The good old umbrella might seem like a tried-and-true invention, but it’s come a long way from its not-so-humble beginnings as a status symbol in ancient China. As the story goes, the more elaborate, the more honor and influence its owner had. But the Chinese didn’t have the market cornered on the first umbrella. There’s evidence of the umbrella in artwork from thousands of years ago from Egypt, Syria, Greece, and the Roman Empire. 

Since then, the umbrella has grown from status symbol, to accessory, to necessity— with inventors trying to improve upon the design. An article in The New Yorker says The US Patent Office has received thousands and thousands of patent applications attempting to improve the umbrella. 

One of the design improvements we’re most excited about here at The Dunstan Group is the inverted umbrella. What a great idea! An umbrella that folds the “wet side” onto itself, keeping it away from your clothes, car, or wherever else you’re headed to get out of the rain. Made even better that we can customize these inverted umbrellas with your logo and colors for a truly unique presentation. 

Want to see more umbrellas and other great ideas to wow your clients, team, or customers with branded merchandise and apparel from The Dunstan Group? Stop by our showroom, or send us an email to get started. 

When the Young Black Leadership Alliance (YBLA) adopted Hidden Valley Elementary School for its Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service, The Dunstan Group answered YBLA’s call to help.

The Dunstan Group partnered with YBLA founders John and Tammy Martin to help dress Hidden Valley students for success, with a donation of 150 collared uniform shirts. Hidden Valley is a uniform school, and shares YBLA’s mission of high expectations for students as future leaders. Among the expectations for Hidden Valley students are to say, “yes, sir,” or, “no, sir,” (or ma’am), to make eye contact, and to show respect with positive gestures. Similarly, YBLA’s leadership programs develop young African Americans into leaders for today and tomorrow, simultaneously preparing them for college and careers while encouraging them to mentor younger students.

The Dunstan Group was enthusiastic about helping two organizations with such community-minded missions. The company also provided YBLA with 500 string bags with the YBLA logo to give to the students for the MLK Day of Service.

“We’ve worked hard for many years to define our uniqueness in the marketplace, and we’re finding it in the service of others,” said The Dunstan Group President, Scott Dunstan. “This partnership represents one more way we’re accomplishing our community involvement goals, which is so important to us.”

And they’re in good company, too. YBLA leaders met with recently-retired Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, about his support of YBLA. Peppers is donating a portion of the proceeds from his Sneaker Charity Ball to the YBLA.

“We are so grateful for his support!” said YBLA about meeting Julius Peppers and his generous donation.

And although the team at The Dunstan Group doesn’t run or tackle like Peppers, they are always ready to answer the call for the community. YBLA founders John and Tammy Martin are big fans of the Dunstan Group and cheered its donations to their MLK Day of Service.

“Scott Dunstan and the wonderful team at The Dunstan Group have been a tremendous blessing to YBLA,” said the Martins. “From the very first encounter with Scott and his team, our experience has been nothing shy of receiving kind-heartedness, professionalism, and a true commitment to the Charlotte community.”

The Martins point out the long history of community service by both the Dunstan Group and YBLA.

“As a non-profit organization in Charlotte for 13 years, we can honestly say The Dunstan Group has been instrumental in lowering our cost on merchandise and has helped push our mission forward of building leaders by donating uniforms and negotiating a lower rate for drawstring bags to our biggest community service project on MLK Day. Aside from that, Dunstan has been wonderful to work with in designing and selecting merchandise; waiving fees, and making sure we received merchandise on time even if it meant personally delivering a package to our house,” added the Martins.

Now that’s service!  “Overall, The Dunstan Group is and will continue to be a strong partner for YBLA and many other businesses in the Charlotte community!” 

Want to know more about the Martins and the Young Black Leadership Alliance? Listen in on this episode of the award-wining Brandbuilders Podcast! 

