The jet lag isn’t slowing down Jason Lucash.

Just back from his second trip to Asia within a few weeks, the co-founder of Origaudio (asi/75254) is short on sleep but brimming with energy and enthusiasm. He excitedly talks about his recent business trips to Hong Kong and Tokyo – journeys he undertook as part of the fast-growing supplier firm’s mission to build buzzworthy new audio/tech products from scratch and then bring them to the promo market. “We don’t want to follow the trends,” says Lucash. “We want to set them.”

Indeed, innovation has been integral to the DNA of Origaudio since Lucash and co-founder Mike Szymczak started the company in 2009. Back then, the two were traveling constantly for work. Wanting an easier way to listen to music on the road, they invented foldable speakers. Inspired by a Chinese takeout box, the ingenious 1-watt speakers made from recycled paper travel flat but play tunes when folded out – a cool, compact, artistic design akin to origami, hence the company name (“orig”…audio).

Lucash and Szymczak didn’t stop with Fold n’ Play speakers, though. Running their company with the spirit and youthful energy of a Silicon Valley startup, the pair has developed approximately 50 products in categories that range from Bluetooth speakers, headphones and power banks, to digital brochures, connector cords, and other tech ingenuities, like a 3-in-1 lamp/phone stand/charging station. Recently, Origaudio also launched fashion-forward backpacks. “The vision we have is somebody walking through the airport, outfitted in our line, from headphones to backpack,” says Szymczak.

While there have been a few flops, most of Origaudio’s products have found enthusiastic buyers. A number have gained ample media attention. Time magazine named the Fold n’ Play speakers one of the 50 best inventions of 2009. Additionally, Origaudio has earned multiple Counselor design awards. Lucash and Szymczak even had a successful appearance on the popular reality show Shark Tank.

Importantly, the attention and accolades have been backed up by robust sales. Between 2014 and 2016, revenue skyrocketed 212%, putting Origaudio into eight-figure annual sales territory. The company last year opened up a second location in the San Francisco area and doubled its number of employees. “We’re nothing without our awesome team,” says Szymczak. “Everyone brings something to the table that makes the company as a whole that much better.”

Distributor clients say that the talented Origaudio team is not only getting it right with products, but also with packaging. And the supplier’s service is trend-setting, too: no minimums, no setup charges, full-digital printing, and delivery in five days on all items.

“Origaudio is a true partner,” says Cadi Stephenson of distributorship Canary Marketing (asi/156455). “They work with us to make our clients happy.” She points to a holiday gift order that had to be produced within a crunched timeframe last year. Origaudio nailed it, providing 120 “Evrybox” speakers and 440 “Wrapsody” headphones, all deftly printed and packaged, by deadline. “Our client was thrilled with their holiday gifts, and now they have turned into a repeat client,” says Stephenson.

Lucash and Szymczak delight in hearing stories like that from loyal customers – of which they have many. In fact, a primary reason they exited the retail market several years ago to focus exclusively on promo is because the ad specialty business continues, they say, to be much more relationship-driven. “We’re very excited about the future of the industry,” says Lucash. “We have great customers, and we have the opportunity to have a huge impact by helping them with the products and service we offer.”