Author Archives: Stormy Kromer

Inspected by Her: Eagle-Eye Jackson, also known as Lynn.

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Lynn Jackson Stormy Kromer
SK: What do you do at Stormy Kromer?
LJ: I’m one of three inspectors, and I make sure every cap that goes out is perfect. All the threads have to be cut off, the earband has to be straight, the monogramming needs to be good, no skipped stitches. Everything. On every cap.

SK: So how many caps is that for you?
LJ: Well, in five years as an inspector (she’s been with the company for seven), that makes over half a million caps. Wow. I guess that’s why they call me “Eagle-Eye.”

SK: What’s the best day you’ve ever had on the job?
LJ: We hit 612 caps in one day and every single one was perfect—not even a string to snip off.

SK: What’s the strangest day?
LJ: When nothing goes right. But, you know, that doesn’t happen too often around here.

Inspecting Stormy Kromer Caps
SK: How does it feel to know you’re stitching together a legend?
LJ: I feel like a movie star. I love it. I’ve already got my picture in the newspaper—me inspecting a cap. Got it up in my living room. I’m proud. I’m the one who gets to inspect and help make that cap. It says we’re doing a good job, you know?

SK: Absolutely. It says a lot about your standards.
LJ: Yes. It’s gotta be 100%. There can’t be anything wrong with any of the gear that goes out our doors. So I look at it like I’m buying it. You don’t want a thread hanging off that you pull and it unravels. That’s not Stormy Kromer. No, it’s gotta be perfect.

SK: What does “made in America” mean to you?
LJ: We’re the only sewing company around anymore. We love our jobs. We’re proud of this. And here, you get something sewn to perfection.

SK: Anything you else you want to tell Stormy Kromer fans?
LJ: When you buy a cap, you know that Eagle-Eye has looked at it!

Featured Stormy Kromer Retailer: Alice’s Wonderland

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Stormy Kromer Dealer Alice's Wonderland

We’re about as far from the mall as you can get.

You don’t have to be an outdoorsy person to shop at Alice’s Wonderland, but you do have to travel through a good deal of rural Pennsylvania countryside to get there. And when you’ve gone far enough to think you’ve gone too far, keep driving. You’re almost there.

You see, when you look at it the way the Karpiak family does (these are the fine folks who’ve run Alice’s for four generations now), you have to ask yourself: Where else would you put an outdoor store? In town?

The Karpiaks have a keen sense for what (and where) their store should be. Take Grandpa Paul, for example. When he bought the place in 1940 and named it after his wife, Alice, it was a restaurant. But because farm families didn’t tend to dine out all that often—and they did ask Paul to pick up a shirt or two when he went into the city for supplies—he decided to shift the focus of the family business to clothes and other outdoor gear.

“If it didn’t have a purpose, it went away,” said PJ Karpiak, Paul’s grandson and co-owner of the store. “That’s how Grandpa took care of things, and that’s pretty much how we still run the show today. We sell products that solve people’s problems, and if we don’t believe in the clothes or coats or boots or caps, we won’t put them on our shelves.”

Sometimes that means they don’t stock the latest fads, but that’s just what makes Alice’s Wonderland so popular.

“Our customers are the kind of people who spend their lives outside,” added Karpiak, “and they’re not going to come back if you sell them something that doesn’t stand up to their lifestyle.”

This philosophy stems from a belief in serving the customer the way shopkeepers used to. Because, as the Karpiaks say, “You can buy anything you want on the internet (at Alice’s website, in fact) but you visit the shop for a reason. To be helped.”

This philosophy is also the reason Alice’s now sells Stormy Kromer wool caps and clothes.

“Kromer fits us perfectly. It’s a great product with a great history, and when people say ‘You can’t find anything good that’s made in the USA,’ this is what I show them.”

And when you find our way out to Alice’s Wonderland, you’ll know the trip was worth it.

Handmade by Her: Barb Wilman, Stormy Kromer Seamstress

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This fall, we’d like to help you get to know the fine men and women at Stormy Kromer a little better through a series of employee interviews.  We’ll start by meeting longtime employee Barb Wilman.

Barb Wilman, Stormy Kromer Seamstress
SK: What do you do at Stormy Kromer?
BW: Just about anything they ask. I’ve spent the last 4-5 years sewing the caps—putting in the inside labels and the piece that attaches the earband. I’ve done every job on that line.

SK: So how long have you been at SK?
BW: I’ve worked for Bob (Jacquart, of Jacquart Fabric Products and Stormy Kromer) for over 20 years now. I enjoy it here. It’s really like my family.

SK: It actually is your family, isn’t it?
BW: Yes, extended family. My husband, Jim, has worked here 15 years.

