On Alan Vaught’s final day at Evans Manufacturing (asi/52840), employees lined the parking lot to applaud him and wish him well. Some were crying as their longtime leader embarked upon a well-earned retirement, sad to see him go.

The outpouring of appreciation is a testament to Vaught’s career and character.

An inventor, entrepreneur, get-his-hands-dirty executive and adventurer who loves flying planes and sailing boats, Vaught co-founded and then built Evans into one of the most successful and respected companies in the promotional products industry over an accolade-filled 31-year journey.

He sold the former Counselor Top 40 supplier to current Top 40 firm HPG (asi/61966) in 2023 and then retired, having built a legacy as a trailblazer and one of promo’s most influential leaders (marked by 15 consecutive appearances on the Counselor Power 50 list).

“Alan has had a profound impact on our industry and on everyone fortunate enough to know him personally,” says promo veteran Alan Tabasky, president at BEL Promo (asi/39552), a Counselor Best Place to Work. “I’ve never encountered a single supplier who hasn’t spoken incredibly highly of him – he’s universally respected and admired. Whether it was sharing insights, offering guidance or simply being available, Alan consistently showed generosity and openness with suppliers and distributors alike.”

Serendipity Strikes

Evans started in Southern California as an injection-molding company, selling a product it had created – a still-popular item known today as the “Keep-it Clip.” In the early days, Vaught slept on the factory floor to ensure machines ran through the night.

The firm originally focused on retail, but that changed when a chance meeting led a sales pro to offer to sell custom-branded Keep-it Clips to end-clients. Vaught wasn’t really interested and didn’t think much of the offer, but gave the green light. Things took off almost immediately.

“He sold more in a week than we had in two years,” recalls Vaught. “From that point on, we shifted focus to design products for promo – products built with imprint areas in mind, with the goal of delivering real value. What started as a side opportunity had revealed itself as the right path.”

Over the years, Vaught and the Evans team brought countless new products to market, including patented items. It was always a thrill, especially when an item took off – like the time Evans sold 2.5 million beverage wrench bottle openers in one month.

“Watching our team grow, take initiative and collaborate across departments has been the most rewarding part of my career.”Alan Vaught, Evans Manufacturing (asi/52840)

“I just love making stuff,” Vaught says. “You start with scratching out something on paper. Then you make a mold and produce it – and people actually want to buy it. It’s incredible. It never got old for me.”

Vaught cut his own trail too when it came to where those products were produced. In an era when promo and other industries were offshoring manufacturing to China and Asia en masse, Vaught established a supply chain closer to home – anticipating the nearshoring trend of recent years with its emphasis on speed to market and less supply line risk.

To wit, Evans set up a still-vibrant factory in Nogales, Mexico, that focused on cut-and-sew products and decoration, while the firm’s facility in Garden Grove, CA, handled true Made-in-the-USA injection molding and blow molding of products. It was a powerful one-two production punch.

“Being in Mexico and California gave us the ability to be more involved and hands on,” says Vaught, who’d fly himself down to Mexico for frequent factory visits. “Together, the facilities form an effective system.”

‘Alan Inspired All of Us’

For Vaught, Evans’ people were even more important than production and products. He knew the firm would only have success if fueled by committed, empowered employees that cared about the company and its customers, taking pride in their work. That’s just the type of culture that existed at Evans under Vaught – a fact evidenced by the firm being the highest-ranking large company on Counselor’s Best Place to Work List in 2022, the last full year Vaught was in charge.

“Alan inspired all of us to be the best we could be, and he inspired and challenged everyone to have a winning drive to make Evans the best,” says Roxane Fuller, who worked with Vaught for five years as chief financial officer at Evans. She shares that it was common for Vaught to jump in with tasks and collaborate with engineers and factory workers on process improvements. During his time as owner, “he walked around the company like an employee,” says Fuller. “His humble genuineness, generosity and down-to-earth style built loyalty.”

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“Alan has had a profound impact on our industry and on everyone fortunate enough to know him personally.”Alan Tabasky, BEL Promo (asi/39552)

It cut Vaught to the quick when COVID-19 prompted widespread temporary layoffs at Evans. To this day he wells with tears mentioning it. Still, his fast-thinking and adept leadership enabled the company to swiftly pivot to producing face masks in Mexico and face shields in California. That allowed for mass rehiring of workers – and a nearly 40% year-over-year revenue increase between 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.

“Watching our team grow, take initiative and collaborate across departments has been the most rewarding part of my career,” says Vaught. “Every real success we’ve had has come from shared effort. We built a culture where people care about the details and care about each other.”

As Vaught looked to retire, he wanted to ensure Evans’ future. It was a key reason he sold the firm to HPG. “It was a real validation of our team’s work,” Vaught says. “HPG’s disciplined approach and high standards made it especially meaningful.”

Says HPG CEO and Counselor Power 50 member Chris Anderson: “Alan has been the consummate partner, and the Evans/HPG team’s biggest supporter, in his transition from owner-operator of Evans to HPG shareholder. He possesses an innate humility, which, matched with an inquisitive, bright mind, makes him a very effective leader.”

Sitting waterside in a marina, palm trees swaying gently in the background and boats gently bobbing on the calm water, Vaught reflects quietly for a moment when asked for final thoughts about his time in promo. True to form, it’s not himself that comes to mind.

“What’s very rewarding is seeing the progress the Evans team continues to make,” he says. “It’s exciting to see the company move forward – well beyond my tenure – and to know it’s in such capable hands.”