Foamation, creator of the "cheesehead" sees Cyber Monday boom
ST. FRANCIS (WITI) -- The Thanksgiving weekend shopping frenzy continued on Monday -- the day known as "Cyber Monday." Consumers took to their computers to take advantage of online shopping deals -- and a Milwaukee-area company says it's just trying to keep up with the demand!
Ralph Bruno, known as the "Father of Fromage" created the infamous "cheesehead" hat back in 1987 in Milwaukee.
"I was reupholstering my mom's couch, and I took a piece of that and cut it into the shape of a wedge and I burnt holes in it and painted it, and brought it to a baseball game," Bruno said.
Bruno has created "Foamation, Inc." -- a St. Francis-based company that sells cheesehead hats and other "cheesy" apparel.
According to Foamation's website, "the birth of the world famous Cheesehead hat was not initially about fashion, but a gouda, self-deprecating response to those we kindly call the 'flat-landers.'"
"Our lovely friends to the south have been calling us 'cheeseheads' for quite awhile," Bruno said.
Cheesehead products have now sold in all 50 states and over 30 nations around the globe.
"I was just amazed at how much, you know, people were attracted to the hat, so within a matter of weeks I started making a mold and producing the hats," Bruno said.
Packers season and the holiday shopping season are particularly busy for the company.
"This is the busiest time of the year for us during Packers season -- definitely. During the Christmas season also 0-- so we do hundreds of online orders weekly," owner Sue Bruno said.
The company saw a lot of orders on Cyber Monday!
"These were orders that just came in -- you know, one page of them this morning," Sue Bruno said.
She estimates Monday's sales traffic is already 50% above Cyber Monday 2012.
"I think it was a little bit hyped up this year. We definitely saw increase in sales this morning and we're hoping that throughout the day that it continues," Sue Bruno said.
In the meantime, the Foamation staff is busy churning out the hats, and other cheese-themed products to keep up with the demand.
"It is like a dream come true. I mean, the success of the hat is based on the cheeseheads that wear it. We're just lucky enough to be Foamation -- being the company to make them for everyone," Ralph Bruno said.
If you're planning to get in on the Cyber Monday action, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is urging customers to do their homework before buying.
They say if you're going to enter your personal information or banking information -- make sure you're using a secure site.
The web address will begin with https:// if it is a secure site.
CLICK HERE to visit Foamation's website.