Wow, what a long way we’ve come. I started being serious about this business about 15 years ago and got burnt out quick. At the time I was operating out of my garage and a very small room in my basement. My webpage ranking went from page 9,000 something to page one in 6 months. More orders than I had the equipment to handle. I stopped for a while, moved and now have a full shop to work out of. It’s a major difference working out of a garage in the winter with a jet heater blasting your ears out to a full sized 20 x 35 foot shop with “real” walls, central heat and air and carpet. Racks for supplies, two workbenches for tools and two tables for layout, cutting and...
Read MorePipe Bag Orikawa you say! Well, taking the definition of “Origami” (In Japanese, “ori” means “folding” and “gami” means “paper” so it stands to reason that a folding pipe bag made of leather would be “ori” for folding and “kawa” meaning leather… Orikawa). I should state right up front that if I’ve got this wrong I would appreciate being corrected by anyone speaking/reading/writing Japanese. I was contacted a while back by Chris Lee, owner of iBriar.com with an idea he has been considering for a high-end pipe bag that could be configured in various ways. As normal with custom...
Read MoreI know it seems I’ve disappeared of late however that’s not the case. I’m actually just really really busy! Lot’s of new orders and inquiries and some really neat stuff I’m coming up with. A few of the current projects are from my new leather prototyping business so I cannot talk about those until such time as the item is released on the market. I do have a couple of new pipe bags coming up that will be released by the owner at the Chicago Pipe Show on May 2cond so stay tuned. More coming! If I have not been communicating properly of late it’s simply due to having time. If I don’t get back to you when you think I should please...
Read MoreFavor to ask my current and prospective customers. I am now listed on page one on Google so proper communication is becoming a challenge. I prefer email as I can keep up with everything that way but call me if you feel the need at 336-655-6233. If you send me an email and I d not respond within a couple of days, don’t fret, re-communicate. I spend a lot of time in the shop as orders continue to arrive but I do try to keep up with my email at least every couple or three days. I know, good problem to have if you’re in business but what I don’t like is having any customer feel that they are being ignored. Take care and keep in touch…...
Read MoreNow this is going to get scary. I’ve decided to go ahead and take the plunge and make Dragonthorn Leatherworks full time. I’ve been doing all of my leatherwork in my spare time and am ready for a change. I’ve been in corporate for way too many years and honestly just tired of the BS. Going to be working for myself full time now so watch this space. Lots of orders, lots of idea’s. Stay tuned… ...
Read MoreQuick update to the below blog post. Chris at iBriar.com arrived home safely from a grueling 3 days at the show… (I feel so bad for him… NOT!) I miss going to pipe shows but alas, I’m just too buried in the shop! The bags were apparently a big hit. We are now receiving order inquiries for the bags. Chris and I are working diligently to determine changes to the designs that will make them even better and to nail down the pricing. I have also added and instruction sheet on the Pipe Bag Orikawa webpage to give you all a better ideas of how it works. Stay tuned!...
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