Woah, Woah, Woah!!!
Let's all just slow down, partners.
I talked to Joe, and this is definitely NOT a semi-retirement. He's just temporarily not taking new orders for a while. He told me by January he'll be back to taking new orders.
And I quote, from Joe in the initial post: "I'll still be making whips part time(ish) but just the whips I really want to do. Whip making is not that easy to give up."
What he told me was that he doesn't want (for the next three-four months) to take random Indy whip orders from random places, but like, if a return customer wanted something interesting between now and then, he would do it. He is STILL making whips, he's just not taking NEW (read: "typical") orders, for a short time, until this new job slows down a bit. But he WILL be making whips: to finish up his current orders; to make a few custom orders for friends and return customers; and he'll be making a few things for the in stock page.
And yes, if his new job is permanent, he will stick to it, and it will slow his lead times, but the Northern Whip Company as we know it is not calling it quits. Worst case scenario for his customers is probably just longer lead times. And holy @#$%! Joe Strain is about the fastest top end whipmaker out there. 2-3 weeks? Are you kidding me? WHO can beat that except for someone who keeps stockpiles of whips, like Mark Allen or someone. If you were thinking about ordering your first whip from him and you want an Indy whip by Halloween, then yeah, you're probably out of luck. But if you can wait until February, then you'll get it, business as usual. Maybe just a longer wait. And if you ask me. Jeez, do you even have to ask me if it's worth it?
DHW
