As of February 22, 2025, the current sole proprietor of Held Gear (yours truly) was on the move to Tucson, Arizona, having three years ago brought the brand to Philadelphia from the small town of Ajo, Arizona.
The roots of the brand go back to Portland, Oregon, as a side hustle developed by Micah Perry in late 2007, officially launching the business months later in 2008.
While Philadelphia is a great location in terms of aesthetics and values that drive the Held Gear idea, this brand is a sole proprietorship that has to move with the ebbs and flows of the single operator’s life. Such was the case with Micah, as the business from time to time went on stand still as he managed the challenges thrown at him.
From Tucson, the business environment is friendly, and the process of launching an LLC is more affordable, and simpler, than from Pennsylvania. The tax burden on a small business is minimum as compared to Philly. There are two large metropolises in Arizona, and many small towns with values aligned to the Held Brand. And yet, it is a smaller pond.
Already, a new office in the heart of downtown Tucson has been established for Held Gear and can be found on the Contact Page.
The inventory for all Held marketplaces have all been updated.
Thank You Philly for the experience, and for the support received from customers, models, and creatives.