FROM FRIENDS TO FOUNDERS

By: Jason Franklin, Co-Founder of Sportiqe

In celebration of International Friendship Day it only makes sense to celebrate the friendship that started Sportiqe. Matt and I both grew up in the apparel world. I started selling Matt hats and clothes when he was working for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks Team shops. There are some people that you meet right away and just click, and know that you’re going to be friends with this person for life. Matt was one of those people.

We became fast friends outside of work and would spend countless times in AZ playing golf, going to sporting events, and conversing over lunches & dinners. Over this time together, we both felt that we were hitting glass ceilings in our respective jobs. We both felt strongly that there was a need for an elevated apparel option for the “fan”. Fast forward several years later we decided to bridge the gap between fashion and classic sportswear and started Sportiqe.

I was given some good advice on looking for a business partner. Find someone who is good at what you’re not. I knew that I could help with sales, marketing, and even help with the creative. 

In celebration of International Friendship Day it only makes sense to celebrate the friendship that started Sportiqe. Matt and I both grew up in the apparel world. I started selling Matt hats and clothes when he was working for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks Team shops. There are some people that you meet right away and just click, and know that you’re going to be friends with this person for life. Matt was one of those people.

In celebration of International Friendship Day it only makes sense to celebrate the friendship that started Sportiqe. Matt and I both grew up in the apparel world. I started selling Matt hats and clothes when he was working for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks Team shops. There are some people that you meet right away and just click, and know that you’re going to be friends with this person for life. Matt was one of those people.

We became fast friends outside of work and would spend countless times in AZ playing golf, going to sporting events, and conversing over lunches & dinners. Over this time together, we both felt that we were hitting glass ceilings in our respective jobs. We both felt strongly that there was a need for an elevated apparel option for the “fan”. Fast forward several years later we decided to bridge the gap between fashion and classic sportswear and started Sportiqe.

I was given some good advice on looking for a business partner. Find someone who is good at what you’re not. I knew that I could help with sales, marketing, and even help with the creative. 


In celebration of International Friendship Day it only makes sense to celebrate the friendship that started Sportiqe. Matt and I both grew up in the apparel world. I started selling Matt hats and clothes when he was working for the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks Team shops. 

However, the actual day to day operations of a business and managing people was pretty foreign to me. Matt was a perfect compliment. Even though we compliment each other well, we still continue to evolve our partnership and friendship. In our own unique ways. We adhere to the same values that we have set up for SPORTIQE; having a can do attitude, respect for people, evolving with a growth and learning mindset, being integral, having fun and getting it done with teamwork.

I think it’s important to note that Matt and I don’t always agree. We come at things a lot of times from completely different angles, which is a good thing. We have some pretty intense conversations. Someone at our office recently called us “Fire and Ice”. Those that know us can figure out which one is which :-). 

That said, at the end of the day, we always come back to the same thing with the same common goal. We always want what’s best for Sportiqe, and the extended Sportiqe family. After it’s all said and done, we’re always friends and brothers. We will always continue our journey of making sure everyone in this world Roams In Sportiqe Comfort!

There are some people that you meet right away and just click, and know that you’re going to be friends with this person for life. Matt was one of those people. We became fast friends outside of work and would spend countless times in AZ playing golf, going to sporting events, and conversing over lunches & dinners. Over this time together, we both felt that we were hitting glass ceilings in our respective jobs. We both felt strongly that there was a need for an elevated apparel option for the “fan”. Fast forward several years later we decided to bridge the gap between fashion and classic sportswear and started Sportiqe. I was given some good advice on looking for a business partner. Find someone who is good at what you’re not. I knew that I could help with sales, marketing, and even help with the creative.  

However, the actual day to day operations of a business and managing people was pretty foreign to me. Matt was a perfect compliment. Even though we compliment each other well, we still continue to evolve our partnership and friendship. In our own unique ways. We adhere to the same values that we have set up for SPORTIQE; having a can do attitude, respect for people, evolving with a growth and learning mindset, being integral, having fun and getting it done with teamwork.

I think it’s important to note that Matt and I don’t always agree. We come at things a lot of times from completely different angles, which is a good thing. We have some pretty intense conversations. Someone at our office recently called us “Fire and Ice”. Those that know us can figure out which one is which :-). 

That said, at the end of the day, we always come back to the same thing with the same common goal. We always want what’s best for Sportiqe, and the extended Sportiqe family. After it’s all said and done, we’re always friends and brothers. We will always continue our journey of making sure everyone in this world Roams In Sportiqe Comfort!

Happy International Friendship Day!

- Jason Franklin