Panama Jack: A Legacy of Adventure and Style Since 1974 (and Why Pelican Reef Group Is Proud to Be the Worldwide Licensee for Outdoor Furniture)
Panama Jack: A Legacy of Adventure and Style Since 1974 (and Why Pelican Reef Group Is Proud to Be the Worldwide Licensee for Outdoor Furniture)
Picture this: it's 1974, and a former University of Florida football player named Jack Katz is cruising Florida beaches in a 1963 surf van, selling tanning oil to lifeguards and beachgoers. Fast forward 50 years, and that humble beginning has blossomed into one of the most recognizable lifestyle brands in the world. Panama Jack isn't just about sun care anymore: it's about capturing that endless summer feeling in everything from clothing to furniture, and here at Pelican Reef Group, we've been incredibly proud to be the worldwide licensee bringing that magic to outdoor living spaces for over 12 years.
The Birth of a Beach Legend
Jack Katz wasn't just any entrepreneur when he founded Panama Jack in 1974. This guy had been a starting defensive lineman for the Florida Gators in the early 1960s, so he knew a thing or two about toughness and perseverance. But more importantly, he understood the Florida lifestyle: the sun, the beaches, and the need for quality products that could keep up with an active outdoor life.
Starting with simple tanning oils and sunscreens, Panama Jack quickly became synonymous with beach culture. The brand's tagline, "with Panama Jack on your back, you've got the sun on your side," wasn't just marketing speak: it was a promise. A promise that whether you were a lifeguard spending 12 hours a day in the Florida sun or a weekend warrior hitting the beach, Panama Jack had products that would let you enjoy the sunshine safely.
From Sunscreen to Lifestyle Empire
Here's what's amazing about the Panama Jack story: it didn't stop at sun care. By the mid-1980s, the brand had expanded into apparel, and when Life magazine featured Panama Jack in their "Worn in the USA" 1985 edition, the world took notice. Suddenly, this wasn't just a sunscreen company: it was a lifestyle brand that captured something uniquely American: the freedom to enjoy life at your own pace.
The expansion continued with headwear, sunglasses, beach cruisers, and eventually, home furnishings. Each product category maintained that core Panama Jack identity: quality, accessibility, and that unmistakable "endless summer" vibe. The brand understood something fundamental: people don't just want products; they want to feel a certain way when they use them.
The Perfect Partnership: Why Pelican Reef Group?
In 2011, Panama Jack made a decision that would define their presence in the outdoor furniture market: they chose Pelican Reef Group as their worldwide licensee for outdoor and sunroom furniture. For us, this partnership represented the perfect alignment of values, expertise, and vision.
As a third-generation family business founded in 1983 and headquartered right here in Miami Lakes, South Florida, we understood both the Panama Jack lifestyle and the technical demands of creating furniture that could embody it. We'd been crafting quality indoor wicker and rattan pieces for decades, serving retailers, interior designers, and commercial projects. But the Panama Jack partnership elevated everything we did.
"Since we were known for our indoor wicker and rattan offerings, recently with the addition of Panama Jack Outdoor to our patio furniture lineups, we have landed on people's radar because of the brand name recognition," explains Allen Calzadilla, our president. This wasn't just about licensing a name: it was about bringing a beloved lifestyle to life in new ways.
Craftsmanship Meets Island Living
What makes the Panama Jack outdoor furniture collections so special isn't just the brand recognition: it's the marriage of our craftsmanship expertise with Panama Jack's design philosophy. We use high-quality handwoven synthetic fibers by Viro and Rehau, combined with textiline slings made by Phifer. These aren't just fancy names; they represent materials that can withstand coastal weather while maintaining the comfort and style that Panama Jack customers expect.
The casual styles and accessible price points we've developed target younger generations of consumers, making it possible for more people to bring the Panama Jack lifestyle home. This isn't about creating the most expensive outdoor furniture: it's about creating the most authentic Panama Jack experience in your backyard.
More Than Furniture: A Lifestyle Philosophy
What we've learned over 12+ years as Panama Jack's furniture licensee is that we're not just making chairs and tables: we're creating experiences. Every piece in our Panama Jack collections is designed around the brand's core philosophy: enjoying what matters most to you. Whether that's a quiet morning coffee on the patio, a weekend barbecue with friends, or simply having a comfortable place to read a book outdoors, our furniture makes it possible.
The brand alignment runs deep. Panama Jack has always been about accessibility: making the beach lifestyle available to everyone, not just those who live on the coast. Our furniture collections extend that same philosophy. You don't need a beachfront property to live the casual island lifestyle; you just need the right pieces to transform your outdoor space.
A Global Brand with Local Roots
Today, Panama Jack operates five brick-and-mortar retail stores and two Panama Jack Resorts near Cancun, Mexico. The brand has licensing partnerships with industry leaders like Foster Grant for eyewear and Dorfman Milano for headwear. But through it all, the outdoor furniture partnership with Pelican Reef Group has remained a cornerstone of their home furnishings strategy.
This year marks Panama Jack's 50th anniversary: half a century of sun-soaked memories and lifestyle innovation. For us at Pelican Reef Group, being part of this milestone is incredibly meaningful. We've been with Panama Jack for over a quarter of their journey, and we've seen how the brand continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.
Looking Forward: The Next Chapter
As Blake Thomas, President of Panama Jack, recently reflected: "We've come a long way since our humble beginnings in 1974. Our participation in Licensing Expo is a proud moment for us as we celebrate our 50-year legacy and look forward to new opportunities and partnerships that embody the Panama Jack spirit."
That spirit is exactly what drives our continued partnership. Every season, we develop new collections that capture current design trends while maintaining that timeless Panama Jack appeal. From sleek aluminum dining sets perfect for contemporary patios to comfortable conversation sets that invite you to linger outdoors, we're constantly innovating while honoring the brand's heritage.
The relationship works because we share the same core values: quality, accessibility, and an understanding that furniture should enhance life, not complicate it. When someone sits in a Panama Jack chair or gathers around a Panama Jack dining table, they should feel that same sense of relaxation and possibility that Jack Katz envisioned when he started selling tanning oil from his surf van.
Why This Partnership Matters
In an industry where licensing deals often feel transactional, our partnership with Panama Jack has always been different. It's built on mutual respect, shared vision, and a genuine commitment to bringing the Panama Jack lifestyle to outdoor living spaces around the world. We don't just manufacture furniture with the Panama Jack name; we craft pieces that embody everything the brand represents.
For retailers and customers alike, this means authenticity. When you see Panama Jack outdoor furniture, you're not just looking at another patio set: you're seeing 50 years of lifestyle innovation translated into products that can transform any outdoor space into a personal paradise.
As we look toward the future, we're excited to continue this journey with Panama Jack. Whether you're a longtime fan of the brand or discovering it for the first time through our furniture collections, one thing remains constant: with Panama Jack on your patio, you've got endless summer on your side.