Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Spicer.
Hi Jane, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
When I was 10, I asked my Mum, Daphne (the company’s namesake) for a sailboat. She told me to think of a business and earn it myself. I decided on making toys for Christmas and with my Mum’s help made stuffed animals, I sold them around the neighborhood and earned a 16 foot sailboat ( in my eyes the most beautiful boat in the world.) The toys then morphed into puppets which we sold at craft fairs around Phoenix. At one of these craft fairs, a customer suggested that we make the puppets into headcovers. At this point, I was almost 16 and really hoping for a car. My Mum ( always the motivator) bribed me and said that if I sold enough headcovers, she would buy me that car. I bought a hat box at the Goodwill and made just enough samples to fit in the box, and then talked my way into the Arizona Biltmore Golf club, where Pete, the very kind director of golf, bought them and gave me sales tips ( he said my sales pitch was the worst he had ever heard and gently coached me on how to improve). With my improved sales pitch, I continued to sell and earned the car ( a red 1973 VW bug).
I continued selling through high school and college and after getting a real job decided that corporate life wasn’t for me. I sold my car, bought a cargo van and went on the road selling puppets at street fairs from San Francisco to Austin and stopping along the way at golf shops to sell headcovers. After 6 years, I had enough business to come off the road.
Business grew steadily and then Tiger Woods won the 1997 Master’s ( carrying Daphne’s tiger headcover) and our business grew 400% in one quarter!
Since then, we’ve gone through many Master’s and championship wins with Tiger ( and the 200 other professional golfers that carry Daphne’s). We’ve expanded globally and we are in over 75 countries and growing. I am still at the helm, still sail and love creating our headcovers ( with my amazing team) as much as I did when created the first one.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
There have been many challenges along the way. Starting out as a female 16-year-old sales rep in a male-dominated industry was tough. And since we had invented the niche, I wasn’t taken seriously. Over the years I learned to that I had to prove myself twice as much to be taken seriously so I got very good at always showing up, keeping my word and standing behind my product.
In the beginning, the bank wouldn’t even talk to me, telling me I was cute, and sweet and should just get a job. I had to remain firm and continue with my vision through these off-putting degrading conversations ( now the banks all come knocking at my door, lol).
My biggest challenge was when my Mum was diagnosed with a brain tumor and suddenly passed away. I’d lost my best friend, business partner and mentor. With a new baby and no backup plan I had to forge on.
Over the years, I’ve become grateful for my challenges as they’ve shown me that I have the strength to go on, overcome and thrive.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I design golf club covers that are in the shape of animals and novelty characters such as Tigers, Golden Retrievers, Pirates and Dragons. I created this niche with my Mum so I am very proud of developing this product and owning the niche in the golf world for 43 years. What sets Daphne’s Headcovers apart is our detailed design and exceptional quality. We are so proud of our quality that we are the only headcover company in the world that offers a lifetime guarantee.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Golf is growing and I am happy to say more people are enjoying the game. I see the game of golf continuing to grow through great programs such as the First Tee and Girls Golf. A wonderful trend in my industry is the combination of families playing together and younger kids getting involved and loving the game.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.daphnesheadcovers.com
- Instagram: daphnesheadcovers
- Facebook: Daphnesheadcovers
- Twitter: @daphnescovers
