Joe Tantillo is having a good year, and it's not over yet.
The founder, president and chief executive officer of The Express Design Group in Freeburg was interviewed on the CNBC cable television show "The Big Idea" with Donny Deutsch Tuesday afternoon, and it aired that evening. The day before, he and his wife, Jill, were flown to New York. The New Jersey native got a chance to visit his hometown of Engelwood before making his national television debut.
"It was just a great experience," Tantillo said.
His invitation comes following his success designing and selling apparel screen-printed and embroidered with Greek organizations at GreekGear.com; apparel steeped in Italian pride withGuidoGear.com ; clothes and items with school logos on it through MySpiritGear.com ; and faith-based merchandise at MyChristianGear.com . His business has topped more than $1 million in sales since 2003. GreekGear.com has become the largest source on the Internet for Greek logo merchandise, including fraternity and sorority items. The business has drawn more than 15 million customers to the Web site and orders have soared by 43 percent so far this month.
Tantillo's success has been profiled among 42 other entrepreneurs from across the country in a recently published book, Prepare To Be a Millionaire, by Tom Spinks, Kimberly Burleson and Lindsay Shepherd of Millionaire Blueprints magazine. The book hit bookstore shelves in February.
Since his TV appearance Tuesday, Tantillo has heard from many people.
"The best thing is that I've heard from family, friends and kids I grew up with," he said. "A lot of entrepreneurs and business owners have called, and I'm getting e-mails from them about how my business has inspired them." ...
Margaritas Mexican Restaurant in downtown Belleville is undergoing an expansion. The restaurant is renovating space at 117 E. Main St., where Eight 22 Studios has recently vacated. ...
Hair salon Earl's Coiffures, located at 2035 State St. in Granite City, has closed. ...
And finally, two long-standing Belleville institutions, Fantasy Books and the Lincoln Theatre, have partnered to promote comic books and upcoming releases features super heroes. Fantasy Books co-owner Tony Favello said the popularity from recent comic book-based movies, like Ghost Rider and 300, the partnership made sense.
On Thursday, the two will host a release to co-market the movie Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr., with a special 8 p.m. show. The film premiers across the country Friday. Attendees will have a chance to win movie and theater-related prizes.
For more information, visit Fantasy Books at 1113 E. Main St. or online at www.fantasybooksinc.com. You can also learn more at the Lincoln Theater, 103 E. Main St., or visit the theater's Web site at www.lincolntheatre-belleville.com. Call 233-0123 for show times.
Contact reporter Will Buss at wbuss@bnd.com or 345-7822, ext. 24.
