# Leatherman Tool Group: Tim Leatherman

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2022-01-31
- Length: 1h 04m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman

## Summary

Tim Leatherman, founder of Leatherman Tool Group, explains how he spent seven years prototyping a folding multi-tool in his brother-in-law's garage before making his first sale. He details the rejection from knife companies like Gerber and toolmakers like Stanley, who dismissed the device as either not a knife or just a gadget, forcing him to pivot to mail-order catalogs like Cabela's and Early Winters. The company scaled from a garage operation to manufacturing over 3 million tools annually in Portland, Oregon, while navigating challenges like post-9/11 sales slumps and maintaining domestic production despite component sourcing issues.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=0) Introduction: Tim Leatherman and the Leatherman Tool Group
- [4:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=254) Tim's early life, Vietnam experience, and the spark for the tool
- [20:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=1232) Prototyping in the garage and iterating on the design
- [28:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=1695) Rejections from knife companies like Gerber and toolmakers like Stanley
- [35:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=2107) The first sale at a knife show and partnership with Steve Berliner
- [42:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=2566) Securing the first orders from Cabela's and Early Winters
- [51:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=3106) Scaling production in Portland and the 'Made in USA' legal battle
- [57:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-01-31-leatherman-tool-group-tim-leatherman#t=3435) The impact of 9/11 on sales and the company's turnaround

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Leatherman Tool Group (company)
- Gerber (company)
- Stanley (company)
- Black and Decker (company)
- Cabela's (company)
- Early Winters (company)
- Sharper Image (company)
- Eddie Bauer (company)
- LL Bean (company)
- Sears (company)
- Bass Pro Shops (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Leatherman Wave (product)
- Pocket Survival Tool (product)

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- [STL 70: Lie-Nielsen Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2014-10-17-stl-70-lie-nielsen-live) (Shop Talk Live)
- [Episode 165: Don’t let it beat you.](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-04-20-episode-165-dont-let-it-beat-you) (Making It)
- [Afterschool Podcast, Episode 11 - Marco Perry and Mark Prommel of Pensa (11/12)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/core77-podcast/2013-11-12-afterschool-podcast-episode-11-marco-perry-and-mark-prommel-of-pensa-11-12) (Core77 Podcast)
- [Sam Holland (Co-Founder, Informal)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/just-gonna-send-it/2026-04-15-sam-holland-co-founder-informal) (Just Gonna Send It)

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