“The Irony in Running a Wallet Business During an Economic Depression”
————————————————————————————————————————————————- STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Portland based Wallet maker db clay tanked in 2008 with the rest of the world
- They have recently rebuilt and relaunched (SEE FULL STORY BELOW)
- As their first step forward, db clay is set to unveil 1,000 hand printed wallets
- 600 of which are entirely one of a kind
- PREORDER db clay’s designer pocket art exclusively online here dbclay.com
- $50-60 each, free shipping, 90 day lead time
- A positive association is once again possible with your daily Wallet usage
————————————————————————————————————————————————- Portland, OR – July 2009
For the past eleven years db clay has been actively involved in creative wallet manufacturing. Initially db clay focused on handmade products; however, over the course of a decade or so, this Portland-based brand for the ages has transformed their crafty (yet all the while tech focused business) into a full-scale and globally distributed designer wallet brand. With triple digital growth from 2006 to 2007 and opening more than 500 accounts worldwide, db clay was on the path to becoming a small business success story… but hold on a minute, not so, as in 2008 they experienced frozen capital markets just like many other folks across the map. Like many others, db clay couldn’t buy inventory and db clay couldn’t stock shelves for Holiday 2008 – they had to adjust, cut expenses, and batten down the hatches to survive and weather the economic storm.
That said, in an effort to organically relaunch in 2009, db clay will be starting out with 1,000 hand printed wallets. These wallets can be seen and purchased on db clay’s shiny new website www.dbclay.com - “By organicically we mean on our own,” begins Garett Croft Stenson. “Though I am actively seeking outside investment, I am also trying to be realistic about the situation: I can’t depend on the market… but I can depend on myself and those around me… this is going to be hard but in the same breath, an eventually rewarding transition for all of us… the biggest realization I’ve come to: life matters, money doesn’t.”
Garett, the Founder, CEO and Creative Director for db clay, began his wallet making career with nothing more than a knack for hard work (and an idea in a small town during his first year of college) has become a bit of a wallet manufacturing expert. He spent countless hours in his early days selling wallets from a street booth at a local Portland market. He has personally hand made about 30,000 wallets and has mild nerve damage in his left elbow to prove it. He also has scars on his inner arm from donating plasma his entire first year of college. “I donated plasma twice a week – I got paid $35 to do so – I would use this (blood) money to go buy groceries and wallet making supplies. Ride bike home – eat – make wallets – sleep – sell wallets.”
“Over the years, I am fortunate to have had thousands of conversations with people about their wallets…” Referring to his early selling and brand building days. “I’d ask people what they carry, and why… I can tell you that I got an entirely different response from each person… those diverse and one on one conversations are the most valuable thing db clay has.”
Truly, Garett and db clay are moving forward with vigor and unique ideas and an instinctive sense for what people want in a wallet. Their latest lineup includes 1,000 hand printed wallets – all the designs derived from life experiences and original artwork. If serendipity should have it, indeed this must be considered The Year of the Wallet as “for the first time in ages, a positive reaction is possible when you pull out your wallet… a reason to talk to somebody… hey, where’d you get that thing?”
This tight-knit think tank has cleverly built an odd, new-fangled breed of brand, combining elements of high fashion, high design, encouraging collectible gift giving and stirring up innovative technologies all under one roof. You don’t see many wallet companies like this. In summary: life experiences + wallets = db clay
————————————————————————————————————————————————- OTHER LINKS TO VISIT dbclay.com (OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO PLUG) SWNSWI create the new economy 1,000 hand printed wallets Garett’s Blog The Story of db clay
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WE ARE SEEKING MEDIA COVERAGE – CONTACT US – THANK YOU!
——————————————————————————————————————————————– 1,000 hand printed wallets from Portland
Portland based Wallet maker db clay tanked in 2008 with the rest of the world; we have recently rebuilt and relaunched. As our first step forward, we are excited to unveil 1,000 hand printed wallets (600 of which are entirely one of a kind).
VIEW and PREORDER our pocket art exclusively online: Puzzle Batch 3 Ms Frey Marble Ms Frey Pacific Ms Frey Metals
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Documentary: Sometimes we’re nice; sometimes we’re ice.
Length of flick: 20 minutes and 9 seconds (20:09)
Premise: a metaphor for what happened to world and me in 2008 - the story of db clay READ SYNOPSIS
——————————————————————————————————————————————– create the new economy
A work in progress: db clay is formulating a curriculum that teaches ya’ll out there in Internet Land how to start and grow your own business in the new economy that is upon us – we are in this together! Again, this is a work in progress and will be ever changing – all the while your feedback and participation is very welcome! GETTING STARTED
——————————————————————————————————————————————– Message from Creative Director
Hello, my name is Garett Croft Stenson. I am the Founder, CEO and Creative Director for db clay, a Portland-based wallet company. I began making wallets in 1998 and in a decade or so since, I have learned a lot about people, the world, and oddly enough, what individuals carry around in their pockets every day. I’ve personally handmade about 30,000 wallets (I have nerve damage in my elbow to prove it!)… WHY PREORDER?
