Let me tell you a little story about a guy named Chris.
Chris is one of those people with the gift of gab, known all over the Central Coast of California and if there’s one thing he loves as much as people, it’s hunting. What many don’t realize is how instrumental Chris was in the early growth of Authentic Leather Patch Company and our journey into the custom leather patch hat industry.
The Early Days of Leather Patch Hats (2015–2016)
Back in 2015, we were experimenting with laser-etched leather patches in our shop. After plenty of trial and error, we finally figured out how to properly stitch leather patches onto hats, something that, at the time, very few companies were doing well.
We took on a handful of local orders, liked what we saw, and decided to test the waters. I posted a simple, organic ad in one of the largest Facebook community groups on the Central Coast, offering custom leather patch hats for around $30 per hat.
That single post turned out to be one of the most viral things I’ve ever shared.
We were flooded with hundreds of inquiries, which was wild considering that leather patch hats weren’t mainstream yet. There were only a handful of companies producing them the way we were, stitched, not glued, and made to last.
Enter Chris
Chris was one of the people who reached out.
At the time, he was interested in starting a hunting-themed brand centered around high-quality leather patch hats like the ones we were making. He stopped by the shop several times, and it didn’t take long for us to realize how many mutual friends we had.
We started spending more time together in the shop, prototyping new designs, creating samples, and quickly uploading products to his website. One day, Chris casually asked:
“Would you guys mind if I told some hunting brands about you?”
We didn’t know Chris all that well yet, but after vetting him through trusted friends, we decided to take a chance. We struck a deal that benefited both sides and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we ever made.
Organic Outreach Before It Was Saturated
Chris went to work immediately.
Back then, Instagram DM outreach was far more effective than it is today. Chris started messaging his favorite hunting brands, outfitters, and outdoor companies, sharing photos of our hats and samples we were producing together.
The response was incredible.
Orders started rolling in.
Through Chris, we began working with brands like Crispi Boots, Marsupial Gear, Finz and Feathers, and even KUIU, which was rapidly gaining traction in the hunting world at the time.
From there, the list kept growing:
Eco Outfitters, West Coast Archery, Alpha Outfitters, Bluelined Bowhunters, Hogwire, AVES, Deep Timber Outfitters, San Jose Outfitters, Hunt Hard, Grapplrz, Wilderness Kitchen, Shednecks, Frontier Gear of Alaska, Epic Outdoors, Bronson Outfitting, Joel Pilcher, Racks and Tracks Taxidermy, Kendrick BBQ, Initial Ascent, Gunwerks, N1 Outdoors, Adam Greentree, Sonoran Pro Hunts, Pacific Flyway Supplies, Delta Waterfowl, Frontera Hunting, and hundreds more.
Let’s just say this plainly:
Chris was essential to our growth, and we are forever grateful for him.
Miles, Memories, and Hunt Expo
Chris didn’t just help behind the scenes, he came along for the ride.
He traveled with us three times to The Western Hunt Expo in Salt Lake City, driving every single trip and refusing to let us take a turn. On one trip, he made us stop in Las Vegas so we could jump off The Stratosphere, while he stood safely on solid ground laughing.
During those long 20+ hour drives, Chris educated us on all things hunting. He constantly spotted elk in the mountains, pulled over so I could fly my drone to scout terrain, and somehow turned us into borderline “experts” by the time we reached Utah, even though we started knowing absolutely nothing.
At one point, I told him I was going to start my own Squirrel Hunting Outfit, and he just laughed.
Grateful Then, Grateful Now
Chris, thank you.
