In 1995 a small Huntington Beach garage was buzzing with activity. Friends were busy hand sewing wallets and handbags with scraps of Naugahyde. Characters with whimsical names like Julius and Skurvy were created to decorate these accessories, originally made as gifts. Little did this small collective know, the unprecedented excitement and interest in these adorable characters would soon thrust their little company to overnight success.
Born out of the need for a fun outlet celebrating creativity and individuality in Southern California, Paul Frank Industries (PFI) was formally incorporated in December of 1997. With its bright color palette and unique sensibilities, the company has attracted an almost cult-like following of all ages that love PFI’s witty take on every day objects. Take, for example, their use of Naugahyde. A vinyl that is more commonly associated with mid-century automobile seats, was hard to come by and completely unique to fashion accessories in 1995. Years later, Paul Frank still incorporates it into key pieces each season.
Just like their offbeat and unique product line, PFI achieved success with an unusual, almost anti-marketing approach to business. They were making their mark and Brandweek Magazine recognized the company in 2001 as “Marketers of the Next Generation”, a remarkable feat for a small start-up with a handful of employees.
As the company evolved, their plans to create fun products they wanted for themselves became a marketing plan in itself. PFI employees (young as well as young at heart – their average is 27) have always been inspired by art, music, 
architecture and entertainment. They stretched the boundries of their Southern California suburbs designing guitar straps for The White Stripes, Foo Fighters and Weezer (just to mention a few!), to special edition t-shirts for Coachella. Artistic inspirations range from classic contemporary furniture designers like Eames and Saarinen to abstract sculptor and inventor of the mobile Alexander Calder, to the infamous pop artist Andy Warhol.
The Elvis Presley Foundation and LEGO; as well as legendary American businesses John Deere, Mattel, Dr. Scholl’s and Oscar Meyer. The company’s collaboration program produced highly collectable items pre-sold before they hit stores and never reproduced.
Paul Frank Industries clothing, t-shirts and other products achieved excellent visibility. The brand appeared in numerous blockbuster films like Superbad, Knocked Up, Austin Powers, American Pie and Charlie’s Angels. From fashion and business, music and lifestyle, the media love to know what is happening at Paul Frank. Pop Stars (Hilary Duff, Avril Lavigne), punk bands (Bad Religion, The Donnas, Alkaline Trio), and indie rocks finest (The White Stripes, The Shins, Interpol, Pretty Girls Make Graves, Hot Hot Heat) all make stops at Paul Frank before heading out on tour. Actors like Jason Schwarzman, Elijah Wood, Zooey Deschanel and Michael Rapaport have been known to stop in and say hello.
The company launched its own retail division, The Paul Frank Store. Currently there are eighteen stores worldwide: Southern California, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago and New York City, as well as international locations in London, Amsterdam, Berlin, Dubai, Qatar, Bangkok, Athens, and Taipei. New stores in 2007 will open in Japan and Malaysia.
Think all that success has changed the bright, young minds at Paul Frank Industries? Hardly. For one, they’ve remembered their friends who helped them start it all. The company still makes gifts for their friends and gives back to the community. They are involved with various philanthropic endeavors that directly benefit children, the arts and the environment. They have partnered with Festival of Children, Boarding for Breast Cancer, The Elton John AIDS Foundation, First Book and The Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. Their retail division has key events throughout the year that educate and promote special causes: The Winter Coat Drive, The Annual Book Drive, Earth Day and College Nite.
Whether we are sewing custom gifts for friends, silk-screening designs on t-shirts or illustrating our latest loveable character: we are all about one thing – fun. We have been creating smiles all over the globe for ten years through our most recognized character, Julius. Combine all that with our brightly colored, mid-century inspired vision and you’ve got Paul Frank Industries.
Bright, happy colors and inspired surroundings. Humor, pleasant sarcasm and everyday cleverness. A youthful, fresh approach to just about everything. The venerable art of gift giving.
- Mary Blair
- Apple
- Charles and Ray Eames
- Walt Disney
- Alexander Girard
- Herman Miller
- Sanrio
- Frank Lloyd Wright
RYAN HEUSER
PRESIDENT
Growing up in a Southern California of aging 50s home designs and post WWII public school relics, Ryan Heuser was always fascinated by his surroundings. He enjoyed surfing and ceramics in high school, but never looked at business as a creative enterprise until he entered Chapman University and pursued marketing and communications. After graduatingon the dean’s list, Ryan learned the fashion business from Mossimo, Inc. where he directed public relations for the company’s $120 million men’s division. After four years at Mossimo, his easy-going savvy led him to start a small accessories company founded on his much loved design inspiration with a few friends in a small garage in Huntington Beach, California. In addition to providing marketing and creative direction at Paul Frank Industries, Ryan has gotten involved in restoring homes to their original mid-century design and running marathons that benefit the John Wayne Cancer Foundation. Managing a company filled with a hundred-plus twenty-somethings is no easy feat, but Ryan enjoys the fresh, creative surprises that happen every day at Paul Frank. Ryan hopes that the future will see his globally recognized character, Julius, appear to a broader audience through contemporary educational platforms and new media.
JOHN OSWALD
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
John Oswald discovered his entrepreneurial nature early on. In Scottsdale, Arizona, with his daily paper route, lawn cutting, car washing and golf ball sales, John showed a penchant for numbers and the deal. At 14 years old, John left Arizona and entered the fantasy world of Newport Beach, California. Football and beach volleyball became pastimes and his interest in business continued to grow. After graduating from San Diego State University with a degree in Finance he started two independent venture capital companies. In 1997, he met Ryan Heuser through mutual friends and joined him in that fabled small garage – it has been a non-stop ride ever since. John early on created the platform for Paul Frank’s overall business structure. He quickly moved on to developing The Paul Frank Retail Stores and implementing operations structures not only for the company’s headquarters in Costa Mesa, but for each international store and distributorship. John’s passion for leadership and creative business principles has created a positive work environment for the young employees at Paul Frank. He owns one of the company’s favorite dogs, Bella, and had a dog park built so employees could bring their canine loved ones to work. He continues to enjoy beach volleyball, but has left football behind for snowboarding and golf. John continues to lay the groundwork for the company’s new expansions as Julius and many of the company’s other loved characters appear in numerous media properties.
