A new business is custom-designing varsity jackets for high schoolers

IDAHO FALLS — A business owner wants to provide an important piece of memorabilia for high school students: a custom-designed, top-quality letterman jacket.

3 B’s Varsity, at 630 South Woodruff Avenue, Suite F, in Idaho Falls, is owned by Michelle Ross. It opened in May.

Teens can custom design a varsity jacket to showcase their accomplishments. But it’s not limited to students. Teachers, coaches and anyone who wants one can have it made.

“When we moved here, I just noticed the lack of varsity jackets, and I saw a hole in the market that should be filled. Kids should be able to wear their varsity letters and their story of their high school career and show it off,” Ross said.

Students and parents can come to the business office and try on a sample jacket to see and feel the quality, as well as get the right size and fit. There are different options for details, like collar style, knit patterns, and colors to represent school spirit.

“Most of the time it’s the school colors, but if they want a pink jacket, we’ll get them a pink jacket, you know?” Ross said.

Once the jacket details are decided, then fonts and colors for the embroidery on the chest and back are chosen. Custom patches can represent any school sport, club or activity.

“We offer custom embroidery on all the jackets, custom patches that can be made from any color. We put quotes on the jackets,” she said.

Ross has over 10 years of embroidery experience. She has worked for an embroidery shop in California where she learned how to do it, and now works remotely for it. She said she loves watching designs come to life.

“That’s one of my favorite things: seeing a thought turned into a patch. I like seeing the finished products, and when somebody’s face lights up and says, ‘That’s exactly what I want!'” Ross said.

She works with her two daughters, Ayla and Marissa Ross, and enjoys it. That’s where the name of the business, 3 B’s Varsity, comes from.

“B is just little busy bees. Well, that’s what I tell people!” she said, laughing. “It’s kind of catchy. Marissa and I used to work in the shop together down in California, and I always did the embroidery. I ran the machines, and she was the sales up front.”

One of her daughters came up with the business’s tagline, which is “Designed with you — for you!”

“Better than online, because if you’re sitting in front of your computer trying to design a varsity jacket, you’re only limited to what they offer you. One of the moms that came in said, ‘I got frustrated working online. They just didn’t have what we wanted.’ And then they came in and they got a beautiful jacket from us,” Ross said.

Once the design is finished, turnaround time is typically between eight and 10 weeks. It can be a long process, but it’s all customizable.

A base jacket starts at $220, which is comparable to online vendors, Ross said. The designing of the jacket, with embroidery and patches, can be as little as $100 depending on the story you want to tell.

So far, Ross has made jackets for coaches at Thunder Ridge High School, students from Thunder Ridge, Idaho Falls, and Blackfoot.

3 B’s Varsity is open from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, but if a later time is needed, an appointment can be made. Click here for more information.

“Right now, we are small but we hope to grow and be able to get as many kids into varsity jackets as we can. I feel strongly about it. It’s their story to tell, and they can do it on a jacket and people can see it,” Ross said. “It’s a good piece of clothing that they can wear for years.”

Biz Bits

Local business named Marriott’s hotel of the year

The following is a news release from Woodbury Corporation:

IDAHO FALLS–A hotel in Idaho Falls is proving that world-class hospitality isn’t limited to major destination cities.

The Residence Inn by Marriott Idaho Falls has been named Marriott’s 2025 Hotel of the Year for the Residence Inn brand, marking the second time in just three years the hotel has earned the company’s highest property honor. Marriott recognizes just one Hotel of the Year in the brand worldwide, making this an exceptionally rare achievement.

What makes this story especially compelling is where it happened.

Unlike hotels in large metropolitan or resort markets, the Residence Inn Idaho Falls operates in a small community in southeast Idaho. Despite not being a traditional destination market, the hotel has consistently exceeded Marriott’s rigorous standards for guest satisfaction, operational excellence, team development and overall performance. Winning Hotel of the Year once is a remarkable accomplishment. Winning it twice in such a short period is almost unheard of.

Adding to the story, General Manager Robert Thornock was also named one of Marriott’s 2025 Diamond General Managers of the Year, one of only three recipients in the Residence Inn brand nationwide. Together, these honors recognize both exceptional hotel performance and outstanding local leadership.

The recognition also highlights the broader success of Woodbury Corporation, which received eight Marriott awards this year, including Marriott’s prestigious Partnership Circle Award for hospitality excellence across its portfolio. Locally, the success of the Residence Inn Idaho Falls has also been supported by McNeil Development, whose continued investment and partnership have helped the hotel achieve and sustain this level of excellence.

Construction business celebrates new headquarters

RIGBY– Teton West had its grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new office on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Its new headquarters are located at 3847 East 100 Road North in Rigby.

They gathered with industry partners who have shaped their success. There was a complimentary meal and facility tours.

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