They brought a Mayan hammock from the Yucatan, in Mexico, where they had been traveling the year before.
This Mayan hammock was soft and gauzy looking. It had fine threads and an amazing, intricate design that was intriguing from a distance. I watched them hang it up, and watched Lisa enjoying that hammock as she read books.
My preoccupation at the lake was FISHING so I wasn't much interested in hammocks. But, as the days went on, as I wore myself out fishing, I noticed the hammock more and more. I could tell by all the time Lisa was spending in it that it must be really comfortable.
Finally, Randy saw me looking at it as I walked past, and said:
"Try it out!"
He held it open and showed me the proper angle to lay so my back would be flat (across the hammock at an angle).
I was immediately comfortable! Weightless! Speechless (almost).
The first thing I said was:
"Wow! I could sell a million of these if I could get them."
I was in the hammock less than a minute because I wanted to get back on the lake to catch dinner.
But the experience of laying in Randy's Mayan hammock, was singular, and it stayed with me.
I hadn't even mentioned that old rope hammock I had at home. I didn't even remember that I owned a hammock because the feeling was so incomparable.
I made the connection when I got home and saw my rope hammock hanging under the arbor.
I had been duped! It wasn't that hammocks are uncomfortable . . .
I paid for a hammock, and I got a SHAMMOCK.
I began researching Mayan hammocks online immediately. I found scant references and some pictures of hammocks from the Yucatan. I continued to dig around and located a co-op in Mexico that appeared to specialize in Mayan hammock production.
I ordered a dozen different hammocks of various colors and sizes. Soon, a big bag of hammocks arrived on my door. I will never forget that first load of hammocks - opening it, and marveling at the colors and intricate patterns of each new hammock as they lay on the floor in a big pile.
I was hooked! I hung them up at home. I hung them up at my mom's plant nursery, where I worked as a salesman at the time. I told people about Mayan hammocks. I invited them to try the hammocks. I took them to friends houses and hung them there. I introduced people to the unparalleled comfort of the Mayan hammock, the same way it had been introduced to me.
People responded the same: "WOW!"
I quickly saw the opportunity and did more research. These fantastic Mayan hammocks were not available on any shelf, in any store that I could locate.
Two primary companies dominated the hammock market with rope hammocks in 1997: The Pawleys Island Company and Hatteras Hammock Company. They had accounts in every major department store and big box retailer nationwide.
I knew rope hammocks were uncomfortable from first-hand experience.
How many people had learned this the hard way? How many, like me, were seeking comfort and bought a rope hammock that provided none? Probably millions.
This was an injustice I could not ignore! This problem seemed to have a simple solution:
What if I start a hammock company that sells only the most comfortable hammocks?
Hmmm... what if?
