AKT EnterprisesHome

Via Winter Park Observer

By Tina Russell
Observer Staff

It was two weeks before her friend's bachelorette party. Rena Tchekmeian had scoured the Internet in hopes of finding a place that could print 10 shirts before the trip.

The design was specific: three men holding up wedding rings with the man in the middle holding up the largest ring, saying "Megan picked the right one."

Every screen-printing company she contacted was through e-mail. There was no face-to-face communication or telephone communication.

"I would e-mail them, and then I would get an e-mail back, and it wasn't exactly what we wanted," Rena said. "They couldn't do a certain color, or they couldn't do the exact sizes we needed."

Three days before the bachelorette trip to downtown Orlando, Rena called her brother, Alex Tchekmeian, and he was able to make the shirts.

Five years later, Alex, president of Winter Park-based AKT Enterprises, a branding and marketing company, is materializing the need for hassle free, face-to-face communication into something tangible with the August opening of Big Top, located at 7612 University Gardens Dr., just outside Winter Park.

This brick and mortar store offers all the same web and print media services AKT offers — identity development, web-based applications, web hosting and maintenance, online stores and fulfillment — but it also provides screen-printing services for garments to the regular consumer in a face-to-face environment.

"My sister always talks about how her and her friends who are going on these trips and how they want 10 shirts for the girls to wear," Alex said. "My vision is to have my sister and her friends walk into the store, design their own shirt, and within an hour, walk out with the printed shirts ."

Alex said while the Internet sales option still exists, AKT wants to move away from the online experience with this retail store and become a business partner with the consumer.
"The new side of Big Top is making AKT more accessible to regular consumers, but we're still offering the same services to businesses, companies, organizations, musicians — all the same stuff that's gotten us to where we are now," said Jared Mendelewicz, vice president of AKT Enterprises.

The target consumer for Big Top isn't only small retailers. It also includes businesses, clubs and organizations that need help with promotional services.

"We are targeting the pizza shop opening up next door who wants business cards, logos, and designs; we are targeting the individuals; we are targeting the parents and we are targeting the moms who want monogrammed initials on all their towels," Alex said.

Mendelewicz said other companies provide the same amenities they provide, but a person would have to go to four or five different stores to get what they can do under one roof.

The logo for Big Top consists of a circus tent with the words "Big Top" laced in ribbon.
Mendelewicz said the name for Big Top came up randomly in conversation, and from a marketing standpoint, Mendelewicz and Alex wanted it to be over the top but still professional, which is where the circus theme came into play.

"The closest thing I can approximate Big Top to is an Apple store," said Will Chung, general manager for AKT Enterprises.

The retail space of Big Top consists of modern décor where form follows function. The store oozes red, white and black with plush red swivel chairs, circular white and silver corner tables, black tables, and flat screen televisions.

Big Top is the flagship store for AKT Enterprises, and Mendelewicz and Alex already have plans to open up additional locations in the future. Alex said he would like to have one additional Big Top developed or in the works by the end of 2010 with five or six additional stores either opened or in the works by the end of 2011.

Twenty-four-year-old Tchekmekian, who started the business when he was 17, wants to expand with locations closer to the University of Central Florida or Sanford.

AKT Enterprises is proud to announce the sponsorship of Orlando’s first annual TEDx conference. The event will take place on November 13, 2010 at a to-be-determined location. The first TED conference, a four-day conference held over 25 years ago in California, brought individuals together from three worlds: technology, entertainment and design. Since then, the TED conference has become a worldwide phenomenon and a platform for new and engaging ideas, sparking deep discussions and connections in groups both small and large. Previous TED speakers include Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Al Gore and Sir Richard Branson.

For more information, visit http://www.tedxorlando.org.

Alex Tchekmeian, President and Founder of AKT Enterprises, the world’s leading branding, merchandising, and marketing resource, has been recognized by Cambridge Who's Who for excellence,  leadership, and dedication in entertainment merchandising and management.

