Faux Net Tricks, a locally owned company, is one of 36 national winners and one of three winners in the New England region of the American Express and Google “My Business Story” contest.

As a final contest winner, Faux Net Tricks (say it out loud: sounds like “phonetics”) will receive a digital media plan funded by American Express and fulfilled by Google, as well as a cash award.

According to the Faux Net Tricks website, they are “a Maine-based company selling super comfortable and stylish T-shirts with loads of attitude.” The company offers a full line of clever word play on top-quality tees, mugs and more. The website claims that “Mediocrity is dead” and their products are “anywhere wear, show-your-support wear, definitely-not-church wear.”

The owners and creative minds of the company are longtime friends and Lewiston natives Judi Pulkkinen Keene, Sara Marsh and Lisa Plourde Novicki. Faux Net Tricks began with an accidental play on words, launching a new business from the clever and purposeful use of phonetic sounds that create new meaning when read out loud.

Products offered by the company offer support for cancer patients and survivors and items that are simply fun to wear, all with quality that rises above mediocrity.

Two of the popular sayings found on Faux Net Tricks T-shirts are “Fine Duck Your” and “Serve High Fur.” Say it out loud to find the hidden phrases (“find a cure” and “survivor”).

The founding trio of Faux Net Tricks are community-oriented businesswomen who encourage people to shop locally.

“People love new and different—and that’s not something you get when you shop at big retail chains,” they said. “Plus, small businesses are what fuel the economy and keep local communities vibrant. When customers shop with small on-line companies like ours, they’re still supporting small business and local communities benefit from that.”

The Faux Net Tricks team donates 10 percent of all sales from their “Show-Your-Support” wear line to local cancer support organizations. More information about the company and products can be found on their website at www.fauxnettricks.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fauxnettricks, where viewers can purchase products and show their support by clicking on the “Like” button at the top of the page.

The “My Business Story” contest was held in conjunction with the move to encourage the public to “Shop Small” and contribute toward local economies by shopping at local small businesses. The winners of “My Business Story” were announced November 25, just one day before the national “Small Business Saturday.” The winning video can be viewed at www.youtube.com by entering “My Business Story: Faux Net Tricks” in the search box.