MEDIA RELEASE July 1, 2009
“The Irony in Running a Wallet Business During an Economic Depression”
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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
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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
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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!
