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WHO WE ARE...
Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, Carab Enterprises has become a
trusted source for lapel pins and other quality emblem jewelry in
several key industries. We look forward to helping you promote or
remember your event, reward your members or employees or raise profits
for your organization. We are a family oriented business with the goal
of providing a quality product at a fair price.
Combining his first
and last names to brand the company he founded in 1989, Carroll Abrams
had more
than 50 years experience in
the advertising specialty business. Joining forces with Carroll in 2002,
Aaron Watkins brings nearly 40 years of marketing expertise to the
table. Working together for nearly ten years, they built Carab
Enterprises into the industry leader that it is today.
Carroll Abrams
was an entrepreneur before the word was ever coined. Growing up in
Bridgeport, CT, he sold magazine subscriptions and delivered more than
100 newspapers a day. He also mowed lawns and cleaned houses, developing
his business acumen and customer service skills with each endeavor.
Carroll served in the Navy, training in submarine electronics, and then
earned an Engineering Degree at the University of Connecticut. A job
with Phillips Petroleum took him to Kansas City, but Carroll soon struck
out on his own to start an advertising specialty business. In addition
to this highly successful venture, Carroll opened a sailboat business
and an innovative restaurant called The Calorie Counter. He has always
played as hard as he worked. His hobbies include swimming, golf, tennis
& skiing. He has traveled extensively around the world, including to
Scotland, where he met the love of his life,
wife Margaret. He has three children, five grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren. After surviving cancer, Carroll sold his business
and moved to
Florida. He founded Carab Enterprises as a small retirement business in
1989, but it rapidly grew into the premiere pin supplier for many
veterans organizations. Needing more time for sports, painting, writing
and rabble-rousing, Carroll brought partner Aaron Watkins into the
business in 2002 and enjoyed a fulfilling retirement. Carroll Abrams
passed away on November 1, 2011.
Aaron Watkins'
first marketing coup was obtaining an endorsement from New York Governor
Nelson Rockefeller at his lemonade stand and backyard carnival at the
tender age of 9. In 1976 he founded The Watkins Button Company, which
went on to become the premiere supplier of buttons to high school
theatre groups across the country. After successful careers as an actor
in New York and a clown with The Big Apple and Ringling Bros. Circuses,
Aaron incorporated his natural talents for promotion to form Chameleon
Marketing & Business Services. Chameleon MBS provided a wide range of
marketing and public relations services to arts and cultural
organizations. He has written material for a wide variety of companies
and events, including TV Guide, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day
Parade, Paul Newman and Element K Journals. He was educated at Ohio
University, earning a BFA in Theatre, holds a certificate in Arts
Management from the New York Cultural Council Foundation and is a
graduate of both RBBB Clown College and The Institute of Totally Useless
Skills. Aaron currently resides in Sarasota, with his lovely wife and
two cute-as-a-button daughters.
COMPANY PHILOSOPHY COMING SOON
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COMING
SOON
PRIVACY POLICY
We hate junk mail and spam as
much as
you, so we will never sell, trade or give your
information to anyone.
We may email you a special
offer 3-4 times per year
or
send a postcard or a sample 1-2 times per year.
To opt out at any time, please
unsubscribe here.
GREEN POLICY COMING SOON
AFFILIATIONS
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