Company Profile

Chairman: Ronald T. Jedlinski

President/CEO: Daniel W. Loughman

Roman, Inc. is a leading producer and exclusive distributor of more than 4,000 gifts and decorative accessories. Among the largest privately owned and operated firms in the industry, Roman offers a vast array of Christmas decorations and a wide range of inspirational, special occasion, and year-round giftware. In addition, Roman is known for its award-winning collections that include the Fontanini® Heirloom Nativity®, the Joseph's Studio™ Collection, the Millenium® Collection, the Valencia™ Collection, Seraphim Classics®:, and Jingle Buddies®. Roman products are sold through specialty retailers, upscale department stores, select mail-order catalogs, gift shops and internet sites.

History

In operation for more than 45 years, Roman Inc. is the inspiration of Ron Jedlinski. His business was born in 1963 with $500 and an old station wagon full of inspirational products. With a family background in retailing - his father operated Roman's Art and Gift Shop - it was nearly inevitable that Jedlinski would enter the giftware field. With an office behind his father's store, Jedlinski christened his company Roman's Religious Goods in honor of his father who had given his blessing to the venture. He quickly carved his niche in the religious articles and giftware marketplace, and subsequently expanded into wedding, anniversary, baby, christening, and retirement products. As his organization grew, the company evolved into Roman Religious Goods, Inc., followed by the current Roman, Inc. Ownership and management of the company is being passed onto the next generation of the Jedlinski family. Ron's daughter, Julie, is co-owner and serves on the Family Board, with her husband, Dan Loughman, who is the company's President and Chief Executive Officer. Julie's mother, Diane, is also co-owner and serves on the Family Board.

Christmas Trim and Lighting

As part of the Company's constant effort to expand product selections for its customers' benefit, Roman boldly entered the dynamic Christmas decor marketplace in 1991. Creative themed collections with attractive price points have built a solid reputation for Roman in Christmas trim. Each year the Company's Christmas brand presents over 1,000 new designs in holiday trim, ornamentation, and functional decor. In 1993, Roman decided to enter the growing market of prelighted artificial Christmas trees and lights. Roman enjoyed success in this category for many years, but found in 2006, many companies joined into the mix and the prelighted artificial tree was quickly becoming a commodity, along with basic Christmas lighting. Entering 2007, Roman eliminated commodity items from its Roman Lights selection, and continues to focus efforts on exclusive, creative products such as Bubble Night Lights, Ornamotors and Yard Art.

Collectible Gifts

In 1979 Roman debuted the "Adoration" plate by Fra. Filippo Lippi which was initially viewed as a religious wall plaque. Within six weeks, all 5,000 plates were sold and Roman was in the collectibles business. Over the past three decades, Roman has introduced various collectible lines from artists such as Frances Hook, Abbie Williams and Gaylord Ho, creator of the Seraphim Classics line. Roman continues to develop products in various lines for the collector to enjoy and pass down through the generations.

Fontanini® Heirloom Nativity®

During the company's tenure in collectibles, few lines have sustained growth like the Fontanini Heirloom Nativity, which has been exclusively distributed by Roman since 1973. With this world-famous name in Italian craftsmanship, Roman positioned itself as the single North American source for the sought-after collection, prized for its lifelike sculpting, meticulous hand painting and attention to detail. The Fontanini product line includes figures and accompanying structures in seven different sizes ranging from tiny miniatures to truly life-size (70" tall) pieces; and a wide selection of ornaments, musicals, and other gifts featuring Fontanini art.

Joseph's Studio ™

In 2005, Roman began working with a new artist discovered at a trade fair. What caught Roman's eye was his talent for renaissance style sculpting and painting. This was the beginning of what is now well known as the Joseph's Studio line. Joseph was educated in art and art history at the renowned Xian University in China, and his studio is now home for dozens of additional artists who are masterful sculptors and painters. The Joseph's Studio line focuses mainly on inspirational figures and garden statuary. His portrayal of Jesus, various Saints and garden cherubs and angels is unique in style and is highly respected and sought after in the religious industry. Joseph's talents have also been applied to Roman's Christmas line, where he has created a number of collections involving Santa, Snowmen and Angel figurines.

