Field Notes

NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic events are held at some of the most prestigious courses across the country providing corporations additional opportunities to partner with customers and colleagues while also supporting corporate social responsibility and a great cause. “We’re honored that Imperial Headwear is joining us once again as a National Promotional Partner during the 2022 season of the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic tournaments,” said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant patient. “Those with kidney disease are at increased risk of developing life-threatening complications from COVID-19, particularly with the development of multiple variants like Delta or Omicron. This incredible partnership comes at a critical time for our kidney community and truly helps us raise awareness and the funds needed to continue advancing kidney health. The partnership between the National Kidney Foundation and Imperial Headwear includes a curated collection of headwear, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting NKF. “Golf has been a great respite for those seeking leisure and exercise for hundreds of years, but never more so than in the past year during the global pandemic,” said David Shaffer, Senior Vice President of Sales, Imperial Headwear. “That’s why we’re so pleased to continue our partnership with the National Kidney Foundation by providing our most popular hats at their golf events held throughout the country. We’re very proud to do our part in helping support patients and families affected by kidney disease, especially during these challenging times,” added Shaffer. Successful since it was founded in 1987, the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic is The Premier Amateur Golf Event for Charity. Each year thousands of golfers from across the country participate in nearly 30 local events held at top venues, entertaining clients, and playing for the chance to qualify in the National Finals held at the prestigious Pebble Beach in January of 2023. Participating golfers raise $3.5 million annually to benefit the National Kidney Foundation and the more than 1 in 7 American adults affected by kidney disease. The series showcases Konica Minolta as the National Title Sponsor and IAA, Inc., and Horizon Therapeutics as a National Corporate Partner. National Promotional Partners include the Greg Norman Collection and Imperial Headwear. For more information about the NKF Konica Minolta Golf Classic, or to find an upcoming event near you, please visit NKFKonicaMinoltaGolfClassic.com. All golf events will adhere to COVID-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as any state-specific guidelines. Please review NKF’s “Know Before You Go” for additional information.

When the temperatures start to drop and there’s a nip in the air, you know what that means - it’s time to pull out your softest, coziest knit hat or golf beanie to keep your head and ears warm. And one of the best parts about cold-weather knits and golf beanies is they come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors and styles that you can really show off your personality. Are you a furry pom-pom person or more of a sleek and simple hat wearer? To cuff or not to cuff? But it doesn’t just stop at hat style - with a wide array of icons to choose from, you’ll be customizing hats in no time with Imperial’s design-a-hat option for custom logo golf hats. We’ve rounded up not only our warmest knit and golf beanie options, but also the collections of icons you can choose from, whether you select a hat we’ve already thought up or you design your own golf hat. Start off with a golf beanie style If you just want to keep it simple or you want to see the base knit options to create your own custom embroidered hats, the best place to start is the Keep Warm Knits. See all the assorted style options, from furry poms to knit poms, to no poms at all. If you do want to design a hat using these knits as your starting point, simply add a free logo and personalize. Logos for these bespoke hat options can come from Imperial’s collections of icons (we’ll get into those below!) or even your own design, which you can upload. The best part about this option is you can buy as little or as many custom logo hats as you like, there’s no minimum! So if you only want one of your custom designs, then feel free to just buy one. Add an icon from one of many rad collections Once you’ve picked the warm knit or golf beanie that you like best, kick up the fun by adding an icon that really speaks to you. Let everyone know what you’re about with popular icons representing your love of winter fun, delicious foods or even your furry friend. Keep Warm with fun cool-weather icons If your buddies always know they can find you hitting the slopes, jumping on a powder sled or just enjoying a cocktail by the fire once the weather gets cold, then you might want to check out icons in the Keep Warm Collection. Find snowy weather shenanigans visualized in icons of winter sports, cold weather fun and a variety of beverages. Get inspired to design your own cozy golf beanie with some of our favorite ideas that are perfect, especially for fall or winter. Holly jolly options from the Holiday Collection If you’re shopping during ‘the most wonderful time of the year,’ get your stocking stuffers from the Holiday Collection. Who wouldn’t want to find a warm golf beanie under the tree with a golfing santa or flamingo? Get in the spirit with a knit or beanie in fun holiday colors with one of the many festive icons to choose from. Look good enough to eat with the Edibles Collection Why just wear a beanie to brunch when you can wear a beanie with brunch on it? Find delectable dishes and sweet snacks in the Edibles Collection. From sweet to savory and everything in-between, make everyone else hungry with these deliciously quirky icon options. A nod to man’s best friend with canine icons This one’s for the dog lovers out there. The Canine Collection features furry friends from big dogs to small dogs, each with its own loveable personality and charm. With so many different breeds to choose from, you’re bound to find your favorite pooch or the one that looks just like your dog at home; but if your dog’s breed isn’t available, you always have the option to customize your golf hats using the Design Your Own tool for something uniquely you. Show off your state pride There’s nothing better than loving where you’re from. Let everybody else know where the best place to be is by repping your home state on your beanie with designs from the Tailgate Collection. These icons range from outlines of the state to images of the state flag, depending on the state. If you’re more of a nature lover, there’s also the State Flower Collection with options of local flora and fauna from some select states. Feeling creative? Design your own hat If you have a fantastic idea for an icon to add to one of our knits or golf beanies or if you don’t quite see what you have in mind, you always have the option to create custom logo hats! The Design Your Own tool at Imperial lets you do two different things: put an existing Imperial icon on any hat of your choice OR upload your very own design to create your own custom embroidered hats. Simply pick out the hat you want, choose the color and then either select the Imperial logo you want to put on it or upload your own image to create custom embroidered hats, with no minimum order. For cozy vibes in fall and winter, or anytime your head could use a little extra warmth, don’t leave the house without a knit or beanie that really showcases what you’re all about.