SK: How would you describe the company to an outsider?
BW: Oh, my gosh. I get teary-eyed because Bob has taken such good care of me. And if you give the man an honest day’s work, he’ll pay you an honest wage.

SK: What part of all this are you most proud of?
BW: It might sound kind of odd, but seven years ago, my son started work on the BNSF railroad.  Now he’s an engineer, just like Mr. Kromer himself. I’m so proud of that.

SK: What’s the toughest part of the job?
BW: Getting up in the morning.

SK: Is there anything else you’d rather be doing, other than sleeping in?
BW: Nope. And that’s ironic because my mother used to sew my clothes, and she’d say to me “Whoever thought you’d sew for a living.” Well, apparently I really enjoy this.

SK: What’s your favorite Kromer cap color?
BW: People sure seem to love the partridge plaid, but I think I’ll stick with my pink one.

SK: Why does “Made in America” matter to you?
BW: Businesses send so many jobs overseas, it’s like we’re not taking care of our own in this country. People say there aren’t jobs here, well, we’re proving them wrong.

SK: Anything else you want to tell Kromer fans?
BW: Come on up to the U.P.—to God’s country—and take a tour. We’d be more than happy to show you how we make your Kromers.

Team Stormy

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If you’ve read any of the previous “From the CEO” blog posts, you may recall that I am a pretty active cyclist.  I had a big birthday over Labor Day weekend and I really wanted to “fight” turning 60 by riding in a challenging event.

I learned about the Flambeau 40 – a 35-mile race held in Park Falls, Wisconsin – and I thought I would invite all of my biking friends to join me in riding and supporting a small-town event.

In a previous post, I shared a photo of a few of us sporting Stormy Kromer bike jerseys.  I haven’t kept an exact count, but I believe there are about 40 of these limited-edition jerseys out in the world. Sixteen of them showed up to join me on September 1st.  We made quite an impression in the racing crowd!

It was a gorgeous day.  During the ride, I realized that I was riding in a group with Dave (11 months older then me) and Rick (nine months older than me), two friends who grew up within a block of me.  Who could have imagined that three 14-year-old kids playing football near Ironwood High School would reunite at 60 to ride a 35-mile bike race!

This weekend reminded me what a wonderful life this is.  I’d love to hear any of your stories about how you’ve celebrated a milestone birthday!

Meet Our Employees – Shipping

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Ladies and gentleman, we’d like to introduce you to three very special employees:  Patti, Missy and Allison.  You see, these fine ladies package up each and every Stormy Kromer order and send your new caps off to you with pride.

As orders have grown over the past few years, the physical space this team has used to pick and pack orders has been shrinking.  We thought they deserved a brand new space to do their very important work.

Our new distribution center – which sits within one of our buildings – is wrapped with a full color vinyl banner, and even has a place for our tour visitors to sign their name.

It also gives our team all the space they need to organize, store and prepare orders for shipment.

The next time you order from us…and are anxiously awaiting the arrival of your package…you can thank Patti, Missy and Allison for its delivery!

Our 3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament

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Playing Cornhole (also known as Corn Toss, Bean Bag, Bean Toss, Soft Horseshoes, Indiana Horseshoes, and more) – has become an annual tradition here at Stormy Kromer.  For the third summer in a row, employees paired off into teams and played in our very competitive, double-elimination tournament.

This year’s tourney counted 18 teams, representing every department of the company.  Playing in our parking lot (or warehouse on rainy days), the teams battled it out during their morning breaks and lunchtimes, with many matches attracting a number of spectators.

Complete with popcorn for the excited fans, our Championship Match featured Carol & Dennis vs. Tim & Denise.  While the crowd was hoping for a competitive and lengthy match, Carol & Dennis remained undefeated and cruised to victory with a score of 15-6.

Our Champions received a cash prize, but more importantly, earned the right to proudly display the prestigious Cornhole Trophies which will stay at their work stations until next year’s tournament.  Last year’s winners, Rick & Larry, begrudgingly handed them over at our Trophy Presentation on August 29th.

Congratulations to Carol & Dennis (in yellow), and thanks to all of our 2012 teams for participating!

What’s a Kromerism?

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If you follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest, you probably have seen us use the word “Kromerism.”  So just what is it?

Simply put, a Kromerism is a comment George “Stormy” Kromer might make on the world of 2012.  A world far different than the one that caused him to invent the iconic cap.  We like to think he’d have something to say about things like smart phones, cubicles and 21st century fashion.

They started out as simple tweets (they’re the most popular thing we do on Twitter), and have now turned into graphics as well.  We may even turn a few into posters, so stay tuned.

