Times They Are A Changing

In 1975 I started a company Olam Outdoor Products that made sleeping bags as I do today. I opened many retail accounts back then. In 1986 I started producing the Wiggy’s bags and in 1988 I changed the name of the company to Wiggy’s Inc. when I relocated to Colorado. During the time I was still located in the southeast I solicited retailers in the southeast as well as the rest of the country, calling whoever was still in business from my Olam days. Some gave me an opportunity and others who had been customers, specifically in the southeast avoided me like the plague. After I relocated, one retailer in Georgia told me the North Face rep told every retailer that he would end the North Face exclusive they had if they took my bags on. One retailer in I believe Arkansas told me the industry didn’t need another sleeping bag maker. That store is long out of business as are many more of those that were around in the 1980’s.

So today Wiggy’s in the single largest quality sleeping bag manufacturer basically in the world.

For the past two years an interesting thing has occurred; many of those who are still in business and some new operations are soliciting Wiggy’s as a supplier, all to no avail; I chose not to sell to them. The largest company to contact me was Dick’s Sporting Goods. They wrote that they were opening a high end store within their store under the Field and Stream label. Most recently I had a communication from a small three store chain in the Chicago area. I looked at his web site as I always do and saw all the different brands they sell; so my comment to the buy was; “why do you need Wiggy’s” when they had TNF, Marmot etc. he was very forthright and told me he had been reading all of the wonderful reviews on the internet. That is by no means the first time I have been told that by a buyer. My response is always the same; you haven’t needed me for the past 20 years so I don’t need you now.

I all honesty it is gratifying do know the impact that I have made in the market place.

In the past I have made contact with those companies who are losing business to me not only because I have a better product but also because I make my products in America and told them I would be happy to sell them the Lamilite as well as private label for them or teach the how to make my bags in their own facility. The reality is that they do not want to make ANYTHING in the USA. So they will just have to accept the simple fact that the Wiggy’s bags are nothing less than the best sleeping bags ever made. And they will continue to lose business to me.