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Evolve named a company to watch
  
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By Tom Munds
Evolve was the only Englewood firm recognized on the list of Colorado Companies to Watch, a program organized by the Colorado Office of Economic Development.
Evolve, located at 2975 S. Tejon St., designs and produces customized branded apparel and merchandise.
Joel Wochner, chief executive officer, and other Evolve staff joined representatives of 49 other companies on the list for the awards ceremony June 25 at the Sewell Ballroom. He said he and the company considered it special to be included on the companies to watch list.
Wochner founded the company in 2002 because, he said, he felt companies shouldn’t have to select apparel from a catalog of pre-made items. He suggested creating the uniform from scratch so the product is completely customized.
The company has 32 employees plus contracts with manufactures around the world. Plans are for the workforce to grow to about 40 by the end of the year.
“I have experience as a developer for an apparel company plus a background in e-commerce. I combined my work with the study of oriental arts and a concern for the ecology,” he said. “I just felt there was a better, more ecological-friendly way for companies to provide apparel for their employees while doing something good for the environment. That’s why I started Evolve.”
Wochner explained his idea was to create a complete “branding” package for the client and do it by using materials such as organically-grown cotton and recycled products.
For example, the uniform shirt for a client has the company name on the label, on the buttons as well as the logo.
To achieve the ecologically-friendly aspect of the work, Wochner worked with John Cable, vice president of the supply chain, to locate and contract with manufactures with the capability of producing the products that were good for the environment. In the process, the company developed working relationship with companies and suppliers in the U.S. as well as international ties with firms in Mexico, China and India.
The company began working with DirectTV in 2003. That year, Evolve was a $3 million company. The firm added new clients to its list and the revenue was up to $10 million by 2007.
Wochner said he feels the company has grown and been successful because, by developing its own supply chain, Evolve can offer better quality products at prices better than the big uniform companies while also doing something good for the environment.
He said, like other companies, the economic climate has not been favorable to his firm but he also said he believes Evolve will continue to expand by providing quality products while also making sure protecting the environment is a focus on the process.
“We believe we can’t keep trashing the planet the way we have been doing for years,” Wochner said. “That is why we have researched how we can do business and still respect our environment. I believe we have been successful. For example, our use of organic cotton has kept at least 5,000 pounds of pesticide from being sprayed on cotton crops.”
He said the firm’s environmental focus fit in well with the emphasis on green companies and renewal, sustainable resources.
“We feel we produce products our clients can feel good about wearing because they know they are doing something good for the environment,” he said.
The program to honor companies to watch was established by the Edward Lowe Foundation in 2005 when Michigan became the first state to name its top companies to watch. Arizona, Indiana and Mississippi have since adopted the program and this is the first year Colorado joined them.
The state office organized Colorado’s program, seeking nominations for the program. The nominations were reviewed by a panel of independent judges and they selected the winners based on factors such as employee or entrepreneurial leadership, sales growth and sustainable competitive advantage.
ColoradoBiz magazine worked with the organizer and the current issue of the magazine included an article about the program and a profile of each companies selected.
Evolve, located at 2975 S. Tejon St., designs and produces customized branded apparel and merchandise.
Joel Wochner, chief executive officer, and other Evolve staff joined representatives of 49 other companies on the list for the awards ceremony June 25 at the Sewell Ballroom. He said he and the company considered it special to be included on the companies to watch list.
Wochner founded the company in 2002 because, he said, he felt companies shouldn’t have to select apparel from a catalog of pre-made items. He suggested creating the uniform from scratch so the product is completely customized.
The company has 32 employees plus contracts with manufactures around the world. Plans are for the workforce to grow to about 40 by the end of the year.
“I have experience as a developer for an apparel company plus a background in e-commerce. I combined my work with the study of oriental arts and a concern for the ecology,” he said. “I just felt there was a better, more ecological-friendly way for companies to provide apparel for their employees while doing something good for the environment. That’s why I started Evolve.”
Wochner explained his idea was to create a complete “branding” package for the client and do it by using materials such as organically-grown cotton and recycled products.
For example, the uniform shirt for a client has the company name on the label, on the buttons as well as the logo.
To achieve the ecologically-friendly aspect of the work, Wochner worked with John Cable, vice president of the supply chain, to locate and contract with manufactures with the capability of producing the products that were good for the environment. In the process, the company developed working relationship with companies and suppliers in the U.S. as well as international ties with firms in Mexico, China and India.
The company began working with DirectTV in 2003. That year, Evolve was a $3 million company. The firm added new clients to its list and the revenue was up to $10 million by 2007.
Wochner said he feels the company has grown and been successful because, by developing its own supply chain, Evolve can offer better quality products at prices better than the big uniform companies while also doing something good for the environment.
He said, like other companies, the economic climate has not been favorable to his firm but he also said he believes Evolve will continue to expand by providing quality products while also making sure protecting the environment is a focus on the process.
“We believe we can’t keep trashing the planet the way we have been doing for years,” Wochner said. “That is why we have researched how we can do business and still respect our environment. I believe we have been successful. For example, our use of organic cotton has kept at least 5,000 pounds of pesticide from being sprayed on cotton crops.”
He said the firm’s environmental focus fit in well with the emphasis on green companies and renewal, sustainable resources.
“We feel we produce products our clients can feel good about wearing because they know they are doing something good for the environment,” he said.
The program to honor companies to watch was established by the Edward Lowe Foundation in 2005 when Michigan became the first state to name its top companies to watch. Arizona, Indiana and Mississippi have since adopted the program and this is the first year Colorado joined them.
The state office organized Colorado’s program, seeking nominations for the program. The nominations were reviewed by a panel of independent judges and they selected the winners based on factors such as employee or entrepreneurial leadership, sales growth and sustainable competitive advantage.
ColoradoBiz magazine worked with the organizer and the current issue of the magazine included an article about the program and a profile of each companies selected.
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