With more than a decade of experience in the entertainment industry, Tchekmeian’s drive and ambition led to the foundation for what has since become a flourishing enterprise comprised of multiple companies. He oversees all company operations, manages over 60 employees, and maintains multiple client and consumer relationships. AKT Enterprises, which Tchekmeian established in 1999, has become a full-service provider of print and digital media services.

In 2005, Tchekmeian launched “Give Them Wings to Fly,” the foundation that provides young musicians and schools with instruments they could not otherwise afford.  In addition to this organization, Tchekmeian frequently speaks publically at schools and conventions on the hardships of entrepreneurship at a young age.

Cambridge Who’s Who is the premier business and professional resource for recognizing and empowering accomplished individuals throughout the world.

Central Florida’s premier business and lifestyle magazine, the Orlando Business Journal, has included Alex Tchekmeian, president of AKT Enterprises, in its annual “Forty Under 40” list, which spotlights 40 of the region’s top young business and civic leaders. The distinguished list, noted in the June 2010 issue of the Journal, includes some of the most influential, dynamic, and successful entrepreneurs under the age of 40.

The honorees have shown consistent, outstanding, professional achievement and a commitment to community service. Those selected represent a diverse group of people who, according to the Journal, have made a positive impact on Orange County.

Founded by Tchekmeian in 1999, AKT Enterprises has become a flourishing business comprised of multiple companies, all catering to the merchandising and design industries. AKT provides a wide range of web and print media services, including identity development, web-based applications, web hosting and maintenance, embroidery services, and online stores and fulfillment. Located in Winter Park, Florida, AKT is the world’s leading full-service provider of print and digital media services.

Tchekmeian also continually aims to give back to the music community and industry that has nurtured his company for many years by establishing “Give Them Wings to Fly” in 2005. The organization provides young musicians and schools with instruments they could not otherwise afford.  In addition to the foundation, Tchekmeian frequently speaks publically at schools and conventions on the challenges and satisfaction of entrepreneurship at a young age.

He recently announced the grand opening of Big Top by AKT, his company’s flagship retail store.  The opening of Big Top is the first of many planned retail initiatives for AKT within the coming year.

Dedication to excellent products and services, coupled with the latest cutting-edge technologies and processes, will continue to make AKT Enterprises one of the most innovative companies rising in today’s entertainment industry.

AKT Enterprises, the world’s premier branding, merchandising and marketing company, has announced the grand opening of Big Top by AKT, its new retail flagship store located at University Blvd and Goldenrod Rd in Winter Park, FL. Big Top, which opens its doors in August, will specialize in the development of specialty products and services, including screen-printed garments, promotional items, embroidery, design and web development.

In addition to screen printing and direct-to-garment services, Big Top provides a wide range of web and print media services, including identity development, web-based applications, web hosting and maintenance, and online stores and fulfillment. The company also operates a full-service embroidery shop, which can be used to customize hats, jackets, uniforms and other promotional items.

The Big Top storefront is a bold departure from the traditional retail store. The store features a vast selection of basic and colored t-shirts ranging from budget to premium quality. With on-site technology that includes the latest in graphics, fonts and design, digital art or text can be applied to any of the store’s shirts to create unique and custom products. Big Top requires no minimums on these orders and offers same-day turnaround time.

“With years of t-shirt printing experience for both local and global consumers, our representatives will work with you to ensure our creations are of the highest quality and properly represent your company, business or team,” said Alex Tchekmeian, President of AKT Enterprises. “We are dedicated to the growth of our team and the success of our clients’ promotional endeavors and are loyal to remaining innovative and ahead of the curve at all times.”

The opening of Big Top is the first of many planned retail initiatives for AKT within the coming year.

Join AKT Enterprises staff for our first-ever Warehouse Sale! Tons of unique merchandise, free music and food! The sale will take place behind AKT Enterprises' main facility at 4420 Metric Drive Suite C on Saturday May 15th 2010!