HBi | News | Press

HBi Board Chairman announces a New President/CEO with the goal of expanding global OEM partnerships, internal brands and innovation.

For Immediate Release [June 1^st 2019] Repost Nov 17th 

Caption: Hickory Brands Inc. a 97 Year USA Based Manufacture for the Industrial Trim, Sporting Goods, Fashion, Furniture and Outdoor industries; Board Chairman announces a New President/CEO with the goal of expanding global OEM partnerships, Product innovations and Branded Initiatives. 

Story:

Product Juggernaut, Entrepreneur, Innovator and USA Made Ambassador Daniel Bizzell (I.D.S.A.) named as the next generation President/CEO by Hickory Brands Inc.’s Board Chairman Rob Bell.

“With the manufacturing tide water changing in the United States, we are very excited to actively and strategically bring a new member to our Executive Team and Production Headquarters in Hickory North Carolina.” Daniel has the combination of knowhow, forward thinking and categorical retail execution to bring us forward and into our next 100 years of business. Rob Bell (Chairman 2019)

Our goal is to be an increasing and supportive part of the movement back to more USA made goods in the industries we service, while becoming a more collaborative partner to our Global Brands and Industrial Manufacturing Partners in Sporting Goods, Fashion, Footwear, Furniture, Outdoor, Pet, Technical Cord, Webbing, Sheath, Lace, Ribbon and Rope Components.” Rob Bell (Chairman 2019)

Daniel Bizzell will jump into his active roll as Hickory Brands New President on June 3^rd 2019 and will began with key Footwear and Apparel industry meetings on the west coast for which Hickory Brands Inc. (HBI) produces Shoe Laces, Trim, and Accessories to support Global brands like Adidas, New Balance, Puma and Countless USA Made Specialty Brands and proprietary footwear, apparel, bags and gear.

Caption: Daniel L Bizzell | HBi President/CEO June 2019

“Its rare that you have the opportunity to lead a company that is key to so many items across so many industries and categories. Hickory Brands Inc. truly has all of their partners covered head to toe and truck bed to cliff. You touch and use HBi’s products everyday from the laces on your running shoes, the pulls on your favorite outdoor brand jackets, the belt around your waist, the straps on your pack to the trim on your cap!

With our collective reach and ability to develop new innovations for our partners and internal brands, we will move quickly and ignite new uses of our products at a very high frequency. Moving forward we are the perfect example of the next generation’s request to create physical and tangible items in a technology field. So many talented US Workers, creators and visionaries are looking for something real. How many times have I heard from the new generation “I just wish I could be part of building something new, a product I can touch, something I can use and be proud of” At HBi they will get their chance; everyday.

You will see us launch new products that service more technical industry in the year to come. As we add capabilities and an innovation campus over the next 3 years, our company will bring on-board high-tech materials and composites to support the next generation of lightweight sporting goods, autonomous aviation, automotive and building industries; where engineered sheathing and encapsulation have become vital to the speed of next generation and on demand manufacturing. !” Daniel Bizzell 2019 President/CEO

Daniel Bizzell is a Creative leader and multi disciplinary Industrial Designer, who comes from years of experience in the innovation and intellectual property category. Having the opportunity to be part of numerous start-ups and even a 5 year/season television series on product development that aired on PBS. His early career speaks volumes to the tactical reason for his selection and pursuant by the Hickory Brand’s Board, as his knowledge and skills mesh perfectly with the variety seen in their customer base and product lines. From an alignment perspective, Bizzell has a competitive Running, Triathlon and Cycling pedigree respected by HBi’s collaborative partners in industries that must have authentic performance products. Daniel Bizzell will literally take products home and to the track, field, pool, course you name it.. he assimilates to the product’s use and develops real solutions.

Over the past 17 years he has seen many of his product concepts all the way to major retailer’s shelves and early partnerships and co-founded crowd sourcing business bought and sold to publicly traded companies.

In 2016 Daniel Bizzell founded Velociti Brands Inc. to fill two critical voids in the USA Production Model. Connecting a scattered supply chain for Global Brands Like Under Armour® and those looking to re-shore as well as OEM manufactures looking to fill capacity with private label and property collections in down times between their primary business. At the end of 2017 Velociti Brands Inc. begin to supplement their services with the development of their own branded turn-key product collections using their re-established OEM network.  “Brands Like Fizicx™ truly use the full gambit of modern manufacturing from casting, forging, Rubber Injection, machining, even Hydroforming and advanced coatings and finishes; all while creating innovation, stylized design and true performance at a price that’s commercially viable.

In 2018 Velociti Brands inc. Partnered with Bahumer™ Beer of Italy to sponsor and build a next generation cycling team.  By the completion of the 2018 Season, the team amassed multiple wins in Europe and the USA, including an Italian National Championship and the Redhook Crit's flagship Brooklin Race; as well as the overall points championship for the series. All of which was completed on Velociti™ Developed Products. Italian Filippo Fortin (The Redhook Series Champion) proudly went on to a pro contract with Cofidis Credit Systems in France. While the newly crowned Italian Fixed gear champion, Giovanni Longo Completed his Medical degree at the end of the racing season.

