Daggerfish Gear Company
Scaling a Craft Gear Maker Through COVID-19
A 2,000-unit contract, a new manufacturing facility, and the operational backbone to deliver both under pandemic conditions.
- 2,000
- Units contracted
- 1
- New facility opened
Daggerfish Gear Company, a small business specializing in handcrafted outdoor gear, wanted to grow operations and win new business during the COVID-19 pandemic. NDCS partnered with them on a major contract, expanded manufacturing, and the operations to support both.
The challenge
- Scaling operations amid pandemic uncertainty.
- Meeting the production requirements of a large subscription-box contract.
- Building and equipping a new manufacturing facility.
- Producing and delivering 2,000 handline fishing reels to a tight deadline.
What we did
Contract acquisition
Secured a contract for 2,000 Daggerfish handline fishing reels with Bespoke Post as part of their Support Small Business campaign, negotiating terms that kept the work profitable and showed off the craftsmanship rather than compromising it.
Facility expansion
Identified and set up a facility in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania, fitted to how Daggerfish actually works, and assisted with procuring and laying out the equipment needed to hit the new volume.
Operations and production planning
Working closely with the founder, defined the scope of operations and built a detailed production schedule against the contract deadline, establishing workflows that raised throughput without giving up the handcrafted quality of each piece.
Production management
Oversaw the production run itself — coordinating material sourcing, assembly, and quality control, and working hands-on to clear bottlenecks as they appeared.
Results
All 2,000 units were delivered ahead of the agreed timeline. The Bespoke Post contract lifted sales and put Daggerfish products in front of a much wider audience, the new facility gave them capacity for larger runs than they could previously consider, and delivering early strengthened their standing with a major partner.
Nicholas Daly Creative Services played an essential role in helping Daggerfish Gear Company navigate a pivotal moment in our growth. From securing a major contract to expanding our manufacturing capabilities, their expertise and commitment ensured our success. We couldn't have done it without them.