Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Spencer.
Hi Dan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I actually got started in leatherworking because I was tired of buying cheap wallets that would fall apart after just a few months. I’d read an article in The Art of Manliness about making your own wallet that would last for years, and I thought that sounded like a great idea. The problem was finding leather. At the time, I didn’t know of anywhere locally to buy leatherworking supplies.
Then one day, my mother-in-law came home with a bunch of baseball gloves she’d found at a yard sale. She had visions of the whole family playing baseball together. There was just one problem: the gloves were all left-handed, and we were all right-handed!
But I looked at those gloves and thought, “Well, that’s leather.”
So I took one apart and made a wallet. It was pretty crude by my standards today, but it looked really cool. Cool enough that I wondered if somebody might actually buy one. I listed it on Etsy, and it sold. So I made another one. That sold too.
I just kept going. With every wallet I learned something new, improved my techniques, and got a little better at the craft. Over the years, I’ve sold hundreds of wallets made from baseball gloves.
As time went on, YouTube started recommending leathercraft tutorials, and I discovered online sources for leather and tools. I began learning more traditional leatherworking techniques and expanding beyond wallets into all kinds of leather goods. Eventually, I discovered leather tooling, and that opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
By then, what had started as a little hobby was becoming something much more serious. My workshop was originally in our bedroom closet, but it gradually started taking over the bedroom itself. Then I made a big investment in an industrial leather sewing machine. It was a big machine, and my wife understandably wasn’t thrilled about sharing our bedroom with it. She started complaining, quite rightfully, that we were sleeping in my workshop!
Fortunately, a friend who had a business space offered to rent me a back room he wasn’t using. That gave me my first dedicated workshop outside the house and room to grow.
Then another opportunity came along. My friend sold his business, and suddenly the front half of the building, which he’d been using as his office, was sitting empty. I decided to take it over and turn it into a retail storefront.
In October 2025, I officially opened Spearheaders Leather Goods in Roseburg, Oregon.
Today, I make everything from wallets and belts to bags, holsters, and custom leather goods. I also do leather repairs, which have become an important part of the business.
We recently celebrated our first anniversary at the retail shop. It’s been quite a journey from cutting up an old baseball glove at home to having a storefront and workshop of my own. And I’m still learning, experimenting, and finding new ways to improve my craft.
That’s one of the things I love most about leatherworking. There’s always something new to learn, and there’s a real satisfaction in making something with your hands that someone can use and enjoy for years.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think my biggest challenge has always been time management and finding balance. Spearheaders is my full-time job. I just happen to have another full-time job working nights! Add raising a family and all the other responsibilities of life, and there aren’t always enough hours in the day.
When you’re passionate about something, it’s easy for it to consume more and more of your time. What started as a hobby gradually became a business, but I’ve had to be careful not to let it take over every other part of my life. My family and other responsibilities deserve my attention too.
I’m also a dreamer at heart. I can always imagine what Spearheaders could become. I’ve got more ideas for products, projects, and ways to grow the business than I’ll probably ever have time to pursue. The challenge is balancing that enthusiasm with the practical realities of running a business and supporting a family.
But I’ve come to appreciate something about the way Spearheaders has grown. It’s been a slow, steady process, and I believe that has actually contributed to its staying power. I’ve had time to develop my skills, learn from mistakes, build relationships with customers, and grow the business without getting too far ahead of myself.
Of course, there are days when I wish things would move faster. But I’ve learned that building something worthwhile takes time, and growth doesn’t always have to be rapid to be meaningful.
My goal is to eventually have Spearheaders provide my family’s entire income so I can leave my other job behind. In the meantime, I’m trying to be realistic and balanced without losing the part of me that loves to dream about what comes next.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Spearheaders Leather Goods is a small, independently owned leather shop in Roseburg, Oregon, specializing in handcrafted leather goods, custom work, and leather repairs.
One thing that makes Spearheaders a little different is that we’re not simply a retail store selling leather products. We’re a working leather shop. The belts, wallets, bags, and other leather goods you’ll find on our shelves are made right here in our workshop. Customers can often see projects in progress when they visit.
My style is heavily influenced by traditional Western leathercraft, but I enjoy bringing a fresh perspective to it. I love the character of hand-tooled leather, the beauty of natural materials, and the little details that distinguish something handcrafted from something mass-produced. I want my work to feel timeless without feeling old-fashioned.
We make a wide variety of products, including belts, wallets, handbags, knife sheaths, holsters, and custom leather accessories. One of my specialties is giving old baseball gloves a second life as wallets. Those are particularly meaningful to me because they’re where this whole journey started.
Custom work is also a big part of what we do. I enjoy working with customers to turn an idea into something tangible, whether it’s a personalized gift, a one-of-a-kind accessory, or something they haven’t been able to find anywhere else.
Another important part of the business is leather repair. We repair everything from belts and purses to luggage, saddlery, and other leather goods. I really appreciate the philosophy of repairing something worthwhile rather than simply throwing it away and replacing it. Good leather can last an incredibly long time when it’s properly cared for.
What I’m most proud of is that Spearheaders is developing its own identity. I don’t want to make things that look exactly like everyone else’s. I want people to recognize the craftsmanship and attention to detail that go into our products. My goal is to create pieces that people are proud to own, use regularly, and perhaps even pass down someday.
Ultimately, I want Spearheaders to be the kind of shop where people feel welcome to stop in, look around, talk about leather, and see traditional craftsmanship being practiced. Whether someone needs a simple repair or wants to commission something special, I want them to know there’s a local craftsman who takes pride in doing the job well.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think we’re going to see some interesting changes in the leather goods industry over the next five to ten years.
Technology is making leatherworking more accessible than ever. When I started, just finding leather and tools was a challenge. Today, someone can order everything they need online, watch tutorials, download patterns, and start making things with a relatively small investment. Laser engraving, digital design, and other technologies are opening up possibilities that weren’t nearly as accessible to small makers just a few years ago.
I think that’s exciting! One of the things I love about leathercraft is how much variety there is. Every craftsman brings their own style, techniques, and specialties to the table. Even when we’re making similar products, the results can be completely different. I think there’s plenty of room for more people to discover and practice the craft.
What I really hope to see is a continued shift in how consumers think about the things they buy. We’ve become accustomed to inexpensive, mass-produced products that are often designed with affordability and convenience in mind rather than longevity. I’d love to see more people become intentional about their purchases, choosing quality materials, thoughtful design, and skilled craftsmanship over simply finding the lowest price.
I also think customers increasingly appreciate knowing who made something and where it came from. There’s something special about walking into a shop, meeting the person who makes the products, and perhaps even watching them work.
For me, the future of leathercraft isn’t about choosing between traditional methods and modern technology. It’s about finding ways for them to complement each other. I use modern tools in my own workshop, but I still value the traditional skills of cutting, tooling, stitching, and finishing leather by hand.
I don’t expect handcrafted leather goods to replace mass-produced products, and that’s not really the goal. There’s a place for both. But I hope more consumers will discover the satisfaction of owning something thoughtfully made, something that can be maintained, repaired, and enjoyed for many years.
As long as people continue to value those things, I believe small independent leather shops like Spearheaders have a bright future.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Spearheaders.co
- Other: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4AuSaqpjq37ygT8P6
