Company: Cruise Customs

Founded In: 2017

Number of Employees: 5

Describe what your organization does in two sentences. As a veteran, it is in our DNA to always serve something greater than ourselves & Cruise Customs Flags uses repurposed Kentucky bourbon barrels to create custom flags. While many of the products at Cruise Customs are repurposed, ALL the products are hand-crafted by veterans from the military. We give our team members a new purpose, just as the bourbon barrels find new purpose in their products.

Who do you serve? We serve anyone who loves America & Bourbon – Those two usually go hand in hand since bourbon is America’s Spirit.

One fact you may not know about my organization is…  We were invited to the White House in 2020 to participate in the fourth annual Made in America Product Showcase.

What sets your business apart from others in the way you attract and retain talent? We hire veterans.  We have a culture that many veterans miss when they work in corporate America.  We also have a unique culture that allows employees to build trust- An example is that we don’t have people clock out for breaks or lunch.  Veterans have a trust and work ethic like no other.  We are America’s largest fraternity/sorority.

What do you like about being an investor in Greater Louisville Inc.? Being a small, locally owned business.

How does your organization engage in the community? Part of the mission at Cruise Customs Flags is giving back to the community. In an effort to make their own backyard a better place, Cruise has partnered with Norton Children’s Hospital Cancer Institute’s Young Adults and Adolescent art therapy class. Also, we recently raised $70,000 for medical frontline heroes at Norton Healthcare and UofL Health during the COVID-19 pandemic, using profits from the “America – One Heartbeat” flag, as seen on Fox and Friends in late August. We have also partnered with USA Cares and donated over $17,000 to help veterans in crisis. We also support the American Cancer Society where we have raised thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society.

How can people engage with your organization? People can engage with us by following and sharing our mission on social media.  People can purchase our veteran handcrafted products at www.cruisecustomsflags.com . We also have an event periodically called Build, BBQ, & Bourbon.