About Us

The Taylor family started in business in the middle 1950's with William Ralph Taylor as a local photographer and offset printer. In the early 1964 he was approached to test some new material for the US Navy involving a photographic process on anodized aluminum. The process encased silver particles under a diamond hard surface providing a crisp clean scratch resistant metal surface, ideal for exterior signage and industrial applications.

In 1966 Ralph Taylor and his son Lawrence Taylor Sr. (Larry) used this new process called "Metalphoto" to launch a company using this process in the retail market. They launched PhotoCharms by Taylor in early spring of 1967. They began marketing a product that put photographs into metal and mounted them on products and such as gold and silver charm necklaces, bracelets, lockets and Zippo lighters. The marketing took off and soon became a nationwide craze. Within a two-year period our company grew from 3 employees and 800-sq. ft. to 25 employees and 12,500-sq. ft. What started out as a fill in business to the print shop became our bread and butter. In 5 years we were selling our products nationwide with sales topping over 100,000 pieces yearly.

In 1978 as the charm fad began to fade we began marketing Photometal in the awards and recognition markets. We began using it on plaques as a new replacement to the popular hand engraved plates of the time. Like the Photocharms before, he went after the worldwide market of trophy dealers, Photo studios and distributors. By joining ARA (Awards & Recognition Association), PMA (Photo Marketing Association) and ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute) it broadened the scope of the our products to new customers. By 1980 we had over 800 dealers worldwide with 700 being in the United States alone.

In 1984 we began expanding our products and services to include new Sublimation Technology, Electronic Engraving machines and Screen Printing. This allowed us to grow and provide a one-stop shop to our growing dealer network. We also branched out with a marketing company selling only to schools and colleges. This technology and growth carried the business during the late 80's and early 90's.

In 1994 the third generation came to be associated with the business, Lawrence Taylor Jr. "LT", started working part-time in the production and marketing departments with his grandfather. In 1996 LT was brought in as the full-time Production Manager and was soon trying new marketing strategies to further take the business into the next century and beyond. In 1999 we again expanded our production capabilities and purchased a New Hermes 25 watt Laser Engraver. With a very basic website and some major catalog marketing we were again able to add some growth in a new market.

In the spring of 2000 we made some drastic changes to our business model, and changed how we were conducted our business, by increasing technology and reducing overhead and unnecessary employee costs; We then combined all the companies from previous Taylor business ventures into one umbrella company: Taylor Made Enterprises, Inc. In 2001 we expanded into the Vinyl graphics, Sign and Banner markets.

Our family is proud to have been in the business of providing above superb customer service and custom awards and recognition products for over 40 years. And with the help of all of our dedicated customers and dealers, We are striving to make it last another 40! Taylor Made Enterprises is proud to serve many high profile organizations and companies nationwide, including:
 
Dixie Chopper Lawn Mowers
 
DePauw University
 
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
 
Indiana State University
 
The Indianapolis Colts
 
The Bob and Tom Show
 
The Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation
 
Love Our Children USA
 
Indiana University
 
National Corvette Clubs of America
 
The Indianapolis Star & News
 
Medtronic Sofamar Danek
 
JC Penney
 
Kodak
 
The Photomarketing Association
 
Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame
 
The Columbia Club, Indianapolis
 
Detroit Diesel
 
Dallas Smith Corp.
 
Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield
 
Sherwin Williams Paints
 
Crown Equipment
 
Lions Clubs International
 
Rotary Clubs International

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