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.
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.
