the reliability and responsiveness in the customer lifecycle. It’s all about how you show up, she says, putting an emphasis on the joy in doing just that—showing up for their customers, literally and figuratively.
Though BIFM is an online enterprise, the company’s services include working onsite at specific customer programs, whether it’s sports, corporate, or entertainment events. “Sure, our business is centered around our product offerings,” Tamera says, but it’s the people that bring the magic.
Lisa shares how it’s a collaborative process, beginning with their clients’ vision and budget guidelines. “We get calls from people who need one piece, while others need one-thousand units. We ensure no detail is overlooked and look forward to positive responses. After all, we’re happy when our clients are happy.”
BIFM carries many top-quality brands, including Patagonia, The North Face®, OGIO, Eddie Bauer, and others. “If you don’t start with good product, no matter how extensive the added creative touches are, the merchandise won’t hold up over time, and that’s a missed opportunity,” Tamera adds.
The company uses various applications on product materials to create a variety of distinctive looks. With embroidery, screen printing, sublimation, DTF or direct-to-film, heat transfers, vinyl, charms, and custom stonework too, anything’s possible.
“Think about when you’ve gone to a company golf tournament, an annual sales conference, or a holiday party. When you choose branded swag to support the occasion, it’s the defining piece your employees, team members, fans, and customers can refer to long after the event is over. It’s a product that reminds them of their experience and your brand story,” Lisa says.
Because of their individual experiences in the corporate world, and an innate understanding of how event planning often comes last minute, the founders created Swag-on-a-Shelf options for creative, quick-turn solutions.
“I have a friend who works in marketing, adept at being thrown last minute projects with tight deadlines. She’s been known to tell her clients, ‘why should I be the fall gal for your lack of planning?’” Tamera says.
BIFM accepts the reality that many people have too much on their plate to plan for events well in advance. Lisa suggests, “Instead, let us help you with the event swag you want, efficiently, and hassle-free?”
For more information, connect with BIFM via text/call or email.