These are a few of our current favorites.  Stay connected with us through all our social media channels to catch the new ones as they come out.

Now it’s your turn: what commentary do YOU think ol’ Stormy would make on the world today?

Stormy Kromer Plaid Designs for 2013

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One of the most popular posts since launching our blog was “Developing Stormy Kromer Plaids”, posted last September.  We had 69 comments to that post with so many great suggestions on naming our plaids.  In fact, we named one of our new Ida Shirt fabrics using one of your suggestions (sorry, it’s not available quite yet on our website, but stay tuned!).

Ida Shirt in Chocolay - Available Soon!

Chocolay (which also happens to be a township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula), was a perfect moniker for the the rich browns, beiges and blues in this new shirt.

We’ve got two new plaids that have just gone into the sampling process.  We can’t tell you what products they will be used in, but once again, we would love your suggestions on names for these new designs.  Perhaps your idea will be showing up on products in fall 2014!

Let the suggestions begin!

Featured Retailer: Mast General Store

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Stop by and see what hasn’t changed in the last 129 years.

There’s an 80-year-old man in the village of Valle Crucis, North Carolina, who can’t remember a day he didn’t head down to Mast General Store for lunch—a plug of baloney and a cold glass of Yoo-Hoo.

He’s not alone. Most folks in this tiny, Blue-Ridge-Mountain town (and thousands more from the surrounding region) depend on the Mast Store for virtually everything a person needs for life. Shoes, socks, shirts and outdoor gear—plus things like jams, jellies, hand-made furniture and the sort of service you’d expect at the turn of the century.

Just not the last turn of the century.

Mast General Store opened in 1883 to take care of the friends and neighbors who farmed the surrounding lands. And even though generations of those farmers have turned into generations of city-dwellers, they continue to seek the authenticity the Store was founded on.

“We still ask our patrons what they need us to stock, and that’s what we put on our shelves,” said Sheri Moretz, Community Relations Manager for all nine Mast Stores. “It works like retail is supposed to: recognizing and caring about customers, welcoming them with conversation, keeping them as friends.”

Walk in the store and see it for yourself. The first thing you’ll notice is people playing checkers at the potbellied stove with bottle caps off a few old-fashioned Coca-Colas. The next thing you’ll notice is the Post Office, where Valle Crucis still gets its mail. After that, grab yourself a cup of coffee—it’s a nickel, and that’s on the honor system—then mosey up and down the aisles. (Literally up and down, too, because the floor isn’t so level after all these years.)

You can also take a seat on the liar’s bench out front, which is where many good tales are told.

“We love stories here at Mast Store,” added Moretz before diving into one about the time the Charles Kuralt came in for a visit. “He wrote an article about us and said ‘Where should I send you to know the Soul of the South? I think I’ll send you to Mast General Store.’ That was the 1980s, and people are still seeking that same experience.”

It’s these types of genuine, down-to-earth anecdotes that led the buyers at Mast Store to put Kromers on the shelves.

“Stormy Kromer’s got a great story,” said Moretz. “It’s authentic, and it shows we share the same values. This is a made-in-the-USA product that fits a modern need in a traditional manner. That’s what we are, too.”

Stop by, see for yourself, and spin a few stories of your own, at MastGeneralStore.com.

Mr. Grossman, You are the Caretaker of a Legend.

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All employees here at Stormy Kromer receive this nifty plaque when they are hired, reminding them of the rich Kromer history they are keeping alive.

We all have fun displaying them on our desks, sewing machines and other work stations.  It gives everyone a little extra sense of pride.

So we got to thinking, who else deserves this honor?

Last month, at a long overdue dinner meeting in Milwaukee, Bob Jacquart, our CEO, presented Dick Grossman with a special Caretaker of a Legend plaque.

If you need a quick refresher, Mr. Grossman was the second owner of the Kromer Cap Company, having purchased it from Stormy himself in the mid-60′s.  In 2001, after one meeting and a handshake, Bob and Dick had an agreement which moved the Kromer Blizzard Cap to its current home in Ironwood, MI.  Dick continued running the Kromer Cap Company for a few more years in Milwaukee, manufacturing the company’s cotton caps used by welders, railroad workers, and other tradespeople.

At 79, Dick is now retired from the hat business.  He’s as high-energy as ever, and is downright giddy about the success of Stormy Kromer over the past 10 years.  He’s pretty sure that Stormy would be proud of us too.

Presenting this small token of appreciation to him seemed the least that we could do.  Without him, who knows what would have been the fate of the now iconic cap?  He believed in the product, in making things in the USA, and in good old-fashioned quality.  He kept things going until the next Caretaker was ready to take over.

And for that Dick, we tip our caps to you.