Words on woolen hats are a fast-growing business for Liz Polkinghorn, a Rockport-based entrepreneur who started Bespolk Hats from her home about four years ago after “boomeranging” back to Maine from southern California. Her first hat, which she made for herself, featured a four-letter expletive she uttered upon experiencing cold in Maine again. Today she sells made-to-order statement hats containing words and phrases online and at retail stores including Jill McGowan in Portland, Lingua Franca in New York City and even in the English countryside, at a store called Cutter Brooks. Mainebiz caught up with the accidental entrepreneur to find out more.
Mainebiz: What inspired you to start Bespolk Hats?
Liz Polkinghorn: I grew up in Bangor and moved away when I got married and lived mostly in southern California, and we decided to move back to Maine. I had forgotten just how cold it was here, so I thought, ‘I need a hat, but a fun one. One that says something.’
MB: How hard is it to put words on a hat, and how long does it take you to knit one?
LP: It really depends on the length of the phrase. I can make one in a day if I just sit in the morning and knit, knit, knit, but sometimes life interrupts.
MB: What are some of the most unusual words you’ve knitted onto hats?
LP: “Birder” and “Stable Genius,” but not a lot of crazy ones because people do have to wear them.
MB: Where do you obtain your yarn from, and how has the pandemic affected the supply?
LP: I get my yarn from a Maine company called Quince & Co, I personally haven’t noticed a problem yet but it has said it is going to increase the price. I’m OK with that because it’s lovely yarn.
MB: What’s your weekly or monthly production volume?
LP: It depends — Christmas was very busy because I had a new wholesale client that needed a lot for Christmas. It is seasonal, but it gives me a chance to knit stock for the coming year.
MB: How does a small Maine maker get to New York and even England?
LP: Social media is a great tool if used correctly. For Lingua Franca in New York City and Cutter Brooks in the U.K., I just reached out over Instagram and they got back to me.
MB: What’s next for the business? Any plans to branch out beyond hats?
LP: I love Christmas and I have been making some stockings that I would love to maybe market.
MB: Longer term, do you think you’ll hire any employees or open a store?
LP: Probably not; this started as casual thing and I like it that way. I don’t have to stress about a lot and I love doing it. I am old, my kids are grown, and I just like the creative aspect of it.
MB: Based on your entrepreneurial experience so far, what advice would you give to anyone starting a home-based business today?
LP: Just do it! Don’t listen to people if they discourage you. And do what you want and try things, but it has to be something you love to do.