GIRLS RULE

Local company caters to female sports enthusiasts

NICKOLENA HERDSON For The York Dispatch

Being an athlete doesn't mean having to give up being a girl.

That is the motto of the Awesome Athlete line of products developed by Linton Design, a York-based company.

Founded by sisters Jacky Mumley of Glen Rock and Linda Ports of Perry Hall, Md., the company recently launched a Web site, www.awesomeathlete.net, which sells a collection of sports-themed home décor and accessories. The products are also available at more than 90 retail stores across the nation.

The Awesome Athlete collection was developed after Mumley and Ports recognized a need for products designed specifically for athletic young girls. The products are geared to girls between the ages of 6 and 17, one of the fastest growing retail population markets, according to Mumley.

The sisters worked together to develop the motto, "Always an athlete. Forever a girl," as well as the vivid color scheme characteristic of their products. The first item they produced was a star-shaped wall hanging. It features an inspirational poem written by Mumley, which Ports hand lettered onto the star.

"People became attached to the poem," said Mumley, who added that its words are "a common thread" for many girls.

Later products: In addition to the star, the Awesome Athlete collection now includes trophy shelves, mirrors, picture frames, hangers and pillowcases, all decorated in bright colors and customized for specific sports.

Mumley said the products are designed not only to be decorative, but also to serve a purpose. The trophy shelf, now the collection's best-selling product, is large enough to hold many trophies and picture frames and features hooks for hanging ribbons.

To expand the business and market directly to their customers, Mumley and Ports have been sponsoring booths at national cheerleading competitions. They recently attended competitions in Las Vegas, Nev., and Jacksonville, Fla., and will attend a conference in Baltimore in February.

Athletic family: Growing up in an athletic family, the sisters saw the sports-themed products as a natural fit. Their mother and father were avid athletes, and both Mumley and Ports played many different sports as children.

They began developing the Awesome Athlete line on a part-time basis. Mumley worked at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore, and Ports did freelance graphic design work. Now the expanding business has developed into full-time jobs for both sisters.

They have enjoyed the collaborative nature of the business.

"We have a mutual respect for each other, and each one of us brings something different to the business," said Ports. "We are both creative, but in different ways."

Mumley and Ports are in the process of creating new products to add to the collection, including clothing, blankets, greeting cards and furniture.

"Two down-to-earth mothers saw a need for something and gave it a shot," said Mumley. "We're hoping it pays off. If not, it brought us closer."