The quarantines and social distancing of 2020 gave people a lot of free time. Some people started playing golf, while others simply played more. Many people discovered a new love of doing things outdoors, while others came up with ideas for combining all the things they love to do outside.
That’s how Ben Widdall and Silvio Franceschi, two long-time golf buddies, came up with their idea for Pin High PNW, a new lifestyle company based in Salem, Oregon.
Ben, who works at Salem’s Creekside Golf Club, said that he’d always wanted to do something different in the golf industry. “Having a line of apparel and a real lifestyle brand has always appealed to me,” he said. “COVID gave me time to think more about it and it was great when I discovered that Silvio was having those same thoughts.”
The two friends started Pin High PNW in the early summer of 2020, literally from the ground up. They started with dropshipping apparel from their website which let them focus on their ideas and designs. Then, they started learning the art of screen-printing.
“We wanted to cut out the middle-man and make our gear more affordable for everyone, so we started screen printing in our living rooms,” sad Widdall. “We’re currently working on our first batch of hand-crafted apparel and we’re already looking ahead to embroidering and making hats.”
Their handcrafting may not sound dramatic, but the guys were kind enough to share their early attempts on their Instagram account and it made for great video. The efforts have paid off, too, with several local shops in Salem offering to carry the goods. “We are really excited that people will be able to shop our products locally, and to support small businesses!”
At the end of 2020, Pin High’s efforts caught the attention of Tempercraft, a local company specializing in stainless steel containers. Representatives from Tempercraft reached out to Pin High and collaborated on a wide-range of insulated drinkware. Widdall said they have some giveaways planned for later in the year.
2021, Widdall said, is all about building the brand and getting people involved in what they call the ‘Pin High Crew.’ Everyone who sports Pin High apparel and shares a picture is in the crew, which seems to be growing every day.
“We love the outdoors vibe of the Pacific Northwest. It’s all about being casual and having great outdoor adventures. In one day you can go downtown for coffee, float the river, take a hike, and play nine holes. It’s amazing,” added Widdall.
Keep an eye out for Pin High PNW meet-ups that will likely start at local pubs, grow into golf or hiking days, and eventually turn into travelling opportunities for those in the know. It’ll be a homegrown, Pacific Northwest group that takes advantage of everything the region has to offer.
Visit www.pinhighpnw.com to become a Pin High crewmember!