BOLLMAN HAT COMPANY ACQUIRES THE IGNITE® BRAND AND DONATES HATS TO THE NEEDY

Ignite, founded in England by Neill Thompson is best known for ski, snowboard, surf and street-wear beanies and hats. The hats are sold through stores in Europe with distributors in France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the UK.

Neill Thompson, Founder and Managing Director, will remain as Global Managing Director and will focus on brand building in Europe, as well as the US.

Thompson, who is a passionate snowboarder and surfer, had this to say: “My inspiration was to launch a brand within the lifestyle market that I live. I still have a massive passion for it and I want to remain with it forever”.

Thompson started Ignite from his garage in Cornwall, England in 2002. “From garage brand to international brand, Ignite has had a great launch and we will help grow it in the U.S., Australia, Asia and throughout the other markets” said Don Rongione, President & CEO of Bollman Hat Company. Ignite is entrenched in a lifestyle not fully covered by any existing Bollman brand. “We are very excited about where this brand will take us,” said Rongione.

Thompson said, “Ignite embraces my philosophy and passions: a defiant, independent, approach to life and fashion with a load of fun thrown in.” (who can argue with this logic)?

Bollman Hat Company, founded in 1868, also owns Bailey®, Country Gentleman®, Eddy Bros.®, Betmar®, Plaza Suite®, Helen Kaminski® and Pantropic®. Bollman also is the exclusive worldwide licensee for Kangol® and Timberland® Headwear.

Visit www.bollmanhats.com or contact Bridget Hoagland @ 717-484-4361 for additional information.

Headwear for the Homeless Event

Bollman distributes hats for "Headwear for the Homeless"

Headwear for the Homeless Event

The latest hat event for charity (and public awareness) was sponsored by the Headwear Association. Called "Headwear for the Homeless,” the event was held on February 5, 2008.

Bollman Hat Company was right in on the ground floor of the first official Headwear Association by donating 1730 hats to eight different shelters in six cities across the United States.

The Headwear Association donated 5000 hats to shelters across the US. Three shelters in Reading, PA were recipients of Country Gentleman, Betmar and Eddy Bros. hats, and were personally handed out by Bollman Hat Company.

Donna Waldman of the Pantropic Division delivered hats to a children’s crisis shelter in California. Kangol hats were donated in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR to shelters that serve homeless teens. Timberland hats were donated to a center for homeless Veterans in Boston, MA.

The hats were extremely appreciated by all recipients - and were distributed just in time before the bitter cold weather that came along!