A young couple engaged to be married this fall recently purchased an Oregon-based business and moved it to Aiken.
Brian Allenby and Lida Bard, both 25, are the new owners of FITS Riding Ltd. Its office is at 261 Arbor Terrace in downtown Aiken.
Founded by Sheryl Rudolph and formerly known as Fun in The Saddle Inc., FITS is an equestrian apparel company.
"We have contract manufacturers," Bard said. "We have the items manufactured and then we sell them wholesale to retailers."
FITS products include trousers, shirts and coats, some of which are made using patented technology.
There are PeformMAX breeches with segmented, perforated deerskin patches and all-mesh Zephyr show coats that are comfortable in hot weather, but still look professional.
Approximately 450 retailers in this country and Canada sell FITS clothing.
"We want to expand the business and grow it," Bard said. "We'll keep the products that our customers already know and love, but we'll also add to them. We have sales in Europe, but that was part of the company's natural growth. Now we are making a conscious effort to get more of our products to retailers there. We are going to a big trade show at the end of August."
"We also want to strengthen our presence in Aiken," added Allenby. "Oak Manor on Wagener Road already has some FITs products, and we are looking at a few different options, but we're not going into direct retail."
Allenby and Bard met while attending Elon College in North Carolina. Bard majored in environmental studies and minored in business, geography and geographic information systems. Bard majored in creative writing and minored in criminal justice.
After Bard graduated, the New Jersey native moved to Aiken, where her parents now also live, and Allenby followed.
"The job market is tough here," Bard said. "I worked for the Aiken Downtown Development Association, and I loved it, but it wasn't a forever job."
Allenby worked remotely for a company in New Jersey.
"I was able to keep a steady income while looking for something local, but something that was very appetizing never presented itself," he said.
Frustrated by the opportunities available, Allenby and Bard decided to explore the possibility of starting their own business or purchasing an existing company.
"We found FITS was for sale online," Bard said. "It was with a broker who had posted a vague sort of ad. We called and spoke to the broker, and then we went forward from there."
Bard and Allenby completed the deal to buy FITS in May.
For Bard, it was an ideal move because she is a longtime rider of horses who competes in eventing.
"My whole life, I have wanted a career in horses, so it was a dream come true," Bard said. "I was already wearing their britches."
Allenby shared Bard's enthusiasm because he has learned to ride since meeting her and has enjoyed his experiences in the saddle.
"This was something that we both had an interest in and could enjoy," Allenby said.
Dede Biles is a general assignment reporter for the Aiken Standard and has been with the newspaper since January 2013. A native of Concord, N.C., she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.