From a fun idea about creating a world where everything would change color in the sun to an international brand that creates fun in the sun for everyone, Del Sol has advanced color-change technology and built exciting stores that host an interactive shopping experience like no other on earth. When Del Sol first splashed onto the retail scene in 1994, only a handful of people were at its helm. Now, more than 700 employees navigate Del Sol in over 100 locations throughout 10 countries, becoming the largest color-change retailer in the world and the number-one promoted merchant onboard Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Disney, Celebrity and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Today and in the future, Del Sol and its leadership teams continue to grow the business far greater than anyone had ever imagined before, flooding all international markets in cruise ship ports, airport terminals and five-star resorts. This unprecedented growth and expansion will continue to propel Del Sol to the upper echelon of the retail-experience economy.
1994
Del Sol opens its first retail cart in Murray, Utah's Fashion Place Mall.
1995
Color-changing thread introduced on hats, visors, shirts, tote bags, polos and other Del Sol products.
1996
Over 100 Del Sol carts and kiosks open in malls and shopping plazas throughout the United States and Canada.
1997
First Del Sol Store Opens in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Former Del Sol President, Steve Schone, and his mother, Susan, open the first store together, putting Del Sol on the map for a bright future ahead.
1998
Marketed and promoted on all major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Princess, Disney and Norwegian Cruise Lines - Del Sol quickly becomes a popular port attraction in the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii.
1999
Del Sol emerges onto the specialty-retail scene in the United States, opening corporate stores and offering its store concept to independent owners worldwide.
2000
First Del Sol Interns, Jeff Pedersen, current Del Sol President, and wife, Heather, intern on the Dutch island of St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles. Del Sol establishes its Internship Program to staff several of its first stores.
2001
Del Sol University is established to recruit, train and staff Del Sol stores and headquarter offices with hundreds of energetic interns, managers and new employees. Del Sol sells its products in over 10 countries.
2002
Del Sol Asia, Ltd., Co. is established, creating exclusive partnerships and direct sourcing capabilities for Del Sol research and development, evolving into multiple vendor opportunities throughout Mexico, Asia and the United States.
2003
Changing of the Guard, executive leadership evolves between Chairman, Bob Pedersen, and President, Steve Schone, naming Jefferson Pedersen as new Del Sol President and Brent Rowser remaining as CFO.
2004
10 years of sunny success, Del Sol rings in its 10-year anniversary at the first store in St. Thomas and celebrates its 50
th store opening in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
2005
Launched advanced Website connections and automated supply chain management systems, utilizing Del Sol's companywide intranet - DelSolNet - connecting Del Sol associates and retailers from anywhere on the planet at the speed of sunlight.
2006
Del Sol opens its first airport terminal store in the Orlando International Airport, quickly becoming a darling of the airport industry, opening Del Sol stores in elite airport terminals throughout the world.
2007
Del Sol opens its 100th store, and Jeff Pedersen, President and CEO, wins Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Retail on behalf of Del Sol worldwide, reinforcing its amazing growth as the world's largest color-change retailer and experience-economy innovator.
2008
Del Sol continues reaching for the sun!