The Millenium Collection®

In 1992 Roman, Inc. debuted the Millenium Collection, a perfect commemoration of the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Long before many of its competitors acknowledged the coming millennium, Roman partnered with Italy's Faro Studios to create "Silent Night", a 2,000-piece limited edition bas-relief plate that celebrated the forthcoming momentous turn of the calendar page. The design was based on an intricately detailed silhouette by the famed Dominican Nun, Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, whose extraordinary scissor-cuttings were widely published from the 1930s through the 1970s. Responding to the success of the first two plates, the depictions of Mary and the Infant Jesus were applied to limited edition ornaments in 1994. In 1996, Roman invited Master Sculptor Gaylord Ho to share his gift with Millenium collectors through fully dimensional open stock figures. By December 31, 2000, when the brand's series of sought-after limited edition plates and ornaments came to conclusion, Millenium's Christmas designs, open edition figures, and general gifts were well established in the marketplace. It commemorates joyful occasions with a number of wedding and anniversary items, and offers comfort during difficult times with figural gifts designed as thoughtful expressions of sympathy.

The Seraphim Classics Collection®

Roman introduced the Seraphim Classics Collection in 1994 shortly before a contemporary renaissance of angels in art, literature, and entertainment began. Inspired by more than 2,000 years of writings and works of art, Roman once again partnered with Master Sculptor Gaylord Ho to create modern interpretations of the world's most beautiful angels. In addition to possessing an extraordinary artistic gift, Ho shares with Roman the unwavering commitment to the creation of angels whose ethereal beauty touches the furthest reaches of the imagination. The first angels created by Ho in 1994 possessed a celestial beauty never seen before, and each year the Collection reaches new heights in craftsmanship and design. Now recognized by many as the standard by which all angel designs are measured, the Seraphim Classics Collection has earned 16 of the most coveted industry awards including five Achievement Awards from the National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED), eight Collector Editions' Awards of Excellence, and three Best of Show Awards from the International Collectible Exposition.

The Valencia Collection®

Since 1980, the Valencia Collection, exclusively by Roman, has been counted among the Company's signature brands. It is crafted of glazed porcelain and hand-painted in the palest of hues. A testimony to the Company's roots in religious merchandise, Valencia includes portrayals of Jesus, biblical figures and saints. Also reflective of the organization's long history in gifts, Valencia includes a variety of themes designed to meet the needs of those gift-shopping for loved ones and friends. Sculpted by Gaylord Ho, the Valencia Collection has been twice honored with Collector Editions Awards of Excellence.

Corporate Facilities

With four corporate showrooms throughout the United States (Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles), international showrooms in Australia, Canada and Mexico, and a sales force dedicated exclusively to Roman products and retailers, the company is a shining example of the vitality of the American dream. Roman's office and warehouse facilities are currently located in Bloomingdale, IL.

Awards and Honors

Well-respected in the giftware industry, Roman has garnered numerous prestigious awards. In 2007, Roman received the Turnaround of the Year Award from the Chicago Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association. Three times in the recent past, NALED has honored Roman as the Vendor of the Year. In 2004, 2003 and 2001, the Company was selected by the association's membership of specialty retailers as the manufacturer that best served the industry by providing superior products and by responding effectively to retailers' needs. Roman earned the number one ranking for its customer service an amazing 6 consecutive years from Giftbeat, a leading gift and collectibles trade publication. Recognizing outstanding commitment, leadership and dedication to the collectibles industry, NALED awarded a Golden Award of Honor to Ron Jedlinski in 2002. In addition, Jedlinski was honored with the 1999 Humanitarian of the Year Award by The Sunshine Foundation¨; the 1998 Illinois Family Business of the Year Award; the 1996 DuPage Businessperson of the Year Award; and, the 1995 International Collectible Exposition Achievement Award. In 1993, Jedlinski was inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame honoring the brightest and best independent business leaders in the Chicago area. Following finalist awards in 1990 and 1991 in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards program, Jedlinski garnered the 1992 "Master Entrepreneur" honor for the Illinois and Northwest Indiana area.

Beginning with one man's vision and merely a few hundred dollars, Roman has evolved into an extraordinarily successful organization. The company's innovative, high-quality designs present a diverse assortment of products that together create memorable environments with a true sense of celebration. These products paired with the enthusiastic support of dedicated personnel have allowed Roman to continue to meet and exceed customer requirements in an extremely competitive marketplace.