Baseball Conventions Lead to New Connections

Nick and Garrett Bernardo at the WCB Convention at Mohegan Sun.

The new year got off to a busy start for the NOVUS team! On January 5, a few team members headed out to Chicago, Ill. for the American Baseball Coaches Association’s 78th annual convention. A week later on January 13, they headed out to Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in Uncasville, CT. for the World Baseball Coaches’ Convention. At both events, NOVUS was able to show off its signature threads, make great connections, and spread the crown-claiming culture of the company.

Hosting booths at both events brought attention to the unique custom apparel NOVUS offers and created buzz amongst convention-goers.

“Being face to face is a game-changer,” NOVUS CEO and Creative Director Garrett Bernardo said. “We are able to create an experience and impression just in a few moments that can't be done through an email or a zoom call. I think it really helps our customers see our passion and joy in this field; they see it's less of a job and more the dream.”

Other NOVUS staff noted the importance of being at conventions to meet people face-to-face.

“In-person events like this create the most organic and dynamic leads possible,” said Outside Sales Representative and former professional baseball pitcher David Hill.

Along with making new connections, existing connections were able to meet the team they have worked with to get their custom NOVUS gear.

The NOVUS booth was busy at the ABCA Convention.

“Having a presence at these types of conventions enables us to connect on a more personal level with our existing client base,” Key Account Manager Sean Finan said. “The ABCA brought in coaches from all over the country and we actually ran into a ton of people that we had exchanged countless emails with but hadn't yet met in person.”

NOVUS’s booths featured line-ups of popular products and showcased the company’s customization capabilities, capabilities that stand out from other companies. 

“We are doing a lot from the design perspective that is unique,” Hill said. “Most coaches noted that they haven't seen anything like our stuff before, especially our cut and sew products.”

From left to right: Nick Bernardo, Sean Finan, and Garrett Bernardo stand in front of Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Certain products turned the most heads and highlighted the uniqueness of NOVUS’s original products.

“There were a number of products that we were the only company to have in our set of offerings,” Internal Operations Manager Dan Jason said. “Our short sleeve performance fleece hoodies, short sleeve BP tops, paneled hoodies, and loungers had people talking.”

Between meeting new people and showing off NOVUS original products, the team was able to meet up with some old friends, too.

“We finally shook hands and met in person with Chris Forbes from the Colorado Rockies who gave us one of our breakthrough orders a few years ago,” Bernardo said. “The UMaine head baseball coach, Nick Derba, and his assistant, Scott Heath, my former teammate and recruiting classmate, came up to us wearing the short sleeve hoodie we just made for them. They said the team is going nuts over the hoodies and our gear is spreading everywhere on campus.”

The team ran a custom baseball glove giveaway, handed out baseball stress balls and baseball bat pens, and gave convention goers a glimpse of what the NOVUS experience is like. At future events, the team hopes to offer even more to those that visit their booth.

“We are excited to continue to be present at ABCA and WBCC as we hope to take the booth experience to another level through some activations to showcase our creativity,” Bernardo said.

Both the ABCA convention in Chicago and the WBC convention were great opportunities for NOVUS to showcase products in person and to people they may not have reached otherwise. New names and faces became new customers, bringing the NOVUS brand to even more parts of the country.