Ann Arbor's IMU expands staff, clothing options

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

The clothing brand IMU, short for I Miss You, is starting to gain traction in Ann Arbor as it nears its first year in business.

The start-up founded by former University of Michigan Basketball Captain David Merritt has grown to two employees and eight interns. It is also planning on expanding beyond t-shirts into clothing that is a little bit formal when it releases its new collections this summer and fall.

"We plan on that being out most diverse lineup," Merritt says. "We'll have t-shirts and dress shirts and hats. We're expanding out product line so we're more than just t-shirts."

IMU was created with more than just clothing in mind. Merritt, a recent U-M graduate, splits the company's efforts between clothing designing and community service. The company mandates its employees dedicate at least 8-10 hours a month to community service while customers can also get a discount by giving their time or money to local causes, especially those that impact young people.

That line of thinking is also behind the IMU brand. The words "I Miss You" are meant to inspire a feeling of belonging and being valued. The idea is to promote and provide a lifestyle for both its customers and their communities.

The company has been able to capitalize on that by adding an employee and it hopes to add a few more within the next year. Merritt is also working to get IMU clothing in local boutiques and expanding beyond its 10 community service initiatives it has made in its first nine months.

"We're focusing on expanding our products and our community service component," Merritt says.

Source: David Merritt, founder of IMU
Writer: Jon Zemke