Off to Nocona

[softball66]

I'll be traveling to Nocona Glove Co. tomorrow along with another Nocona man, Brandon. I'll bring back some pictures and some information on the company since its new reorganization and structure.
Storey family's still there though.
TGC

[softball66]

Friendly smiles and optimism greeted us upon my most recent visit to Nokona Gloves this past week, and the company now titled as American Original Ballglove Co., and in a newer – but still historic location – on Clay Street in Nocona, Texas. I was accompanied on my visit with Nokona Glover Brandon Forquer, whose enthusiasm for the venerable glove maker, never wavers.
Rob Storey, looking the same from my last trip several years ago, just after the firm had moved from their fire-gutted original home to the old Nocona Boot Factory. Storey seemed greatly relieved to have gone through his company’s more recent trial by a different kind of “fire” that of unfortunate working relationship with a former partner combined with the recent economic downturn. The Nokona folks are now enjoying being through that recent tribulation and on the sunny side of the street as their company has a new majority owned and working partner -- Cutters Gloves, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz. Cutters’ innovative and successful owner, Jeff Beraznik, heads the company. Cutters made its mark in football gloves, mainly those used by Pro and College receivers. The company also has other sports related products. Beraznik liked the fit of Nokona and its heritage and craftsmanship,
Storey is delighted with the new setup. “This is a great fit for us with Cutters. They bring a lot to the table for us with state-of- the art management and marketing expertise and provide a very positive framework of helpful attitudes.”
With the Cutters acquisition Nokona had ended its relationship with its former partners and has been able to retain its great Nokona name plus its marvelous “USA-Texas-Made” quality-production capabilities, which has established its wonderful name recognized by glove buyers over the nation. “The former mix,” Storey said, “just wasn’t working for us, the new plant expansions, the line extensions and expensive glove endorsements weren’t panning out and they were operating on a different philosophy than us.”
Brandon and I received our personal tour of the newly set up operation which, in the past, has housed several boot companies in town including the original Justin Boots Company during the 1920s and 1930s.
One of the quick things we noticed was that Nokona workers were doing a lot of repair work on old Nokona glove models from more recent years to some dating back to the previous decade or so. Storey pointed out, “We’re the only ones able to do this work on our glove products because everyone else is overseas. We’re working hard to improve our service capabilities and quick turnaround in this area. And our old customers appreciate it.”
We looked on as lacing on the new and popular Nokona “Bloodline” gloves were being re-laced. The company was getting ready for more leather to arrive so new styles could be underway. Storey pointed out that, “We’re in the process of hiring many of our employees back and get back as soon as we can to the 50,000 plus yearly glove production that we previously enjoyed.”
It was good to walk around and to see familiar faces like Helen Ulbig. who now has 48 years with Nokona and Rob’s longtime assistant, Lisa Nobile. We just missed second generation and former Nokona CEO Bobby Storey, Rob’s dad. But, heck, there would be another time to catch up with him.

[okdoak]

Glad to hear that Nokona continues to push on through these tough times. I'm sure that we all get the news in one form or another and are aware of how bad things are out there with layoffs, wage cuts or freezes, etc. The company I work for has been hit hard over the past year and a half also. Luckily most of the layoffs were temporary, though a few new hirees weren't called back and we are still way down from where we were years back. Things seem to be picking up but very, very slowly. Anyway, sorry to get off the subject. That's interesting that they do the repair work there also. Hoping that things start to turn around and that they sell a lot of their fine American made gloves.

[softball66]

Greg, I hear you. Lean times for sure and it caught a lot of people and companies flat-footed. It was certainly ill-timed for Nokona as expansion and spending was a bit out of control before that.
Former partners got in trouble with a minor league team too, that ran into serious financial problems as well.
You know the Nocona glove company was the primary mfg. source there in Nocona with the Nocona boot company gone for years. It hit the little town hard when it started having problems. And before that the fire wiped out the old, original factory and they have to lease space now.

[vintagebrett]

Joe, do they still have their plant in Worcester, MA or did it close down?