Chattanooga-based Tricycle, Inc. celebrates the third anniversary of its founding this month. This month, Tricycle offices in both the United States and United Kingdom are moving into new spaces.
"Our staff is a 'who's who' of proven ability in providing service to interiors manufacturers," said president and chief operating officer Jonathan Bragdon. "Three years ago, Tricycle consisted of two people in a one-room office, upstairs from an interior design firm. Today we have 25 employees on two continents."
SIM from Tricycle™, winner of two NeoCon gold awards, has driven the company's rapid growth. The first alternative sample to be accepted by architects and designers as accurately presenting carpet, SIM digitally mimics the tufting process, manufacturing carpet virtually. Color accurate and designed to be fully recycled into post-consumer paper products, SIM is used by architects and interior designers in the early rounds of specification, reducing the number of hard samples ordered, it was stated.
"In the past year, Tricycle has kept more than 36,000 pounds of carpet out of landfill, saved manufacturers more than $1 million, and reduced turnaround time on samples to within 24 hours of request," said Mr. Bragdon. "In March of this year we were nominated by the American Institute for Graphic Artists for an international INDEX: award, as representing the best of socially responsible design in the United States."
The company's British division, formerly known as Cre8tiv, Ltd., began development of SIM in 1997 under its CAD brand Apso, a leading provider of design systems to carpet and textile designers since 1983. Cre8tiv merged with Tricycle in 2004, to form Tricycle, Inc. As of this month, the U.K. division, under the supervision of chief technical officer Andy Shipman, operates out of the Design Innovation Centre in the city of Leeds, enabling better customer access and stronger design, research and development resources. Tricycle technology has gathered honors including a Best of NeoCon Gold and recognition from companies such as Oracle.
THE SIM+FACTORY™
Tricycles headquarters in Chattanooga is moving the location of its management, design and technical team, along with the SIM+Factory™ production unit. Tricycles new headquarters is in the Saddlery, a former manufacturing building renovated as part of Chattanooga's urban renewal around the recently demolished Wheland Foundry.
The SIM+Factory™ is a service bureau offering product simulation, room scene generation, replacement of digital photography for marketing collateral and websites, sampling, product presentation, and product digitization of fiber, color and yarn.
Officials said, "The staff of the SIM+Factory™ brings a wealth of relevant experience to the production floor. Employees include a former dyehouse manager for Collins & Aikman and Interface, a carpet designer who worked at Durkan and Lees, a product development evaluator in textile and apparel for Buster Brown, a plant manager of a textile firm, and a color and printing specialist who created an early product visualization system for J&J/Invision. Internal strategists for the SIM+Factory include the designers behind the original launch of Mannington Commercials DesignLine web tool and the technicians who developed Cre8tivs custom solutions for Lees, Milliken, Interface, Shaw, Mohawk and other leading manufacturers."
"Our staff were drawn to Tricycle because they worked on early iterations of the services we offer, and saw in Tricycle a giant leap forward for the industry. As a team, we have been able to take these services even further, offering better, faster, and less expensive options to our customers," said Mr. Bragdon, who began his career in the flooring industry and has also worked in packaged goods, technology and energy sectors. Mr. Bragdon holds a Vanderbilt MBA in marketing and has broad experience in brand management, product launch, process engineering, technical marketing, strategic consulting and business development.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
An integrated approach between the American and European divisions of the company has enabled this summers launch of Apso Jet Set, the first integrated product development suite and prototyping engine for carpet designers. Using SIM from Tricycle™ to prototype new designs, Apso Jet Set is compatible with tufting machines from the three major U.S. manufacturing machine companies, among others, and is available on a monthly site license.
"Tricycle is first and foremost a highly capable and highly focused multi-national team concerned with developing the best available sustainable design practice to carpet and textile manufacturers. Made up of a set of multi-talented yet disciplined and dedicated individuals, our company mantra is Keep Pedalin. Tricycle is all about this group of employees building the company together, shoulder to shoulder. Working with these people makes business a pleasure," said chief executive officer Jamie Harrison, who himself was a carpet designer before joining Apso in 1994.
DESIGN SERVICES
Tricycle has also gained a recent attention for the accomplishments of its in-house design team, led by chief branding officer Michael Hendrix. The company partners with marketing agencies that serve interiors manufacturers, assisting with graphic design, package design, web design, and market research.
The company's design team has garnered nearly every major American design award, including the One Show, New York Type Directors Club Annual, Communication Arts Design Annual, American Institute of Graphic Arts AIGA 365, American Advertising Federation Addys (Local and Regional), TenShow Regional AIGA awards (Gold, Silver and Bronze), and International Broadcast Design Awards (Gold and Silver), among others.
About Tricycle
Tricycle offers evolutionary processes, products and services that serve the creative product lifecycle of interiors manufacturers, reducing costs and improving environmental sustainability. Tricycle currently works with 18 commercial and hospitality brands. The companys trademarks include SIM from Tricycle, the SIM+Factory, Cre8tiv, and Apso. For more information, visit www.tricycleinc.com.