eCommerce : Innovation & Job News

FAVI Entertainment recently hired a couple of people, made the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch List and now the Sterling Heights tech firm expects to have a significant growth year in 2012.

FAVI Entertainment specializes in custom-designed consumer electronics casings for things like  TVs, projectors, projector screens, and other accessories. Its work in TV frames over the last year has really taken off.

"We will do it on white or pink for breast cancer awareness," says Jeremy Yakel, president of FAVI Entertainment. "Things like this have grown significantly."

The 5-year-old company has grown its revenue from $2.5 million in 2010 to $3.7 million last year. "We are on pace to increase those numbers to $8 million this year," Yakel says. "We have new retailers and distribution channels coming online this year."

That grown has allowed FAVI Entertainment to hire two design engineers over the last year, expanding its staff to nine employees and an intern. It's looking to add another intern this summer to help the company continue to growth.

"There is a lot of opportunity in the e-commerce space," Yakel says. "That area is going to continue to explode."

Source: Jeremy Yakel, president of FAVI Entertainment
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Finding clothes as a tall person isn't the easiest thing to do, and it's often not as cheap as shopping for average-sized clothes. It's a staple of being tall that has inspired Justin Thompson to launch his own Internet start-up, Tall United.

"When people ask tall people where they get their clothing, that is a tough question for them to answer," says Thompson, who is 6 feet 8 inches tall.

Tall United is an online platform for retailers to sell clothing. Thompson is reaching out to both well-known and specialty retailers so the Royal Oak-based start-up can offer a variety of clothing for tall people at competitive prices.

"Ultimately we want to be a group-buying platform so retailers can recognize the power of our market and offer more clothing at lower prices," Thompson says.

The one-person start-up got its start last September and launched its website earlier this month.

Source: Justin Thompson, founder of Tall United
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Brand Labs has a new look with a new website, a rebranding and larger staff in Rochester.

The 6-year-old ecommerce company now employs 35 people and the occasional intern after hiring five new people over the last year. The new hires include a couple of software developers and a director of project management.

"We are growing but we have reached a point where we have the right people in place," says Dane Downer, vice president & director of professional services for Brand Labs.

Brand Labs was founded by Downer and Kevin Harman as an Internet start-up spinning out of the Harman family's plastics business, Harman Corp. Today it helps firms create and maintain an ecommerce platform. It is rebranding and upgrading this year so it better reflects the company and its core values.

"It represents everybody in our company, from the overall look and feel of the site to the illustrations," Downer says.

Brand Labs is also gearing up to launch its Ecommerce Economic Defense Initiative later this month. The program will give away two service grants, which are each worth $25,000 in Brand Labs services. Participants will be able to submit essays and videos for a chance to win.

Source: Dane Downer, vice president & director of professional services for Brand Labs
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.