Our company  was founded by Bob Harris shortly after he retired from a successful career  designing women's footwear. It all began when his wife had to use a cane  following surgery. She was in low spirits, and Bob wanted to find a way  to cheer her up. Returning to his workshop, he fashioned a collection of  attractive walking sticks for her. Her spirits lifted as soon as she started  using the new walking sticks. "I had such wonderful experiences. They brought  smiles to the faces of people wherever I went ... and compliments! The focus  of attention shifted from my physical condition to my new walking sticks."

Soon, the  Harrises donated some brightly colored crutches to the children at St. Jude's  Hospital and the Shriner's Hospital. Word of Bob's work spread, and people  asked him to make walking sticks for them or their loved ones. When Bob  showed his walking sticks to local boutiques, they gladly placed orders  ... and so, an entrepreneurial business was launched. In 1991, when Barbara  Bush had an accident, Bob made a pair of crutches and sent them to the White  House. Since Ms. Bush likes the color red and President Bush prefers blue,  Bob added white and a little gold. A lovely acknowledgment was received  from Ms. Bush.

Two years  later, the Sun Sentinel newspaper ran a prominent article on Harris walking  sticks with the result that orders flowed in. Even with the success of his  cottage business, Bob continued to enjoy designing new and unique walking  sticksÑgiving many of them away as gifts. In 1996, he fashioned a walking  stick specially for England's Queen Mother. He received a kind letter of  thanks from Buckingham Palace.

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Bob's son  Doug will hopefully join the company in the near future. He is committed  to continuing his father's vision of providing fine walking sticks with  friendly, personal service. Like his father, Doug enjoys both the pleasure  of crafting fine walking sticks as well as the entrepreneurial challenges  of running their small business.