Q: Tony, tell us a little bit about your self, your personal history.
A: I was born in 1953 in a town of 1,000 people in Central Italy called, Sant’ Andrea.
I immigrated to Vancouver, Canada on May 14, 1974, when I was 20 years old.
Q: How did you end up working for Dayton Boots?
A: It was a fluke. I was a new immigrant, looking for work. A friend of my uncle’s told me that Dayton was hiring, so I came down to the factory and began my training, and here I am, 32 years later.
Q: What was the Dayton factory like in 1974 when you started?
A: There were 38 people working here. We were making about 140 pairs of boots a day.: Boots for loggers, boots for the mining industry, boots for fishermen, as well as cowboy boots, like the Black Beauty. We were making boots in the old world hand crafted tradition and we maintain that tradition today.
Q: What was the first job at the Dayton Factory back in 1974?
A: Nailing. It was hot and dirty. I swallowed a lot of nails. But you have to start somewhere.
Q: When did you become the foreman?
A: In 1995. After I got my grade 12, and went to business school.
Q: Describe your job duties as Production Manager.
A: I am responsible for all the production decisions including the hiring and training of staff as well as finding the best suppliers, and the best materials. Quality control is also one of my most important responsibilities. Remember we make Dayton boots to last for a lifetime.
Q: What do you look for in your people?
A: We look for two things: skill and attitude. You can teach someone to build the boots, but you cannot teach attitude. There is a level of pride that comes with working for Dayton. You have to care, or you shouldn’t work here.
Q: How is the leather selected?
A: A great boot can only be made from the best leather. We inspect every shipment of leather by hand, skin by skin, regardless of how well we know the supplier. And we show no mercy.
Q: What do you mean by that?
A: For example, last month I received 2500 sq. feet of black leather. I didn’t like it. Not quite thick enough. It wasn’t up to our standard. In the selection of the leather, there is no corner cutting. It has to meet the Dayton Standard. It didn’t, so I made them take it back.
Q: You’ve stated that Daytons are the best-made boots in the world.
A: Yes, this is true.
Q: Why?
A: It all comes back to the skill and the pride of the people working here. If I say “Good morning” to someone, and they don’t say “Good morning” back. I know there is a problem. And I need to fix it. This is not a big corporation. It’s a family business. Beautiful boots can only be made by happy people.