About Ripple Junction - What a Long Strange Trip It's Been
1990- THE SPARK IS LIT!
AFTER ATTENDING A FEW GRATEFUL DEAD SHOWS, NEIL HOYNES AND A COLLEGE BUDDY DECIDE TO GO ON THE 1990 SUMMER TOUR BUT NEED A WAY TO PAY FOR IT — MAYBE GRILLED CHEESE? OR VEGGIE BURRITOS? T-SHIRTS? T-SHIRTS! THE IDEA FOR RIPPLE JUNCTION IS BORN!
1991- HITTING THE ROAD!
AFTER SOME INITIAL SUCCESS IN 1990, NEIL ADDS TO THE DESIGN ASSORTMENT AND STARTS SELLING WHOLESALE TO SMALL STORES. HE AND HIS FRIENDS CONTINUE ON TO THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL DEAD TOURS IN THEIR NEW VAN, DUBBED THE USS ENTERPRISE — EVENTUALLY RENAMED THE "DENTERPRISE" TO REFLECT ITS CONDITION MORE ACCURATELY!
1992- WE'RE OFFICIAL NOW!
RIPPLE JUNCTION INCORPORATES AND BECOMES A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS. WE MOVE INTO A LESS THAN LUXURIOUS 800 SQUARE FOOT SPACE NEXT TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP IN SILVERTON - IT'S NOT FANCY, BUT IT'S OURS!
1993- SCOTT JOINS!
NEIL MEETS SCOTT ANDERSEN AT A CAMPGROUND AT JAZZ FEST IN NEW ORLEANS. AFTER RETURNING FROM TRAVELING IN MEXICO AND WITH LITTLE MONEY AND NO CONCRETE PLAN, SCOTT JUMPS AT THE CHANCE TO SELL NECKLACES ON A STICK WITH THE CREW AT JAZZ FEST AND THEN OFFICIALLY JOINS THE TEAM ON SUMMER DEAD TOUR! RIPPLE OPENS UP RETAIL KIOSK “THIRD STONE”
1996 - WE'VE ARRIVED!
RIPPLE JUNCTION BECOMES AN OFFICIAL LICENSEE FOR THE GRATEFUL DEAD. AND RETAIL CHAIN HOT TOPIC BRINGS IN RIPPLE JUNCTION STICKERS TO SELL IN HUNDREDS OF THEIR STORES. IT'S OUR FIRST SALE TO A MAJOR RETAILER AND OUR PRODUCTS CAN NOW BE SEEN IN MALLS ACROSS AMERICA!
2001 - BELIEVE IT!
RIPPLE JUNCTION LANDS THE LICENSE FOR NARUTO! THIS IS OUR FIRST ANIME PROPERTY, BUT IT WON'T BE OUR LAST, AS WE ULTIMATELY BECOME ONE OF THE TOP LICENSEES FOR ALL THINGS ANIME.
2008 - WE'VE GOT YA COVERED!
RIPPLE JUNCTION CROSSES THE 100 LICENSE MARK, WITH PROPERTIES SPANNING MUSIC, MOVIES, AND TV. OUR EXPANDED DISTRIBUTION NOW INCLUDES MAJOR ACCOUNTS LIKE TARGET, KOHL'S, AND WALMART, AS WELL AS MOST OF THE NATIONAL SPECIALTY CHAINS AND HUNDREDS OF INDEPENDENT RETAILERS.
2013 - MOVING ON UP!
RIPPLE JUNCTION HQ RELOCATES TO ITS FOURTH AND CURRENT LOCATION - A 70,000 SQUARE FOOT SPACE IN WEST CHESTER, OHIO THAT HOLDS BOTH OUR OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE. IF YOU'RE KEEPING TRACK, THAT'S MORE THAN 75X THE SIZE OF OUR FIRST SPACE (NOT COUNTING THE DENTERPRISE).
2019- ADDING FIREPOWER!
MARK WILSON IS HIRED AS PRESIDENT AND TASKED WITH LEADING THE COMPANY TO THE NEXT LEVEL. HE PROCEEDS TO ADD STRENGTH AND EXPERIENCE TO THE BEST TEAM IN THE INDUSTRY AND THE METEORIC SALES GROWTH THAT FOLLOWS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
2021 - LEVELING UP!
WE BECOME A MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION BY ACQUIRING AP TEES, A SCREEN-PRINTING FACILITY IN TIJUANA, MEXICO. AND INC. MAGAZINE NAMES RIPPLE JUNCTION ONE OF THE 5,000 FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATELY-OWNED COMPANIES IN THE U.S., AND WE'RE THE 29TH FASTEST GROWING COMPANY IN THE CINCINNATI REGION.