A Letter from David Hays
I’m David Hays, founder of Canvas USA®, the parent company of HULLYARD™. Before you spend your money with us, I’d like you to know a little about who I am and where this company came from.
I’ve spent over 40 years working with customers. I’ve worked the counter, answered the phone, and spent long hours getting the work done. When you do that for a living, you learn to listen. A person may not know the name of the part they need, but they know what’s giving them trouble. My job is to understand what they’re asking for and help them get it right.
I know what it means to wake up tired and still have to get moving. You’ve got bills to pay, a family to take care of, and people depending on you. If you’ve made your living working with your hands, taking care of customers, or answering that phone all day, you and I probably have plenty to talk about.
I know what it’s like to be told no. I also know what it’s like for somebody to promise you something and not follow through. You count on their word, make your plans, and then you’re left waiting. When you finally get an answer, it’s another excuse. That wears on you, especially when you’ve got people depending on you, too. I’ve been on that end of it, and I don’t forget it when a customer is depending on us. If I tell you I’m going to do something, I take that seriously. And if something goes wrong, I owe you an honest answer and a plan to put it right.
I built Canvas USA® with good people beside me. We grew mostly by word of mouth, with very little advertising. One customer would tell another, and that’s how the next job came through the door. I’m proud of that. When somebody sends you a friend or a family member, they’re putting their own name behind yours. You’d better take care of them.
Over the years, our work has reached customers across the country. I’ve seen all kinds of boats, RVs, and just about anything you can put canvas on. I’ll tell you, traveling somewhere and seeing something we manufactured still being used—that’s one of the best feelings there is. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of it. I spot our logo, and I know that’s our work. I know what went into making it, and seeing it still serving somebody makes me proud. To me, that logo means we’ve put our name on the product and the work behind it. It’s how you recognize something we’ve thought through, manufactured with care, and built to last. You worked for the money you spent on it, and I want you to feel that it was money well spent every time you use it.
That experience is what I’m bringing to HULLYARD™. The people helping build this company have spent years in the trade, dealing directly with customers. We understand there’s a person on the other end of every order, and that person worked for their money.
I believe in long-lasting products and American-made goods. Some fittings and specialized products have to come from overseas because we haven’t found what we need here. I’ll be straight with you about that. But if you’re making a good product in this country, I want to hear from you. You don’t have to be a big company. If you’ve got something worth selling and you stand behind it, let’s talk.
There’s something I’ve always taught my kids, and I want you to hear it from me, too. You do your best not to make a mistake, but you will. We all will. When that happens, the number one rule is to own it and figure out how to put it right. Fix what you can, repair what needs repairing, and learn from it.
That’s been a rule in our family, and it’s how I expect this company to take care of you. We’re not perfect. Nobody is. Somewhere along the way, we will make a mistake. I won’t promise you otherwise. What I will promise is that we’ll take responsibility and work to make it right. If something’s wrong, tell us. I want to know.
I believe in respect, and I expect it both ways. I’ll give you a fair hearing, and I expect you to treat my people fairly, too. You deserve to be treated right, and so does the person who picks up our phone.
I’ve worked too hard, and too many good people have helped me, for those values to stop with me. Long after I’m gone, I expect this company to keep doing what I built it to do: give people honest answers, do good work, and stand behind it. That matters to me. My name is on it.
Take a look at our Admiral section and join the conversation. I want to hear from people who care about their work and want to make a good living doing something they’re proud of. Bring us your ideas, your products, or a question. We read every email, and we try to answer every one.
I’m grateful for the families, customers, and crew who have helped us get here. I’ve worked hard, but I know I didn’t get here by myself.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I look forward to earning your business.
David Hays
Founder, Canvas USA®
The parent company of HULLYARD™
