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AKT Enterprises

AKT Enterprises

Alex Tchekmeian, 22
www.aktenterprises.com
Orlando

Then:
Alex Tchekmeian's AKT Enterprises, a collection of 15 businesses that handles merchandising, online tickets, and Web development for music groups and record labels, had $1.3 million in 2006 revenues. The 20-employee company produced all of its merchandise in-house. Tchekmeian said it wasn't looking for outside financing.

Now:
Still in rapid expansion mode, AKT has added 20 more employees. In 2007, Tchekmeian says the business had $2.8 million in revenue—this year, he expects revenue over $4 million. The company is still not looking for external financing, he says, since AKT regularly reinvests a portion of its profits. The hallmark of 2008 has been an emphasis on increased efficiency through technology. With new warehouse software, AKT is now shipping out shirts in an eighth of the time it took last year, at 10 times the volume, Tchekmeian says. The company is also developing a program called District Lines, a Web site that lets bands create their own online merchandise store.