Imperial and its parent company Paramount Apparel International, is proud to announce it has been acquired by CPC LLC, a Kansas City-based family office investment firm. CPC, whose mantra is “Buy, Build, Hold,” was formed by the partners of Curran Companies and C3 Capital with the shared vision of becoming world class partners for great companies. CPC is a company, not a traditional private equity fund, that seeks to make long-term investments and grow businesses over decades, not years. “Imperial is exactly the type of business with which CPC is looking to partner,” said Wiley Curran, Principal at CPC LLC. “It is well-managed, a brand leader in its category, has high standards for conducting business and strongly positioned for expansion. We are looking forward to a bright future and longstanding partnership with Imperial.” There will be no changes to the operations of Imperial or its parent company, Paramount Apparel International. All manufacturing and distribution facilities in the state of Missouri will continue to operate as usual. Also, management for Imperial will remain fully intact, focusing on the continued growth and success of the 105-year old brand. “We are extremely excited about CPC’s acquisition of Paramount, including the Imperial brand,” said Todd Johnson, President & Chief Operating Officer of Paramount Apparel International. “CPC has made it very clear how committed they are to the future of Imperial, as well as the long-term success of our Company. Their strategy to buy, build and hold businesses is aligned with the current ownership’s vision for the future of Imperial and Paramount.”

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. "Imperial is extremely proud to extend our partnership with the AJGA and remain the 'Official Headwear of the AJGA' through 2026," said David Shaffer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Imperial. "Growing the game and supporting junior golf are commitments that our Company takes very seriously. As an AJGA alum myself, I have the utmost respect for the AJGA as an organization, the individuals who run it, and the role they play in this important process to maintain the game we all love." As the ‘Official Headwear of the AJGA’ Imperial will continue to distribute hats to all players across our 120 plus events and their qualifiers annually. AJGA staff and interns will also continue to exclusively wear Imperial headwear at all AJGA events. Members of future Wyndham Cup, and PING Junior Solheim Cup teams will also sport Imperial hats as part of their team uniform. AJGA membership will receive a 20% discount, accessed through the Player Center, to purchase products from the expansive Imperial line. Imperial also offers an exclusive AJGA collection of hats, visors, and bucket hats. “We are thrilled to re-sign Imperial as an Official Partner of the AJGA and continue having them as the ‘Official Headwear of the AJGA’ through 2026”, AJGA Chief Business Officer Jason Etzen said. “We look forward to continuing to be amongst the long list of golf industry affiliations of Imperial for years to come.” Members can also expect to see a rebrand of the membership ‘Weekly Preview’ newsletter with Imperial taking over presenting sponsorship of the email platform. The weekly serves to inform the membership of application deadlines amongst other topics to develop the next generation of golf. The AJGA will continue to share unique throwbacks of alumni and noteworthy moments via the ‘Imperial Throwbacks’ platform on @AJGAGolf Instagram and Twitter. Additionally, Imperial will be a major partner of a future invitational in 2022 and 2024.