http://www.sfltimes.com/finance/local-entrepreneurs-realize-their-super-bowl-dreams
Rivera Beach, Fla. Super Bowl LIV is behind us. But the memories of the biggest sports event in the world will live on forever. The thriller of a game; the most tweeted and history- making halftime show featuring two Latinas, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira; and the moving rendition of America the Beautiful sung by Gospel Superstar Yolanda Adams-they were all showstoppers. And judging the chatter on every media platform in the land since Sunday night, Super Bowl LIV was magnificent in every way. But there’s a Riviera Beach man, Delano Allen, and his partner Star Rice, who had even more reason to be thrilled with the world’s most celebrated sports event: his company landed a contract for the Super Bowl, and last weekend he and Rice saw one of their dreams come true. Their company, FlippyMagz, LLC is the first ever to produce a reversible sports magnet. The novel invention has made a hit in the sports world and on university campuses nationwide. And after getting partnerships and licensing agreements with major colleges and universities as well as The Orange Bowl, the biggest event in sports history the Super Bowl, came calling for FlippyMagz. It was a huge score for Allen and Rice, whose company was founded in 2014. “This opportunity is awesome as FlippyMagz now connects our reversible magnet to globally-recognized brands like the Super Bowl, one of the largest business entertainment companies in the world,” said Allen, who was a standout football athlete in high school then college. But when Allen realized the NFL was no longer on the radar, the Riviera Beach man turned to his entrepreneurial spirit. He created the reversible sports magnet during his last year in college in Alabama. His first clientele for the magnet was his high school alma mater, William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach County. From there the company solidified partnerships with many major universities in Florida, Georgia, Alabama and beyond. Now, he and Rice have just wrapped up their deal with the Super Bowl LIV Host Committee, which bought about 1,000 specially designed magnets from the pair. They anticipate being involved again next year as well. They intend to leverage this accomplishment and turn their sights to NFL licensing. Rice says to apply for the licensing they need $100,000. But like always they intend to break through more barriers and achieve that next dream one magnet at a time. They are seeking donations and investors for the venture. “We’re now crowd-funding and asking for anyone who wants to make pledges or contributions to our efforts,” Rice said. FlippyMagz has already caught the attention of some big names: Shark Tank’s Daymond John is a supporter as well as Heisman Trophy Winner Charlie Ward, and Hall of Fame Coach Bobby Bowden. Many other noted celebrities and athletes have signed and autographed their magnets. But this was their first foray into a partnership with the Super Bowl! Allen described the experience as “sweet!” The entrepreneurs have made it to the biggest sports stage but say the sky is truly the limit for FlippyMagz!
http://www.sfltimes.com/news/historic-soccer-deal-is-born
Riviera Beach, Fla. – A “Star" is born in a Major League Soccer historic business deal! Star Rice and Delano Allen, the awesome duo that produces FlippyMagz, the nation’s first and only reversible sports magnet, have done it again. In 2020, these two brazen entrepreneurs inked a contract with Super Bowl LIV. Now they’ve amassed a historical deal with Major League Soccer (MLS) thanks to Rice. She pursued soccer relentlessly, and kept on ticking despite being turned down twice. The third time was clearly a charm. “We ended up getting the All-Star celebration!” said Rice, upon returning from Los Angeles along with Allen, where the AllStar game and festivities were held last week. The young entrepreneurs from Riviera Beach, contracted with MLS to design three reversible sports magnets with the MLS and All-Star logos for VIP gift bags and other events. It was a landmark deal. Major League Soccer is on the cusp of a major diversity program, and it was the first deal ever with a minority owned business such as FlippyMagz, which bears a reversible magnet. MLS has utilized other promotional companies but none with the special reversible signature as FlippyMagz. It was a first for both entities. FLIPPYMAGZ, FROM 1A Jamie Batey, Senior Manager (MLS) Commissioner’s Office, League Events, says FlippyMagz is a class act. “As the first ever reversible magnet, FlippyMagz provides MLS fans the versatility to showcase their fandom in unique ways. The custom designs and creative process from FlippyMagz is second to none and their detailed approach to collaboration was first class.” Likewise, Rice said Batey couldn’t have been a better MLS representative to work with on the project. But Rice said nothing great comes easy. “We went through at least 20 designs to get to the end. It was quite challenging but worth every second,” said Rice, who hails from the Tampa/St. Petersburg area but now resides in Palm Beach County. Meanwhile Allen, the brain behind the company, is from Riviera Beach and was a standout football player at William T. Dwyer High School class of 2005. He got the idea of FlippyMagz while playing football in college. Rice points out that Allen is a prime example that the NFL is not the only road to success. The two also have a legendary deal with Circle K stores for their reversible college magnets. Their product is now in upwards of 50 of the popular stores throughout Florida and Georgia. Allen says their faith has been important in the process. Spiritual Mentor and Adviser, Johnathan McFadden has been a key factor in their success. “It’s an honor and a privilege he felt led to pull me in. We pray throughout the day,” said McFadden, who was also Allen’s defensive coach in high school. “All they have to do is stay focused. I believe this is only the beginning.” Meanwhile MLS’s Batey says she looks forward to working with Flippy-Magz in the future. “FlippyMagz is an incredible product and business. We are thankful not only to team up with FlippyMagz for our All-Star Game presented by Target, but also to include them on our registry of minority owned businesses for our soccer community to leverage their expertise and well manufactured products in the future,” said Batey, who’s been with MLS three years, and with the NBA prior to that. “It has been a wonderful experience working with FlippyMagz and we will certainly look for opportunities to include additional products into our future events.” Rice, who is a relentless entrepreneur and businesswoman, says she is ecstatic she never gave up in her pursuit of Major League Soccer. “The third time surely was the charm!”
