Hard work, experience and the right alliance come together to help make Tag Specialties a success.

Mark Riemer has been in the promotional products industry for nearly 40 years. As a child, his mom had a print shop so he learned the value of hard work early on. Over the years he has done everything from running an automatic press to an embroidery machine. He has been in sales, the president of other companies and is now the owner-operator of Tag Specialties, a company he started from scratch in 2008. “I love the ability to produce a product that brings cheer to people,” Mark explains. “For example, every year we take a donor recipient’s artwork and turn it into a T-shirt for Legacy of Hope, Alabama’s organ and tissue donation alliance.”  

From nonprofits to sports teams, Mark’s business can churn out shirts at a moment’s notice so teams can celebrate winning championships or companies can celebrate milestones with mugs or other promotional products. As the business has grown, Mark turned to Sam Renta and Alliance Capital for SBA loans. “Seven years ago I found a building near Vulcan I wanted to buy. It was a great opportunity, so I made an offer but needed to close within 30 days,” he says. “All the little details came together quickly and Sam made it happen.” 

The building in Homewood houses the embroidery and art departments, the sales team and office staff and produces digital printing, yard signs, large format graphics like car wraps and oversized signage. The facility just wasn’t big enough for their fastest growing division—screen printing. This year Mark returned to Sam for a loan to buy land in North Avondale, build a new factory and purchase equipment. Although it’s been a longer process, Sam has been there every step of the way. “Numbers are complicated, but Sam has the ability to break it down and explain it,” he says.  

The new shop will have two of the most advanced screen printing presses in the area with a gas dryer and air conditioning; something many factories don’t have. “I’m so thankful for Sam. My business can continue to grow and make our customers happy,” Mark says. “I couldn’t have done any of this without Alliance Capital.”