Unfortunately, quality has been replaced with cheap and nasty. As a
pilot, I became disgruntled with the low quality of accessories found on the
shelves of local FBOs and in the catalogues of mainstream aviation
suppliers. I don't know when, but it appears "quality made" went on the
endangered list with the advent of cheap labour. All of our suppliers
followed suit (for bigger profits of course) leaving us hold the bag.
Kinda sucks when you think about it.
In aviation, you're only as good a pilot as you look. People don't
only care about how skilled you really are, you'd better LOOK skilled as
well.
This is where I was caught out.. Donning a pair
of "import" epaulettes, I felt like the aviation pimp equivalent.
Crooked, poorly sewn, gaudy display of gold foil tinsel on my
shoulder made me wish I was wearing a pink furry derby hat too. I
felt I should of been out of the cockpit and into... lets just
say "the house of ill repute". Though no one said anything, I
constantly felt that if I found a bit of clear air turbulence, I'd surely be the
Christmas Tree everyone would point towards as the
cause..
I searched in vain to find a really nice set of epaulettes and was having
no luck. All I wanted was QUALITY back and that was too much to
ask.
After weeks and weeks of trial and error, several thousand dollars in
equipment and materials later, I'm standing here with a fantastic offer to
the aviation community. I'll never make my money back.. I know this, but I
feel good knowing that a few of my brothers and sisters in aviation will be
adorned with proper accessories. This also gives me the opportunity to
SELL to my mates instead of GIVE to my mates. At the status quo I'll
be broke by Christmas!
Why the name "YEPaulettes!!"
let's just say that during my tenuous process of getting to where I am
now, I heard "yep" a lot. "Sweetheart, I think I'm going to make my own
epaulettes.." **Yep.....
"Do you like the blue drill or polyweave better?"
**Yep.... "Can I setup shop in the dining room for now?"
**Yep... "Can I make a custom pair of epaulettes for my hot new
girlfriend?" **pass me the scissors
please....
Ok, it wasn't ALL yeps, but sometimes if felt like it. So one day
sitting behind the sewing machine the word YEPaulettes came to mind and
that's the company's name now.
After all, why not?? What else are you going to call a company that makes
sleeves that fit on shoulder flaps.. The Shoulder Flap Sleevey Thingy Making
Company?? Too long and hard to spell.. I like clean, simple,
efficient and effective.
What's next??
I've had a few people ask me what's next??? Well, you're right.. We
can't just stop here. We need to move on to bigger and better
things. That's exactly what we're going to do. While I'm not going
to let the cat completely out of the bag, I will say it's going to be
good.. While not everything is going to be the more economical, superior
product, we can say they will be superior, even if it's at a higher price.
At least they'll be available and that's better than what the industry is
offering us right now.. Right??
