Ashberry Water was preparing to celebrate 80 years, and its team was part of the occasion.
Founded in 1947 by Jim Ashberry, the company began with a few customers in Tampa’s Ybor City. Today, the family-owned business provides commercial and industrial water treatment across Florida. Its story continues to grow: Ashberry was named an honoree in the 16th Annual GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards.
The idea was a surprise gift: custom sneakers carrying the company’s name, colors, and anniversary artwork. Something made for this milestone that people could keep wearing afterward.
Working with Alexis Webster, Ashberry Water’s President & COO, and the Ashberry team, we developed the design through concepts, conversations, and a physical sample. Along the way, their feedback shaped the details that would make the finished 55 pairs their own.
A MILESTONE TO SHARE WITH THE TEAM
The commercial water treatment company already had its anniversary artwork. The design brought together the familiar Ashberry name and a gold-and-blue badge marking 80 years.
A white Low Court sneaker gave those details room to stand out. The aim was to make the anniversary visible while keeping the shoes easy to wear after the occasion.
Keeping the gift a surprise mattered, too. Even the sample arrangements were planned around keeping the design out of sight until the team received their shoes.
We presented three digital concepts to explore the possibilities: one with navy heel accents, another with an entirely white upper, and a third with different branding on each shoe. Ashberry chose the navy heel accent, giving the white sneaker a connection to the company’s colors.
A white Low Court sneaker, Ashberry’s company logo, and its 80th-anniversary artwork formed the starting point. Sketches and three digital concepts explored how those elements could work together, giving the team different approaches to compare before choosing a direction.
A DESIGN SHAPED TOGETHER
Choosing a concept was the beginning of the conversation. Alexis liked the first direction and asked whether blue laces would add something to the design.
The revisions also gave the anniversary more presence. An additional 80th-anniversary mark was added near the outer heel, so the milestone could be seen from the side as well as on the tongue. Ashberry preferred matching details on both shoes, and the design was updated accordingly.
White and blue lace options were shown for comparison. White kept the focus on the branding and anniversary artwork; blue echoed the heel accents. Ashberry chose to include both sets, allowing each recipient to change the look.
The artwork also guided the production method. Embroidery was considered, but the anniversary badge’s fine details and gold gradients would have required simplification. Printing was selected to preserve those details in the artwork Ashberry had created.
The chosen design took shape through feedback on logo placement, anniversary details, and lace colors. Full mockups showed the shoe from multiple angles before sampling. Ashberry chose to include both white and blue laces with every pair, giving recipients two ways to wear their anniversary sneakers.
SEEING THE IDEA BECOME REAL
A physical design verification sample brought the mockups onto an actual shoe. Photographs were shared for review before the full order moved forward.
This gave Ashberry a chance to examine the placement of the company name, the anniversary details, and the balance of the white upper and blue accents together.
The sample provided a physical reference for the finished design. Our guide to corporate sneaker mockups and sample approval explains what buyers can review at each stage.
From the screen to a physical pair. Above, the design verification sample was photographed for review of colors and artwork placement before the full production run. Below, the finished sneakers bring together Ashberry’s blue branding, matching heel accents, and anniversary artwork on a white Low Court silhouette.
THE MOMENT THE GIFTS WERE OPENED
The project became 55 pairs of anniversary sneakers for Ashberry’s team. At the company’s Thanksgiving celebration, the surprise was finally shared.
The photos show shoes being held up across the tables, teammates looking at their pairs, and the gift becoming part of the gathering.
The surprise revealed at Ashberry’s Thanksgiving celebration. Team members opened their gifts and held up the anniversary sneakers, bringing the design process to its most personal moment: the people the shoes were made for.
“The Team absolutely LOVED these shoes!”
Alexis Webster, President & COO, Ashberry Water
Alexis also shared that company executives planned to wear their sneakers again at an awards ceremony in February. The anniversary gift already had another occasion ahead of it.
PLANNING A MILESTONE FOR YOUR TEAM?
Start with the occasion, the people, and the artwork you already have. Custom Kiks can help develop those ideas into custom sneakers for your team.
Share your occasion, approximate headcount, delivery locations, and required arrival date through our Team Gifts page.
FAQs
Can custom sneakers incorporate a company anniversary logo?
Yes. Ashberry’s project combined its company branding with 80th-anniversary artwork on the tongue and outer sides. The placement is developed around the artwork and selected shoe style.
Can we compare design options before choosing one?
Yes. For Ashberry, we presented three initial concepts, then refined the selected direction through mockups and feedback. The number and scope of concepts are planned around each project.
Does anniversary artwork need to be embroidered?
No. For Ashberry’s artwork, printing was selected to preserve fine details and gold gradients. The application method is chosen around the design and the intended result.