There is a new sports apparel fad arising across Oklahoma - and it's Big Time. The skinny, long limbed, cartoon that is Big Time's sports apparel logo has been given a lot of attention in the last few years. The logo is a cartoon character based on the defensive stance in basketball. Big Time clothing apparel has begun its rise to popularity, slowly becoming known across Oklahoma and creeping into Texas. The company began three years ago and was founded by an OU graduate. Wayman Tisdale, former OU basketball player and former NBA player, is part owner and is on the Board of Directors for Big Time.Big Time provides uniforms and sports apparel for the OU women's softball, basketball and volleyball teams. It also provides the apparel for the OU men's baseball team and the polo club. Drew Pudduck, Big Time's director of marketing and advertising, works with the different sports teams and coaches to help with brand exposure."Big Time builds its rapport by building personal relationships with each individual team," Pudduck said. "Most sports apparel companies are so big they do not focus on the personal aspect of selling. To really sell a product you have to form a personal relationship/friendship." Pudduck said that Big Time tries to control its growth. It doesn't want to expand too quickly and then lose the relationships it has with its current customers. "We try to be very prompt in everything that we do," Pudduck said."If you want uniforms, you get them the next day. We are very on top of things." This year, Big Time moved out of the OU realm and became the provider for the uniforms for the Texas Tech football team."We, at Big Time, are very pro-Oklahoma, but we have to play it safe and be in favor of other teams as well," Pudduck said. Aric Thomas, OU assistant baseball coach, said his experience with Big Time has been nothing but great."The products that have been provided by Big Time have been outstanding. The new uniforms make our guys look better, and that makes our program as a whole look better," Thomas said.The Big Time clothing line includes uniforms, sideline apparel, outerwear, T-shirts, sweats, headwear and some bags.It can alter colors to match a particular school's colors. Big Time's office space has been expanding in the last year.It recently bought the Batter's Box, a building located in downtown Norman, and the company is planning a total renovation.Pudduck performs many promotions for Big Time that are open to anyone that wants to attend. He even drives a promotional car, a PT-Cruiser, with the Big Time logo plastered on the side."We have all sorts of events throughout the year," Pudduck said. "During football season we have a Big Time tail gate party, and we have other fun things going on all of the time. Everyone should come out and see what Big Time is all about." Steve Hare, Big Time's director of operations, said the renovation is going to work wonders for the company."We now have a full line catalog, and in the new warehouse we will have a new retail area which will be opened to the public," Hare said.With all of the talk of sports apparel these days, one may begin to wonder why Big Time has an advantage compared to other companies.Hare said that the quality of their products is the No. 1 reason."When you look team-wise, you know that it has to work for the athlete's bottom line before anything else," Hare said. "We make sure that customer service takes care of each team's or a customer's needs as soon as they are expressed." Visit the Big Time Web site at http://www.bigtimesports.com/.hello there & you too
