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About Us
K&B Outfitters (formerly Signature Flags) started out as a custom Banner and Flag making shop that specialized in sports team apparel. Started in Ambridge in 1985 by two sisters, Kathleen Ronczka and Gerry Taylor, the shop grew from making unique flags and banners to providing teamwear that includes game jerseys, warm up suits, jackets, bags, hats, etc. Now under the ownership of K&B Outfitters, Signature Flags has continued to stand by it's original goal which has always been to provide professional quality services to its customers. For more than a few decades now, K&B has been the largest service provider of custom applique in the region. As the Company continued to grow and take on more customers, they moved from their quaint location at the corner of 18th and Lenz Ave in Ambridge to the Community Business District on Merchant Street where they enjoy greater visibility with a retail storefront and lots more space. |
For more than thirty years, Signature Flags, and now K&B Outfitters has been a mainstay in the Ambridge cultural district. They continue to service many of the local businesses as well as the Borough, Police and Fire Departments there.
Transition to K&B Outfitters
In 2001, The Penalty Box, a small Retail Hockey outlet with locations in the North and South Hills of Pittsburgh acquired Signature Flags. The newly formed corporation (MARKEV, Inc.) began to commingle the Hockey hard and soft goods of The Penalty Box with the specialty services provided by the staff at Signature Flags making customized Banners, Flags and their specialty, Hockey Jerseys, into a single business entity.
As the company continued to grow, two other business entities, merged with MARKEV to form a new Entity named K&B Outfitters. In 2012, the Pittsburgh Jr Penguins Hockey Club which operated Tier I and Jr Hockey Teams in Pittsburgh since 1997 (Kevin) and Pittsburgh Teamwear (Brian), a successful hockey applique shop doing business with local Hockey programs merged. The merger brought together the talents of all former companies that enabled them to be the area leader in Hockey Team business.
In 2001, The Penalty Box, a small Retail Hockey outlet with locations in the North and South Hills of Pittsburgh acquired Signature Flags. The newly formed corporation (MARKEV, Inc.) began to commingle the Hockey hard and soft goods of The Penalty Box with the specialty services provided by the staff at Signature Flags making customized Banners, Flags and their specialty, Hockey Jerseys, into a single business entity.
As the company continued to grow, two other business entities, merged with MARKEV to form a new Entity named K&B Outfitters. In 2012, the Pittsburgh Jr Penguins Hockey Club which operated Tier I and Jr Hockey Teams in Pittsburgh since 1997 (Kevin) and Pittsburgh Teamwear (Brian), a successful hockey applique shop doing business with local Hockey programs merged. The merger brought together the talents of all former companies that enabled them to be the area leader in Hockey Team business.
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Why we MOVED
As we continued to grow, eventually we became boxed in. Literally, we were BOXED IN. The volume of boxes of materials coming into the building to be processed for team projects that required embroidery and appliqué began to pile up making it difficult to navigate through the building. It also limited the amount of room that staff had to work comfortably.
As we continued to grow, eventually we became boxed in. Literally, we were BOXED IN. The volume of boxes of materials coming into the building to be processed for team projects that required embroidery and appliqué began to pile up making it difficult to navigate through the building. It also limited the amount of room that staff had to work comfortably.
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The first remedy was to expand in our current building at 799 18th Street where we enclosed our former outside porch into storage space where we could organize and store inventory for the clubs that we Partnered with. However, that filled up fast and before we knew it, we were out of space again.
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We quickly outgrew the additional space we added and made the move to another building located in the business district of Ambridge on Merchant Street. The original building provided us with about 3,800 square feet to operate in while the new one has more than 26,000 square feet. While we lease the entire basement and half the first floor (street level), the remaining space in the new building provides us with a Storefront and ample Retail Space plus more than enough room for Administration, Printing, Embroidery, Laser Cutting, Heat Transferring, Sewing, Sublimation and Applique Layout Departments.
Some History:
The Building on Merchant Street was originally built in 1920 in the heart of the Ambridge cultural district, It was originally known as Davidson's Department Store. In those days, the community relied on Davidson's for their personal and family needs from the very basics like soap and toothpaste to Furniture and Men's Suits.
Some History:
The Building on Merchant Street was originally built in 1920 in the heart of the Ambridge cultural district, It was originally known as Davidson's Department Store. In those days, the community relied on Davidson's for their personal and family needs from the very basics like soap and toothpaste to Furniture and Men's Suits.
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Getting a Face Lift
After acquiring the building in December of 2016, K&B went to work putting their stamp on it. The additional space allowed them to reorganize the work space within each department to be more comfortable for the staff. In fact, the extra space was more than necessary and afforded an opportunity to set some aside for future growth and expansion.
After acquiring the building in December of 2016, K&B went to work putting their stamp on it. The additional space allowed them to reorganize the work space within each department to be more comfortable for the staff. In fact, the extra space was more than necessary and afforded an opportunity to set some aside for future growth and expansion.
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First step was to move the prior owners stuff out to make room for the contractor crews so they could make renovations. LOTS OF STUFF...
Then, we began the task of upgrading and bringing the building to code and renovating the space to K&B's particular needs. Below are some pictures during the few months spent doing that.
Then finally, the MOVE.
NOW WE HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE.