Eighty-five years in business is something to celebrate, and that’s just what the team at Sportsman Cap & Bag is going to do. This year, the Kansas-based supplier of bags, apparel, and other promotional products is celebrating this milestone by highlighting not only its years in the industry, but also the relationships that have grown from them.

The company first opened up its doors in the downtown Kansas City garment district in 1937, where the father-son team of Jacob and Abe Yeddis started Pioneer Cap Company. In 1968, the company became one of America’s first cap importers, and Abe shifted his focus to become a full-time importer launching Promotional Headwear International, according to a company press release.

In the ‘90s, Abe’s grandson and current president Dan Saferstein joined the business. “My grandfather was larger than life, and the opportunity to work with him and grow the company was my path,” Saferstein recalled in an email interview. “So, in December of 1993, I moved to Kansas City and started the Golf Straw Hat division.” Since then, he has led the company through additional transformation.

After developing the house brand Sportsman, Saferstein added Flexfit and started building the Sportsman Cap Network, a cooperative of distributors in the promotional products industry. In 2012, Saferstein added bags and rebranded as Sportsman Cap & Bag.

“I wanted to push and grow our company by providing a variety of blank styles with increased distribution points while maintaining customer care,” said Saferstein.

Now, he has another milestone to add to the resume: helping his company celebrate 85 years in business. “I’m not a traditionalist in many ways,” he noted. “I believe in mixing work and play regularly to really get to know people and build relationships. As we celebrate 85 years and the world has opened back up, it’s been exciting to go to concerts, sporting events, take trips, and play golf with everyone that makes Sportsman Cap & Bag a success — employees, customers, and vendors. I do plan to take the 85th Holiday Team Party to the next level.”