Tue Feb 09 2010
The mens restroom was out of order at the Shell Gas Station on Versailles Road.
It was 5 and Eric Lynes was frustrated with his situation and unsure of the future. As if that werent enough, hed stopped for gas and needed to visit the restroom.
Station workers directed Lynes to the womens restroom in lieu of the out-of-service mens. Inside the restroom Lynes spotted a poster with the message, "Never give up."
Call it a sign. Lynes does. In fact, he can pinpoint various signs throughout his life.
His road started with a love of hats. Theres a picture of Lynes and his brother, Percy, posing in suits each wearing a hat when they were teens at his grandmothers home.
"Ive always had a passion for hats," Lynes said.
Lynes, who grew up in Louisville, said he didnt know his attraction to hats would lead to ownership of historic Biltmore Hats in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
After a rough childhood, and ill-advised decisions as a teenager, Lynes came to Frankfort in 3 and studied accounting at Kentucky State University before accepting a job in the state auditors office and later Toyota.
In 2, at a friends urging, Lynes opened Stingy Brim Hat Company in Frankfort.
On a trip to a large hat manufacturer in Massachusetts, Lynes found himself searching for a small-brimmed hat like one he saw Malcolm X wearing in a photo.
The Massachusetts shop owner said he could recreate the hat, but it would be lower quality.
"He said, "if you want that quality, youll have to go to Canada," Lynes recalled.
Lynes went to Canada.
Thats when he landed at Biltmore Hats, the nations most prominent hat maker. Since 7 Biltmore has provided headwear for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Augusta Golf Tournament, among others.
Lynes knew his Kentucky-based hat company could profit from a partnership with Biltmore Hats.
"What we needed to do is form an alliance with this company," he said.
The then-president of Biltmore agreed to a partnership. However, shortly after making the deal, the U.S. vendor went bankrupt.
Lynes didnt let that stop him.
"I had decided Im making hats no matter what," he said.
By September 4 Biltmore in Canada was up for sale, so Lynes bid it, losing to a Toronto businessman.
The Toronto man was given five months to close the deal. When he couldnt complete the transaction within the allotted time, Lynes was offered the business. So he closed his Frankfort shop and bought Biltmore Hats in February 5.
"It was an incredible experience, just praying and agonizing, "Lynes said. "I used everything I had to buy the company."
For the past two years hes been the sole owner of Biltmore Hats. Seventy-five percent of the companys business is in the U.S. All hats are made to order. The company serves men and women, although Lynes said 90 percent of his customers are black men.
"Everything we do is custom," he said. "No other hat company is making hats like this."
He said the company still has financial struggles, but he sees great potential because serious hat enthusiasts know the Biltmore brand and quality.
"Even though were struggling the brand is still strong," Lynes said. "These hats are so well-known."
The company is small, with 25 employees, but the minimal staff allows Lynes to be involved in all operations of the business including modeling for the catalog.
Lynes splits his time among Canada, Frankfort, and his travels to apparel shows such as MAGIC International in Las Vegas. At shows like MAGIC, Lynes finds himself in the presence of top fashion lines such as Sean John, owned by the entertainment mogul "Diddy," and fashion icons such as Ralph Lauren.
The popularity of Biltmore Hats is catching on in Hollywood too. One of the hats was featured in the 6 movie, "The Good Shepherd. " Singer Alicia Keys and professional basketball player Allen Iverson sport Biltmores.
Lynes is hoping to get his hats on the heads of another pro basketball player, Shaquille ONeal, and talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
At 50, Lynes said hes learned to follow the signs along his path in life. He credits positive influences such as Dr. Doug Howell, a Frankfort chiropractor, his family, including wife, Tezeta, and three children, as well as God, for leading him down the right road.
He said hes in an awesome position now and encourages others to not let distractions get in the way of pursuing dreams.
"There is something for everybody, everybody was put here for a purpose," he said.
Lynes purpose is to share Biltmore Hats with the world.
"There really is a hat for every head," he said.
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