The DayMakers Story
The DayMakers Story
By Billy Norris
If you can take a few minutes to read the DayMakers story, you will understand that providing excellent and personal service with a good listener’s attention to detail really is the bedrock of our company culture. It isn’t just a slogan that we will “make your day”.
DayMakers’ roots go back to 1979. The economy was tough and I lost my job. I embarked on a path toward self-employment. Making goods out of leather presented itself as an opportunity, so I made a $300.00 down payment on a $1,200.00 sewing machine and was trusted to make three monthly payments. On that day, I looked at the sewing machine and had a sense I would always have work. I started making drawstring pouches out of leather remnants. Along the way my sister-in-law’s grandmother commissioned a handbag. It was the first handbag I had ever made, and luckily, I was able to retrieve it over 20 years later (See photo). Since I grew up in the midst of eight sisters (and one brother thank God), making handbags came naturally.
Within two years I was admitted to exhibit at the Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show with leather pouches, belts, and shoulder bags. Initially I called my business “Santa Barbara Leather Works”. At the Art Show I displayed products made during the week and also brought leather, thread, zippers, and tools. I included a foot-treadle sewing machine and cutting table in my exhibit and made special orders out of soft leather “while you wait”.
That I grew up in the midst of eight sisters was integral not only to my development as a designer but also to my ability to listen. At the Art Show I listened a lot and took on any task in soft leather pouches and bags. In time I became proficient at understanding and designing the bag each customer wanted, even better than they had wished for. To recognize this advance I changed my business name to “William Norris Designs”.
One day I received a phone call from a federal Fish and Game agent who worked undercover in the Florida Keys. His mother lived in Santa Barbara and was one of my shoulder bag customers. She referred him to me to see if I could make a fanny pack for his concealed weapon. In designing his fanny pack I incorporated steel cables in the strap for the first time. I tried 1/8” cable, which was way too thick, and then 1/16” aircraft cable, which worked very well. To this day I use 1/16” cable because it is the strongest that works. My competition typically uses steel cable in their strap that is half as thick and cuts twice as easy.
Next I incorporated the steel cable into the fanny packs I sold at the Art Show. I also added a Velcro wrapper to conceal the buckle and then a swivel clip on a leash to secure the zippers. After over 800 Sundays at the Show, I had one of the first HipSafes in my hands and realized I was about to start a business to reach the world beyond the Art Show. That Sunday morning I was facing the sidewalk, Cabrillo Boulevard, and the mountains. Later that day I turned to face the Ocean and the vast world beyond.
I was riding in a car with a niece and nephew and his family, going to Santa Maria to visit my parents and we were talking. I mentioned what I was doing and we proceeded to brainstorm for a name. It popped into mind that my products would definitely help to make a person’s day and the name “DayMakers” became the next name for my work.
How DayMakers became what it is today is a long story, for another day. Suffice it to say I have help now. We listen well and are dedicated to providing excellent and personal service. One may say this is inefficient business; we say it’s just how we’ve always been. Creating jobs is just a bonus. One day we hope to be able to make just what you want, “while you wait”. Meanwhile, what we do offer likely surpasses what you might be hoping to find.
Billy
By Billy Norris
If you can take a few minutes to read the DayMakers story, you will understand that providing excellent and personal service with a good listener’s attention to detail really is the bedrock of our company culture. It isn’t just a slogan that we will “make your day”.
DayMakers’ roots go back to 1979. The economy was tough and I lost my job. I embarked on a path toward self-employment. Making goods out of leather presented itself as an opportunity, so I made a $300.00 down payment on a $1,200.00 sewing machine and was trusted to make three monthly payments. On that day, I looked at the sewing machine and had a sense I would always have work. I started making drawstring pouches out of leather remnants. Along the way my sister-in-law’s grandmother commissioned a handbag. It was the first handbag I had ever made, and luckily, I was able to retrieve it over 20 years later (See photo). Since I grew up in the midst of eight sisters (and one brother thank God), making handbags came naturally.
Within two years I was admitted to exhibit at the Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show with leather pouches, belts, and shoulder bags. Initially I called my business “Santa Barbara Leather Works”. At the Art Show I displayed products made during the week and also brought leather, thread, zippers, and tools. I included a foot-treadle sewing machine and cutting table in my exhibit and made special orders out of soft leather “while you wait”.
That I grew up in the midst of eight sisters was integral not only to my development as a designer but also to my ability to listen. At the Art Show I listened a lot and took on any task in soft leather pouches and bags. In time I became proficient at understanding and designing the bag each customer wanted, even better than they had wished for. To recognize this advance I changed my business name to “William Norris Designs”.
One day I received a phone call from a federal Fish and Game agent who worked undercover in the Florida Keys. His mother lived in Santa Barbara and was one of my shoulder bag customers. She referred him to me to see if I could make a fanny pack for his concealed weapon. In designing his fanny pack I incorporated steel cables in the strap for the first time. I tried 1/8” cable, which was way too thick, and then 1/16” aircraft cable, which worked very well. To this day I use 1/16” cable because it is the strongest that works. My competition typically uses steel cable in their strap that is half as thick and cuts twice as easy.
Next I incorporated the steel cable into the fanny packs I sold at the Art Show. I also added a Velcro wrapper to conceal the buckle and then a swivel clip on a leash to secure the zippers. After over 800 Sundays at the Show, I had one of the first HipSafes in my hands and realized I was about to start a business to reach the world beyond the Art Show. That Sunday morning I was facing the sidewalk, Cabrillo Boulevard, and the mountains. Later that day I turned to face the Ocean and the vast world beyond.
I was riding in a car with a niece and nephew and his family, going to Santa Maria to visit my parents and we were talking. I mentioned what I was doing and we proceeded to brainstorm for a name. It popped into mind that my products would definitely help to make a person’s day and the name “DayMakers” became the next name for my work.
How DayMakers became what it is today is a long story, for another day. Suffice it to say I have help now. We listen well and are dedicated to providing excellent and personal service. One may say this is inefficient business; we say it’s just how we’ve always been. Creating jobs is just a bonus. One day we hope to be able to make just what you want, “while you wait”. Meanwhile, what we do offer likely surpasses what you might be hoping to find.
Billy