——————————————————————————————————————————————– MEDIA RELEASE July 1, 2009
“The Irony in Running a Wallet Business During an Economic Depression” READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
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Outlined below, is a complete archive of all formerly offered db clay wallets - all of which are now sold out and are no longer available. We are sad to see them go ☹ - but take comfort in knowing that they have found good homes in your back pocket or purse…
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Version 3.1
The creation of Version 3.1, our ten year anniversary collection, was inspired by life experiences and original artwork produced by the former faculty at db clay. The original collection offered 18 designs each telling a different story from the last 10 years of running and building and shaping this ol’ ball of db clay. VIEW ARCHIVE Version 3.1
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Version 3
Made from custom/proprietary Tope, and inspired by original artwork, our Version 3 collection offered twelve decorative wallet designs to look through. The working theme behind this collection was “purple and gold” – Tope represents the moment we graduated from Tape. Still made from Tape? Nope. It’s now called Tope. VIEW ARCHIVE Version 3
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Version 2
Though still pretty rough, Version 2 was a vast improvement from our Version 1 days. Still made from Gaffers tape, this line (in contrast to Version 1), offered a smoother texture, newly rounded corners and much better print quality. VIEW ARCHIVE Version 2
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Version 1
Good ol’ Version 1! Made from traditional Gaffers tape stitched together with thread (a Patent Pending process we invented). This was our first batch of “manufactured” wallets… certainly a significant transition for us. Prior to Version 1, we hand made every wallet. VIEW ARCHIVE Version 1
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Puzzle Batch 1
Puzzle is a one-of-kind collection of billfolds that is hand printed & painted, by db clay in Portland. No two wallets in this batch arrive the same & only 500 are freshly made in each batch. Each piece is beautifully unique- individually numbered as part of a set and lined with gold satin nylon and delivered in a gray gift box. Picture them as pocket art. VIEW ARCHIVE Puzzle
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Puzzle Batch 2
Puzzle is a one-of-kind collection of billfolds that is hand printed & painted, by db clay in Portland. No two wallets in this batch arrive the same & only 500 are freshly made in each batch. Each piece is beautifully unique- individually numbered as part of a set and lined with gold satin nylon and delivered in a gray gift box. Picture them as pocket art. VIEW ARCHIVE Puzzle
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Handmade Clays
Handmade Clay’s are the bridge generation between our old handmade days and our current manufacturing days. Handmade Clays are made with Duct Tape on the inside and hand painted gaffers tape on the outside. They were super thin and textured. We sold them at street markets along the west coast for a couple of years. They are no longer in production. VIEW ARCHIVE Hand Made Clays
———————————————————————————————————————————————- Ductbills
In me life (Garett speaking) I have made about 30,000 Duct Tape Wallets. I’ve had about twelve different friends, including my brother, also help me too. In total we’ve made about 50,000 wallets by hand. I paid way through college by hand making and selling these Duct Tape wallets at street markets. VIEW ARCHIVE Ductbills
———————————————————————————————————————————————- myDuctbills
In me life (Garett speaking) I have made about 30,000 Duct Tape Wallets. I’ve had about twelve different friends, including my brother, also help me too. In total we’ve made about 50,000 wallets by hand. I paid way through college by hand making and selling these Duct Tape wallets at street markets… but now, refusing to make them any more (due to insanity and sore hands), I decided to package up and give away my wallet making secrets, in kit form, so that people can now make their own!!! VIEW ARCHIVE myDuctbills
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CLICK HERE TO VIEW WALLETS THAT ALIVE AND WELL AND FOR SALE
In 2008 db clay crashed and burned a bit with the rest of the world - what a wild ride indeed! Currently, we are in the process of rebuilding our company; from the ground up in 2009. We have a lot of projects planned for later this year and beyond and let’s be honest, at this point, every bit helps! That said, we are working on several ideas behind the scenes (including software development) are we sure could use all the R&D funding support we can get from ya’ll out there in Internet Land!!! For example, we are currently developing a social media framework loosely being referred to as LIFE EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS - this is very early stage - thanks to all for support!
Below are me scratch notes from the various investor/investment meetings I had in 2008 - unfortunately, no deal was ever reached. I am still seeking a backer/business partner/perhaps even a COO. I’m hoping 2009 is a different story as its already off to a much different start db clay seeking $250,000
Over the weekend ol silver eyes was victim of a hit and run - luckily I have car insurance - but I don’t have health insurance - that thought alone is making me rethink me priorities…
———————————————————————————————————————————– CONTACT ME TO ORDER YOUR ONE OF A KIND WALLET TODAY!
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Hello, my name is Garett Croft Stenson. I am the Founder, CEO and Creative Director for db clay, a Portland-based wallet company. I began making wallets in 1998 and in a decade or so since, I have learned a lot about people, the world, and oddly enough, what individuals carry around (in their pockets) every day. I’ve personally handmade about 30,000 wallets (I have nerve damage in my elbow to prove it!); but thankfully now, I work with a variety of global artists and factories to produce our current mixed media product line. Today June 10, I’d like to announce the release of 1,000 hand printed wallets, as referenced below - follow these links to preorder/reserve your very own and unique piece of pocket art today… or better yet, give away as a gift!
Now, to be honest and get down to business, cash flow is extremely tight right now. As I’m sure many small business owners across the land can relate, credit to buy inventory is hard to come by, and the investment climate has been a bit cold. Transparency: right now I am having a difficult time buying db clay’s much needed inventory - we are having a difficult time floating cash and production runs for 30-120 days or more. We are in a big bind. That said, I’d like to propose something to all you db clay loyalists out there: I need your help (if you are in a position to do so)! I am asking that you follow the links above and place a preorder - give me a call - shoot me an email - and reserve yours today - once you’ve preordered, you will receive your wallet in 90 days. We appreciate your patience (and upfront payment) and for doing so, we will ship you your wallet for free and it will come signed, numbered and packaged in a recycled gray paper gift box.
Oh the irony of running a wallet business during an economic depression… (but isn’t this transition enlightening?!)… I/we sincerely appreciate your support of db clay in the past and in years to come. We hope to grow back along with the rest of the world.
- Garett Croft Stenson
———————————————————————————————————————————– CONTACT ME TO ORDER YOUR ONE OF A KIND WALLET TODAY!
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