The Original 5 Biles'
Lee Biles
Co-Founder
Vicci Biles
Co-Founder
Paula Moore
Todd Biles
Stacey Roberts
1980
In 1980, 5B’s was created as a specialty sewing business operating out of the Biles family’s basement in Zanesville, Ohio. The name “5B’s” was chosen to represent the five members of the Biles family which included founders Lee and Vicci Biles and their three children, Paula, Todd, and Stacey who all took active roles in the company at an early age. By 1981, 5B’s had seven associates and moved into a 3,000-square-foot building in downtown Zanesville. A year later, they purchased their first six-head single needle computer embroidery machine.
1984 – 1991
In 1984, 5B’s moved again, this time to a 12,000-square-foot building. With 35 associates and growing, 5B’s purchased an art and digitizing system that allowed for greater versatility with design. By 1991, 5B’s had moved again to a 69,000-square-foot facility and exceeded the 100-employee mark.
1993 – 1994
Employment topped 700 in 1993, when the business found itself operating 20 hours a day, seven days a week. In 1994, Todd Biles was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer by his father – the CEO, and founder Lee Biles. That same year, 5B’s was selected as the No. 1 embroidery corporation in the United States by Impressions Magazine – the oldest and largest trade publication in the industry.
1996
In 1996, 5B’s surpassed 700 embroidery heads to become the largest contract embroidery corporation in the country. A new 170,000-square-foot facility was opened to house embroidery, apparel preparation, customer service, warehousing, art and digitizing as well as corporate and administrative offices.
2018 – 2020
5B’s still operates from that location today, however, construction began in 2018 on a 55,000-square-foot expansion to the current facility primarily to address the rapid growth of the company’s new screen print and stock program divisions. The facility opened in early 2020 and currently houses 10 screen print presses, state-of-the-art imaging and reclaim equipment, a large ink inventory, and new corporate offices. The now 225,000-square-foot facility also holds over 1 million units of blank inventory from household brands such as Fruit of the Loom, JERZEES, Richardson, and Delta Apparel.
2021 – Present
Despite the rapid growth and changes through the years, 5B’s has never lost sight of where the last 40 years in the embroidery business has brought it. From the company’s humble beginnings to the present, 5B’s mission has remained the same and continues to be the backbone of the company…
