His success at the helm since 2019 has proven to be a very natural one—as Popco and its mission have endured in his family for more than four decades.
ST. LOUIS PARK, MN, February 09, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Elihu Benjamin Washburne Wear has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
As the president and owner of Popco, Inc.—a point-of-purchase display parts manufacturer and distributor—Elihu Benjamin Washburne Wear prides himself in his company's innovative products and dedication to excellent customer service. His success at the helm since 2019 has proven to be a very natural one—as Popco and its mission have endured in his family for more than four decades.
His father, Philip A. Wear, has been in the industry since he left the Korean War in the early 1950s, around which point he introduced a new product, Dove soap, to his local community by driving around the South, knocking on mom and pop stores, and assembling displays of the soaps in the different businesses. When Mr. Wear was born, his father was finding success as the program manager for the Encyclopedia Britannica while his mother, Sidney, was a Harvard graduate advancing in the corporate world. His father founded Popco, Inc. in Minnesota in 1979 while his son was a student at the Blake School; upon graduation, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Stout, ultimately earning a Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1987. Three years later, in 1990, he obtained a certificate of completion at the Academy of Accountancy.
Prior to joining the family business, Mr. Wear worked as a janitor and operated The Washburne Company, a personal business he has had since 1982. However, in 1994, he became the co-owner of Popco and found success and his professional calling as warehouse operations manager, handling display component parts for the company, overseeing operations, filling orders, and shipping; he maintained this role until 2019 when he bought his brother out and became the principal owner of the business. Under his leadership, he has steered the redesign of the company website, hired a sales and marketing vice president and a business development head, and has been most excited by the molding and injections tools that have helped to manufacture innovative solutions and parts in a short period of time—including a new mold being made in China to be sent to Wisconsin to make "Made in the USA" injection molded fastener parts. This overall has lent to the company's approach to be problem-solvers for its clients—which include printers, retailers, and display companies—by providing displays that are head-turning, original, and durable. Looking toward the future of Popco, Mr. Wear hopes to reach $4 million in sales and then grow beyond that; even with reduced sales at the moment, it is still expanding.
Outside of his primary responsibilities, Mr. Wear has been active in his community over the years. In business and in life, his motto has always been, "Start early, get it finished, and move onto the next one." In addition, he lives by the Lawrence D. Bell quote, "Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things, and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things."
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