Justin Juliano was a 17-year-old Haverford High School student in 2011 when he started an online store selling beach towels featuring all the beach tag designs used since Ocean City started requiring them in 1976.
Juliano, now a Cabrini College sophomore, is expanding to a bricks-and-mortar shop on Asbury Avenue in Ocean City. A complete line of his Tag-R-Up products — from towels to pillowcases to charm bracelets — is available at the Gatherings on Asbury co-op at 700 Asbury Avenue.
Juliano is promoting a Valentine’s Day combo pack in an offer that expires on Feb. 14.
As a summer resident on 28th Street in Ocean City and a seasonal employee at the Acme, Juliano always knew that beach tags (for better or worse) are part of Ocean City culture.
Juliano, who said he was inspired after being confronted by a tag inspector, researched the history of beach tags in Ocean City. His products include a complete collection of designs. Seasonal tags cost $5 in 1976 ($3 if purchased before May 31). Today, the cost is $25 ($20 if purchased in the pre-season).
More information can be found at
http://www.tagrupdesigns.com.
More information on leasing vendor space at Gatherings on Asbury Avenue ($100 to $600 monthly) is available by calling Bob Taylor at 609-938-0691 or emailing
[email protected]
