Celebrating our 10th Anniversary and Inc. 5000

UPDATE: Stretch Shapes is proud to announce that we earned a spot on the Inc 5000 list for a second consecutive year in 2020. Among the 5000 companies recognized for rapid growth, Stretch Shapes ranked #2941. Thank you for contributing to our success!

It’s been an exciting year for us here at Stretch Shapes – marking our 10th anniversary with awards, expansion, and plenty of new products. We are excited to share the updates, knowing that you are the reason we’ve made it this far!

When our imaginative leader and CEO, Niko Mantele set out to create Stretch Shapes, his goal was to provide creative solutions for event professionals. His first design was a metal frame and stretch fabric mandala at Burning Man in 2006, and the idea for Stretch Shapes was born from there.

Officially founded in 2009, our mission is to provide AV and Live Event Professionals with reliable, compact, and innovative solutions from fabrics that stretch. And it has been an honor to do so for the past decade!

We’re passionate about creating beautiful experiences through exceptional event decor, and that drive has given us a chance to be behind the scenes for everything from corporate events to renowned music festivals, professional golf tournaments to distinguished international conferences. Over the years, some staff favorites have included the visually stunning scenic design for Ajijaak on Turtle Island with IBEX Puppetry and the gargantuan Curved Borderless Projection Screen for the Our Ocean Conference

Growth & Expansion

This year, in order to keep up with the growing demand for Stretch Shapes products, we expanded our warehouse – taking our total space up to 5 of the 8 bays. Addressing our continued expansion and growth at an all-team Town Hall, Mantele laughed, “We’ll keep going until we take over the building! But really, it can be very challenging to go through rapid growth – scaling up in a creative field and maintaining a people-first approach, while continuing to innovate is not an easy feat. And I have to say, our growth and success is because of you – the team, who continued to live by our values while going through a major growth spurt.”

And we keep growing! It’s hard to believe that 10 years ago, our company started with a team of only 3 people. With 14 new hires joining us so far this year, our team has grown to a total of 34 people – nearly doubling from the year before, and with more still to come!

Inc. 5000 – America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

We are also thrilled to be recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies of 2019. Ranking No. 1186 on the list of 5000 businesses, and ranked No. 9 of Fastest-Growing Companies in Oregon, this accolade is a testament to the confidence and trust our clients have placed in us. With 3-year growth at a rate of 349%, it’s clear to see that we couldn’t do it without you!

New Products and Updates

When Stretch Shapes began, flagship products included Flat Panel Sails and Truss Covers, but our product offerings grow with every year. Taking our values of engagement, learning, and innovation seriously, we’ve used the knowledge and expertise you share with us to launch 5 new products in 2019 alone. Check out the gallery below to see the new products and learn about each one.

Whether you’re in need of reliable Truss Covers, searching for fully customized Stage Set Designs, or have an idea you’re not sure how to implement, we are always ready to roll out the red carpet service for you – listening with care to help you find the solutions you need.

What’s next on our agenda? CEO Niko Mantele speaks on behalf of our future goals, “As we move into our next phase, likely doubling again in the years to come, our goal is to stay relevant by continuing to innovate customer-based solutions. We are always seeking to learn and refusing to stagnate – we’ll never have the approach that good is good enough. Our clients need outstanding, contemporary solutions, and we will continue to aim for excellence!”

Soon we’ll be rolling out a Design Lab where product prototypes and new ideas can be reviewed by you. Already have some ideas in mind? Send us an email at [email protected] and we’ll add them to the mix. Or, to stay up to date on all the latest news and product releases.

Thank you for being part of our success and inspiring us to keep going, and growing!

Reliable, compact, and innovative solutions from fabrics that stretch.