Finally met Rocky

**HuDonald** · 14th July 15, 07:47 PM

Finally got a chance to visit USAK and meet Rocky, Eric, and the gang! I've been planning on making this trip for over two years now, and finally got to go!

What a place and what a bunch of nice people! Eric was first to greet my wife (+baby) and I at the door, while Rocky was busy with a customer on the phone. Courteous, friendly, and very welcoming... Especially when he remembered my full name (and remembering having packed and sent some of my orders personally)!

I looked at a few swatch books, got measured up, and put in an order of a couple kilts I've been saving up for and been dying to get! Rocky and Eric were very patient with me, giving me full detailed answers with supporting logic with every question asked. They were also very patient with explaining their preferences on pleating options on my orders.

Of course, I left the store broke. But at least I didn't have to leave my first born behind (i would have had to if she was older and of useful working age). I think Rocky was afraid of getting angry emails from customers who received "extras" with their kilt... Be it baby spit-up, or poopy diapers.

Rocky topped off the already nice visit with showing us the top secret Oompa-Loompa farm where all the magic happens. Impressive indeed.

I couldn't thank Rocky and Eric enough for making this a truly wonderful visit.

Now the jonesing begins!

**RockyR** · 14th July 15, 08:03 PM

It was great finally getting to meet you in person as well, Dexter. I didn't think about getting pics taken to mark the occasion... maybe it didn't happen since there were no pics.

Anytime you're on the "right side" of the state (see what I did there?), feel free to drop in and chat!

**HuDonald** · 24th July 15, 02:55 PM

So, after the initial meeting, and my FAIL of getting pictures, we went back to visit Rocky and gang a few days later!

Here is Lucas, Eric, Rocky and myself in front of a workstation:

Here is us standing in from of their stock of PV tartans:

Here they are, all organized by alphabetical order and neatly stacked along the wall...

Here's Rocky at the cutting table cutting a piece of the America Heritage stock... He noticed a defect in the weave, so he cut it along the defect, making sure no one would use that in the middle of a piece of work:

Here are some of their workstations:

Here is Rocky demonstrating for me what a serger does (since I'm completely sewing-ignorant):

Here is their pressing table, which sucks steam through the fabric as they press!

A quick peek at their warehouse, which takes up roughly 1/3 of their property. (their property is about 1/3 sales floor, 1/3 workshop, or "Oompa Loompa Space", 1/3 warehouse):

More after the break.....

**HuDonald** · 24th July 15, 03:02 PM

And finally, here's Rocky having a brief lunch break with is fellow minions Ian, Brandan, and Mac, while Eric and Lucas continued to finalize my order (and take my money).

Again, here they are in the "place where the magic happens" (with Lucas giving a thumbs-up in the back):

All in all, a very delightful visit with the gang. I'm sure these are some of the nicest people in the business, and very sincere with their customers. While I was visiting, I inquired about a Rice tartan I wanted to check out for a friend of mine, and Ian jumped up as he heard me, and offered to let me see a Rice kilt he happened to be working on!

These guys are quick with a joke, candid and friendly as anyone can be. Somehow, they all knew I was going in the first time, and was ready to greet me as they would their own family.

Couldn't ask for a better GROUP of people to work together and have my/our kilts made. This is no sweat shop, and not a factory in Pakistan. These are real, nice people, putting care and their personal touch into each and every one of the kilts they send out the door.

Thumbs up for a real mom'n'pap operation that everyone should be proud of!