History

With a steady stream of colleagues and college friends needing cool youth group T-shirts, and a background in promotional advertising sales, Rick Salz saved up enough money to get a business license in Pasadena, CA. That was August of 1989, four days after becoming engaged to Alyson Prepchuk.  Brainstorming for the new company took place for the couple in the back of Church History class, where the name was conceived and a very rough business plan took shape.

At first, all the work was sub-contracted out to local printers and artists, while Rick kept his little BMW humming down LA freeways, seeing new clients.  In the spring of 1991 with a baby on the way and the work load growing, Alyson quit her admissions director job to join Rick full time. It was quickly decided that printing needed to be an in-house operation. With creativity and resourcefulness in full supply but finances severely lacking, the dining room table was conscripted into service. A printing press was born, soon to be joined by a flash dryer and light box for burning screens. Even the art table was home made. Within a week or two the garage was turned into the first printing shop until a more suitable place could be acquired. One month later the new shop on Baseline in Alta Loma was ready for business. Bible college students earning their way through school were the first employees.

By the fall of 1992 another baby was on the way and the young entrepreneurs decided to move the business and family north to the beautiful Pacific Northwest and Alyson’s home town of Portland, Oregon. Business operations shared space with the family in a large house on the historic Columbia River Hwy. The basement was roomy enough to hold all their newly acquired printing equipment and, with a Plaid Pantry next door, Rick could go weeks without stepping foot into his first winter in Oregon. If the windiest, coldest winter in 40 years couldn’t send the former Arizonan packing, nothing could. When the snow in the yard finally melted in February, the business was growing and thriving with new employees and customers.

After two and a half years of sharing one bathroom between a growing family and five employees, the search was on once again for more suitable arrangements. Rick and Alyson bought a home in Oregon City and within a few months the business left the gorge for a nice new office and warehouse off Hwy 212 in Clackamas, Oregon.  In 2001 with operations bursting at the seams, the move was made to the current location in Cumberland Business Center on Hwy 212. As more and more national and Midwest based accounts were brought on board, another distribution center became necessary and Kansas City, KS proved the most suitable place to open. That location, opened in 2006, has seen tremendous growth. More space was added in 2007 to accommodate all of the online stores that are run from that facility. Other locales around the country are now being considered as future growth necessitates.

With a legacy of creativity and determination, the professional staff of Righteous Clothing, LLC stand experienced and prepared to bring value and true workmanship to every business relationship. Throughout the years the focus has been on growth and re-investment in the business so that today Righteous Clothing, LLC can offer a full complement of uniform, corporate apparel, promotional services and online stores. To find out more, call us at 800.548.1227.