Wheeling-Based Business Sells 200K Masks, Acquires Event Company

WHEELING, IL — Nearly two months ago, the team at Wheeling-based athletic apparel decoration company Image Apparel Solutions set out to donate 1 million masks over a 90-day period through their Million Mask March donation program. IAS chose to shift their focus to masks when the ongoing coronavirus pandemic hit, and face masks became mandatory in several towns and states across the U.S. For every mask purchased in a minimum order of 250 through IAS, the company donates a mask to an organization in need of masks in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus and support community organizations.

IAS President Tim Kelliher told Patch that as of Tuesday evening, they've sold about 200,000 masks, and have been able to donate about 100,000.

"When we started this project, we never expected that so many companies would be selling face masks," Kelliher added. "I am very proud that we will continue to offer this program even after the 90 days is over. We do believe it is an important program."

Related: 'Million Mask March': Business Aims To Donate 1M Masks In 90 Days

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IAS is also proud to announce they've acquired Tailored Events, a Northbrook-based event management company for corporations and charity organizations.

According to IAS, Tailored Events has an extensive roster of well-known clients and oversees a variety of events for them, including golf outings, galas, grand openings, corporate conferences, and other large-scale events from inception through the day of the event. Francie Portrey, the owner of Tailored Events, founded the company in 2013 and took great pride in having a first-class team that oversees every detail to ensure their clients’ important events run seamlessly.

“I am pleased to announce that Image Apparel Solutions has acquired Tailored Events,
one of the leading event management companies in the Midwest,” Kelliher said, in a news release sent to Patch. “This is a great way for Tailored Events to expand the breadth of products IAS can now offer to their existing customers, providing them with much deeper options.”

IAS, one of the top companies of its kind in the country, is well known for their extremely skilled team of people, providing an exceptional level of customer service that is unparalleled within the industry.

“I am so excited to be working together and offering each of our client base new
opportunities to enhance their business,” Portrey said.

Portrey started Tailored Events after many years working at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago Bears Football Club, CBS Radio, and Anything’s Possible Events. According to the news release, Portrey realized that her love of events were the most memorable aspects of each of her previous jobs. In 2013, she decided to go on her own and created Tailored Events.

Their clients include MillerCoors, United Airlines, Jesse White Foundation, Tony’s
Fresh Market, Caputo’s Fresh Market, Noyes, and other companies and organizations of
varying sizes.

The new acquisition and partnership will significantly enhance the services Tailored
Events can offer its customers, IAS stated. Portrey will serve as a Regional Manager of IAS and continue to oversee the day-to-day operations for the events segment of the business.

Likewise, it will also supplement the services IAS can offer their clients in terms of new
events, where there was not an opportunity to do so before, according to the news release.

“Francie and Tailored Events have a great portfolio of existing clients which they have
worked with for years, and now there’s so much more to offer their clients than simply
the event,” Kelliher said. “Now, it’s much more of a one-stop solution, and we can offer
IAS clients event management services.”

More information: image-apparel-solutions.com

For questions or to discuss a mask or apparel order, email francie@image-apparel-solutions.com or call the IAS team at 847-229-2000.

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