IMG College has bought TopShelf, "whose turnkey vehicles and services have been used for several years by NASCAR and PGA corporate sponsors to entertain clients and employees," according to Richard Craver of the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL. TopShelf now "operates within IMG College’s business ventures unit, which provides services to universities, conferences, media and corporate partners." TopShelf President & Founder Brian Efird said that the company's vehicles "range up to a tractor-trailer and include revamped mobile classroom pods." He added that they "feature lounges and party suites, custom decor and rooftop observation decks, 'combining the high-end experience of a suite with the excitement of an outdoor tailgate.'" A TopShelf vehicle "can serve comfortably 25-30 individuals inside, whereas an outdoor-oriented trailer can handle more than 1,000." Craver noted TopShelf "dipped into college sports by providing an upscale beer garden setting, known as Top Hat Tavern, at Wake Forest football games." It also has "provided services at South Carolina football games." With seven full-time and four to six contract employees, TopShelf "didn’t have the economies of scale to tackle a sizable expansion." Both TopShelf and IMG College are based in Winston-Salem. The top-line part of TopShelf’s current business "is for NASCAR corporate sponsor clients" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 8/9).
