By Pamela Fisher
While many new college graduates
struggle to start their careers, Saratoga native
Mike Borisenok left college focused on
expanding his business just days following
his 2012 graduation from the University of
New Hampshire.
Greater Than Sports, located above
Impressions at 368 Broadway in Saratoga
Springs, is an online athletic apparel
business that has recently added a retail
boutique to its business headquarters.
freshman year in college during a classroom
presentation focused on legendary fashion
designer Coco Chanel.
“We were discussing how she was ahead of her time, designing clothing she would like to be wearing,” said Borisenok. “I looked around and realized a shift had happened in athletic wear. My classmates were wearing this type of clothing outside of working out and playing sports. Athletic wear had become lifestyle apparel.”
Borisenok was a member of the UNH men’s hockey team, and was balancing being a student, an athlete and an entrepreneur.
He shared his business idea to create lifestyle athletic apparel with friend and fellow UNH art student kelly Sullivan, asking her to design a T-shirt. Their peers liked Sullivan’s designs, and Borisenok’s confidence in his business concept solidified.
In the following years, GTS designed apparel for UNH, Towson University, and the Albany Academy, among others. “every team we’ve worked with has become a repeat customer,” said Sullivan.
Today, Greater Than Sports has grown to its current management team of Borsenok, president, Sullivan who serves as executive design artist, and fellow UNH graduates Dan Gejay, director of marketing, and David Wolfe, director of sales.
Together, the young entrepreneurs are promoting their passion for sports through what they call a “new age business model,” engaging with customers continuously via linked social media accounts. The company shares experiences such as “behind-thescenes” images on Instagram, workout playlists on its website, and how-to exercise videos.
“Our slogan is: ‘It’s about the journey’,” said Sullivan. “If you buy Greater Than Sports, you’re part of our journey. We want to interact with our customers, build the community into our brand, and be approachable.”
Before developing a retail space in January, Greater Than Sports used a trailer as its moving showroom to present apparel options to various sports teams. GTS staff said “their retail store on wheels” will return in the spring and summer months, making appearances at various events. The staff also looks forward to Saratoga foot traffic increasing on Broadway.
Borsenok believes Saratoga is a good fit for his starting business, but has hopes to increase his customer base beyond the region. “We believe GTS can expand nationally,” he said.
Greater Than Sports offers a complete line of diverse upscale sportswear apparel geared toward the lifestyles of young professionals.
GPS apparel is available for all school teams, recreational activities, exercise classes, business and personal needs.
The company can create unique logos and designs for clients, all of which can be customized.
For more information call (855) 464 8776, visit the company website www.GreaterThanSports.com, visit the facebook page at www.facebook.com/GTSclothing, or follow on twitter @GTSclothing.