"We're going to do 200 million dollars this year. Follow the next mixed martial arts company that supposedly say they are a mixed martial arts company and if they do a couple of million dollars, I would be surprised. We just continue to stay focused on TapouT, we don't look at other people, and we just continue to do what we're doing. We feel that if we're looking at others, then we're not doing our job right. We feel the key to our team and the key to our success to our TapouT family is that we are a family. We're a family with over 160 employees," stated Marc Kreiner, President of TapouT, as he talked about their relationship with fighters, the UFC, their future plans and much more. Check it out!
PC: I know you're a busy man, so I appreciate your time. How are you doing?
MK: Everything is going good out here.
PC: I understand you are a great entrepreneur. What did you see in the TapouT guys to make you want to get involved?
MK: Well, what I saw in TapouT with my partners was a vision that I had early on in my career with a couple of artists and producers that ended up being responsible for like 80% of all disco music around the world. They had a vision of being the biggest and the best and when I met Mask, Punkass and Skrape, they had this vision for this new sport. They told me it was going to be bigger than boxing and a world-wide sport and I just believed them. I had that same feeling when I got into the music industry.
PC: TapouT has been around for as long as MMA has. What are the keys to longevity in the field that you guys are in?
MK: I think the longevity in the sport of mixed martial arts is the athlete; the belief and the support of the sport and the UFC backing the biggest and the best. Also, backing new fighters coming up and really believing in the athlete and I really believe that there is a lot of talent that just continues to flourish and come up. And with our support of these athletes, we believe this sport will be around for a long time.
PC: MMA clothing companies come and go every day. What sets TapouT apart from other lines?
MK: Most important thing that you have to remember is TapouT is the authentic brand. TapouT is the Nike of the sport. We've been around for 12 years. We support mixed martial arts 100% with all of our fighters, with all of our supporters and with all of our marketing, unlike other companies that have stumbled with other areas that they have gone after, other sports or accessories, which we absolutely respect. But unfortunately, the media, and more importantly the public, is really under this phenomenon of mixed martial arts, so because there has been this big movement, you have other companies trying to say they are mixed martial arts companies. On our side, we support the athlete and the sport, whether they win or lose. They always win in our eyes. We don't give up on people. It's healthy to have other brands out there, but in time, as you've seen already, they come and they go and that's it for them. We concentrate on TapouT; being the biggest and the best. We're going to do 200 million dollars this year. Follow the next mixed martial arts company that supposedly say they are a mixed martial arts company and if they do a couple of million dollars, I would be surprised. We just continue to stay focused on TapouT, we don't look at other people, and we just continue to do what we're doing. We feel that if we're looking at others, then we're not doing our job right. We feel the key to our team and the key to our success to our TapouT family is that we are a family. We're a family with over 160 employees.
PC: You don't see many guys that can work a crowd like the TapouT crew. How important is it that you guys remain personable and relate to the fans the way you have thus far?
MK: Our whole company is based around the fans and the fighters. As we speak, Punkass and Skrape are on a world-wide tour through America. They're taking the bus out and we're going to all of the cities across America that nobody goes through. We're going through the cities that have been hit hard with the recession; we're going supporting, shaking hands and we're passing out TapouT gear and taking the fighters out with us. We're doing what nobody else is doing at TapouT! We're on a grass roots tour. That's what we believe it's all about, going to the street, and that's who we are.
PC: I'm sure your phone rings off the hook with managers and fighters looking for sponsorship. What is the process behind you guys getting that accomplished and sponsoring fighters?
MK: Well, fortunately we're very blessed to have Punkass' brother, who handles all of the fighters and he takes care of all of the sponsorships. He takes every call and every email that comes in and we look at every fighter to see what we can do to support them. Sometimes it's just a matter of passing on some gear and it's our pleasure to do that.
PC: How disheartening was the loss of Mask, not just as a friend, but also the value that he brought to the company?
MK: Anytime you have a visionary that you lose, it's a major loss, but we believe in Mask's dream and his dream would have been for us to keep moving forward and supporting the fighters and building this billion dollar company, which was his dream, and that's what we're in the process of doing. We're just following his vision.
PC: One thing that you guys are doing differently than other companies is having Bobby Razak on the team. He has been making some great short films for you guys. How valuable is Razak to the team?
MK: Bobby Razak, in our opinion, is one of those gems. He's a magical gem. We believe Bobby is one of the more talented producers in the world today, not just in America, but in the world. As time goes by, his name will be a household name. He's a very big believer in mixed martial arts, he's a talented man and he's very well-loved and we love him very much.
PC: It only seems fitting that the most successful apparel company is embedded with the most successful organization in the sport. What is the relationship like between you and the UFC?
MK: The relationship between the UFC and TapouT is like family. We're one big family. When you talk about mixed martial arts, you talk about 2 names that are synonymous with the sport, the UFC and TapouT, and it just speaks for itself.
PC: You guys have been around for a long time and I'm sure could break barriers with the cost of your gear, but you guys keep it reasonable with your pricing. How important is that?
MK: You have to always remember that our number one focus is to support the fighters and the fans, so we do the best that we can to keep it all reasonable for our fans because TapouT represents our fans and we always want to keep it available to as many people as we can.
PC: Marc, I know you are a busy man, so I appreciate your time. From what I hear, I could give you $10 and you can turn it into a million, so let me know where I can ship the $10 to (laughing). Is there anything you want to say in closing?
MK: (Laughing) Well, I appreciate all of the support. We love you guys and we appreciate everything.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]