Tim Leatherman, co-founder of Leatherman Tool Group, explains the company's early attempts to secure initial orders for their multi-tool prototype.
0:00 / 0:11exact quote · 11.7s
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“So we found a list of 280 different mail order catalogs. We got zero responses from 279.”
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More from Tim Leatherman
Insight
Asking prospects for advice opens doors better than pitching them directly
“If you try to sell stuff to people, they get their antenna up. If you ask them for advice, they're plenty willing to talk to you.”
Tim LeathermanJan 31, 2022▶ 30:21Leatherman Tool Group: Tim Leatherman
Insight
Leatherman: It is better to persist too long than give up too soon
“There's a fine line between persistence and failure to accept reality, and I was determined to try to go on too long before giving up too soon.”
Tim LeathermanJan 31, 2022▶ 31:06Leatherman Tool Group: Tim Leatherman
AssertionSupported
A labeling lawsuit pushed Leatherman to source enough domestic parts for 'Made in USA'
“It spurred us into being more resolute and seeking more domestic suppliers and adding even more U.S. Content into our tools so that we can, in most of our tools now, we can label them as Made in USA.”
Tim LeathermanJan 31, 2022▶ 52:45Leatherman Tool Group: Tim Leatherman
Disclosure
Tim Leatherman frequently needed pliers during his 1975 budget road trip
“On that trip, I was carrying a pocket knife, a multi-blade pocket knife, like a Boy Scout type knife, and I was using that for everything from adjustment making well, from Using the knife blade for slicing food for dinner to the can opener for opening cans and…”
Tim LeathermanJan 31, 2022▶ 15:20Leatherman Tool Group: Tim Leatherman
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Gerber rejected Tim Leatherman's original multi-tool prototype for not being a knife
“After a couple of weeks, I hadn't heard from them, and I was getting really anxious, so I called them, and they said sorry, we decided to not take this on. It's not a knife, it's a tool.”
Tim LeathermanJan 31, 2022▶ 27:42Leatherman Tool Group: Tim Leatherman
AssertionNot checkable as stated
Tool makers rejected Leatherman prototype as an unsellable gadget
“And when I wrote to them, the answers back was, sorry, this is not a tool, it's a gadget, and gadgets don't sell.”
Tim LeathermanJan 31, 2022▶ 28:44Leatherman Tool Group: Tim Leatherman
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