“This is one of the things that excites me about HBi. I’m now part of the “cord", workforce and community that connects these industries’ together!” and I’m hoping its good for North Carolina, Hickory, Charlotte and our Partners in the USA and Globally” Daniel Bizzell 2019 President/CEO

Velociti Brands Inc. will now be run by our Charleston S.C. team and will continue to offer a collection of supply chain scouting services and collective product work for companies looking to modernize their portfolio of brands and capabilities.

In addition, to Hickory Brands Inc.’s industrial trim, woven, knitted and component manufacturing capabilities. Rob Bell’s Father (Bob Bell 1942-2003) had a keen eye for patent, brand and chemical acquisitions that could be used both in HBi’s manufacturing and directly in consumer products. Hickory Brands Inc. currently has over 5 brands in the consumer market place including 10 Seconds® Chemicals (the only FDA and EPA certified spray to kill MRSA and bacteria on footwear and sporting goods), 2ndWind® compression and orthopedics designed for comfort and recovery.

Their Shoefly™ interactive lace-on creatures which are currently available at Walmart through a national campaign and summit looking for USA Made Products and new suppliers in 2018.

This past year Hickory Brands Inc. debut a new collection of easy application and wash-off reflective technologies under the Reflexall™ Brand, to pair with a already strong reflective bootlace and paracord collections seen at Academy Sports and Outdoors under the American Legacy™ Brand.

Caption: Shoeflys Zumiez Photo Shoot July 2019

Over the past 95 years Hickory Brands Inc. has also been a key accessories partner to numerous sporting goods brands based on the relationship of supplying their design and manufacturing teams with innovative trim and details for their products. Since 2005 they have been a licensing partner of New Balance® and to this day design, develop and produce many key accessories in their product line-up including; reflective and Stretch Shoelaces, Hydration (USA made and BPA/Nontoxic Water Bottles for all sports) Sweat bands, Performance and Custom Fit Insoles as well as high-tech spray-on coatings and cleaners compatible with New Balance®’s highly engineered apparel and footwear.

We are making the right step. Hickory Brands Inc. has always been a good partner, a good manufacturer and provided excellent customer service, but we were falling into the trap of “staying in your lane” when we could really do so much more. Now we are making strides to build a culture for the next generation of our workforce that our current and past generations will be proud to be a part of.

For questions, interviews, quotes, photos or scheduling a tour see contacts below.

Quote: Quotes provided by Rob Bell and Daniel Bizzell Some product topics are general and for more explanation would need the written consent by the brand of ownership or partner.

10 seconds, 2ndwind, American Legacy, 2WiN and Shoeflys are owned by Hickory Brands Inc.

visits www.hickorybrands.com for more product line details

Hickory Brands Inc. [HBi] has had a long history of manufacturing, starting as “Old Hickory Shoe Lace” in 1923 and Located at the base of the Appalachian Mountains we are proudly one of a very few remaining Braid, Cord, Webbing, Sheath, Casing manufacturers in the United States.  Engineered textile and composite sheathing and encasements have become a crucial part of our next generation product offering.

Our quality products and excellent customer service has allowed us to excel with numerous OEM customers, global brands, and retail chains. We are always on the look out for strategic partners that match our ethics and appreciate the value and ingenuity of the many families that came to this great country to create what is today the American Worker.

Additional Quotes:

Why? Daniel Bizzell and a New President for HBi?  Daniel has years of experience in product design and sales program implementation through collaborative relationships.  He constantly looks for new innovations within our industry to give our retailers an advantage in selling the next generation products.  He is a high caliber person with the highest moral standards and combined with his previous experience we believe this will equate into great success for HBI going forward. 

Thank you, Hickory Brands Inc. Marketing and Press Officer. (W.Long)

Contacts: Business:  Info@Hickorybrands.com | Press Quotes: Press@hickorybrands.com |

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HICKORY BRANDS INC | New Tariffs, USA Made Production, Trim and Components for Industrial, Automotive, Aviation, Outdoor and Sporting Goods Industries | May 29th 2019

If the news of tariffs has your production and sourcing team scrambling Hickory Brands can help relieve your stress. We can supply all your cord, webbing, tape and shoe lace needs. They are all made in our factory here in North Carolina where we do all our weaving, braiding and knitting .

Hickory Brands Inc. services the industrial, outdoor, military, footwear, apparel, bag, pet and promotional industries. We can work with your team on design and development for you next project. 

For more info or press quotes from our OEM Experts, President / CEO or Staff.

Please Contact: press@hickorybrands.com | Info@hickorybrands.com 

From tie-ing your shoe to tie-ing down gear on your truck... We've got you covered. Checkout www.americanlegacybrand.com (A Hickory Brand Company)