The Dunstan Group and their BrandBuilders Podcast came away big winners in Las Vegas! Scott Dunstan and Brian Young are two happy hosts, after the company’s popular podcast was named a Silver Winner at the PPAI Pyramid Awards in Las Vegas. The BrandBuilders Podcast won in the technology category recognizing blogs, podcasts, and digital news.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on is the things people are talking about in the parking lot, but don’t always make it to the light of day,” said Scott Dunstan, co-host and president of The Dunstan Group. “We’re proud to have those discussions — sometimes popular, sometimes unpopular — but we bring things to the forefront, which I think is important.”

Scott and Brian have recorded more than 75 conversations with friends, clients, and community members who have created a brand or made a difference. The Dunstan Group created the BrandBuilders Podcast around their belief that every brand, business, event, or special project has a story that goes deeper than its stated mission, marketing, or product. The BrandBuilders Podcast is a forum to tell a business’s or entrepreneur’s story about the struggles and inspiration that comes from building something bigger than themselves.

The success of the BrandBuilders Podcast prompted The Dunstan Group to invest in the BrandBuilders Podcast Studio at the company’s headquarters on Morehead Street in Charlotte. The in-house studio allows Scott and Brian to share their guests’ stories in a way that takes the company’s community-building focus to a new level. The Dunstan Group understands the platform is like being entrusted with an incredible superpower that can educate, inform, entertain, and connect our community for the greater good. Podcast number 76 was the first to record there, continuing the tradition of making connections that are bigger than just doing business.

PPAI is the premier media brand covering the companies, people, ideas, and information that impact the promotional products industry. PPAI Media’s three industry publications provide timely news, expert commentary, and practical content help the branding industry. Scott and Brian attended the PPAI Expo to learn about the newest products and brands they can offer Dunstan Group clients in 2019.

An all-new episode of the BrandBuilders Podcast drops each Friday. Episodes can be found at http://dunstangroup.blubrry.net or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

The BrandBuilders Podcast is moving to a new home!

Starting in January, the Dunstan Group will record its popular BrandBuilders Podcast with hosts Scott Dunstan and Brian Young in a new studio built into its headquarters on East Morehead Street near uptown Charlotte.

Co-host Brian Young says putting the studio right in the home office takes the community-building mission of BrandBuilders Podcast to a new level.

“They can see our work, too!” says Young with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas. “It’s a neat way to know and grow our business, while we learn about other people’s brands.”

But Young is quick to point out that the BrandBuilders Podcast is about more than business — it’s a way to tell stories about people in the community who have added something special to the world we live in. They’ve taken a risk, started a brand, built a business, and created something no one else has. Each week, guests’ stories of hard work, struggle, failure, and success open our eyes to possibilities in our own lives and neighborhoods. 

“It’s made our clients, our friends,” says Young. “It’s been a way to break away from daily distractions of our phones, email, and work, and have a one-on-one conversation for a few minutes about what makes an individual or business a special part of our community.” Some of the guests are clients, others are simply interesting people pursuing interesting new ideas, or who have great stories to tell.

Young and Dunstan recorded the first BrandBuilders Podcast in August 2017 with their friend Josh Jones, of Jones & Hedges Custom Builders. Josh’s story of building a business in a down economy, then learning his young daughter, Libby, had leukemia, pulled at everyone’s heartstrings and set the tone for the soul of the podcast. Then and since, the conversations have not been all about business — they’ve been about friendships, relationships, and community. 

An all-new episode of The BrandBuilders Podcast drops each Friday. Episodes can be found athttp://dunstangroup.blubrry.net or anywhere you listen to podcasts. Episode number 76 will be the first to record at the home office of The Dunstan Group at 1200 E. Morehead Street.

Like Morehead Street, relationships are a two-way street. This new turn will allow guests of The BrandBuilders Podcast to get a better understanding of The Dunstan Group’s mission — which is not just providing big ideas and branded merchandise and apparel, but building relationships that last.