Originally Posted: April 26, 2017
With a logo that couples the East India Company symbol during the Revolutionary War with the Navy SEAL trident, Tea Party Rebels is more than a tribute to the patriotic, rebellious Boston colonists in 1773 and their defiant act against British-imposed taxation. The new business weaves the New England rebellious spirit into its clothing– which benefits today’s patriots though various charity organizations.
Spearheading it all is Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Class of 2008 graduate, Stephen Poulin, who has launched Tea Party Rebels LLC, his own apparel company created to benefit veterans, active servicemen and servicewomen and also first responders through a portion of the sales.
Tea Party Rebels sells clothing that’s printed by a former Navy SEAL. Poulin, who is not a veteran himself, has four siblings, all of whom are ABRHS graduates and three of which are on active duty in the military. Starting the apparel company was Poulin’s ways of giving back, he said.
“It is very exciting for me as an entrepreneur in this business, as it is a big learning curve,” Poulin said.
Service runs in the family
Poulin, 27, originally from Boxborough, grew up the middle of five children. His oldest brother, Andrew, 30, attended the United States Naval Academy. Andrew is now a Lieutenant in the Navy and is stationed in Washington D.C. Poulin’s younger sister, Katherine, 25, also attended the Naval Academy and has been deployed twice in the Middle East as a Surface Warfare Officer. She is now a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Poulin’s youngest brother, Brooks, 23, remains on active duty as a Specialist in the Army and is stationed in upstate New York at Fort Drum. Their brother Gregory, who is not in the military, is almost 29,
“So yeah, having three siblings in the military, they’re always on the top of my mind. Not being in the service myself, I was always trying to think of a way I could give back. I was trying to think of a cool way of doing something I really liked, but would also give back to the military, veterans and active duty,” said Poulin.
Poulin attended college at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where he majored in biology and minored in psychology. After college in 2012, Poulin moved back to the Acton-Boxborough area and became a church leader at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, where he attended church growing up. He also became a Pop Warner football coach. After three years, Poulin discontinued those volunteer efforts when he moved to Chelmsford and began working as a sales manager at Acton Toyota dealership in Littleton. READ MORE