Thanksgiving 1985 Brian and Regina Henderson took a trip to New Orleans looking for sunny skies and warm weather. Little did they know that the sudden quick daily rain showers of New Orleans would change their lives. Each morning began with sunny skies and lots of strolling through the city streets. On the first day when a sudden rain shower popped up Regina darted into a shop to purchase a plastic rain poncho bearing a New Orleans logo. Brian purchased an umbrella. Each day it rained, and each day Regina bought another $5 poncho and then threw it away when the sun reappeared. Of course, Brian's umbrella was always left back at the hotel. Five days and $25 later Regina was dry and had no wet raingear to pack up and take home. Brian was amazed and wondered out loud what would happen if Clemson Tiger paws were printed on such a poncho. A stadium full of folks, rain, and $5.00 ponchos with Tiger Paws. A salesman's dream!
Within a matter of weeks, a rainwear manufacturer had been found, collegiate license agreements negotiated and a new company was born. Seven Sons And Company, Inc. began selling rain ponchos to colleges for the fall football season but soon found that once the football season had passed sales came to a halt. To fill the void ponchos were then sold to corporations as give-a-ways and advertising.
Brian and Regina both had previously been in transportation sales so it seemed natural to approach business associates in the trucking industry. The first major corporate poncho sale was to Southeastern Freight Lines. The little disposable poncho with the SEFL logo was used as a mailer to customers and was a “hit”.
Southeastern’s sales department began to call Seven Sons for other products and soon introduced Seven Sons to the Quality Department. The Quality Department had just begun to look at the requirements for the Malcolm Baldridge Award. During this time SEFL called on Seven Sons to look at ways to improve the distribution and administration of Quality Recognition. Seven Sons accepted the challenge.
Brian was busy selling ponchos so Regina took on the SEFL account and focused on their Quality Process. Twenty-two years later, Seven Sons was selling ponchos for MLB, NFL, NASCAR, NBA, NHL, 150+ colleges, while also providing a distribution center and partnership with SEFL for the Quality and Service/Safety Program. Brian was in declining health and Regina felt it was time to make a decision.
In early 2006 Seven Sons And Company, Inc. licensed products division was sold and 7 Sons Quality Services, LLC was born. This change allowed us to focus totally on the SEFL programs, improve services, and eliminate the travel required for licensing sales. A new smaller warehouse/office was designed and built specifically to house SEFL QWQ, Service & Safety products.
This change allowed Brian and Regina to experience the depth of SEFL's commitment to “value their people”. Throughout Brian's illness 7 Sons Quality Services continued to meet the requirements of SEFL, and SEFL met their requirements by "valuing their people". The support of the entire SEFL family has been a true blessing.
Now twenty-eight (28) years after that first poncho sale to SEFL our company's services include, but are not limited to: Budget Control, Inventory Control, Warehousing & Distribution, Recognition Gifts, Gift Cards, Apparel, Uniforms, Art Design, Event Planning, Points Programs, Catalogs and many other Recognition Solutions.
Our small dedicated staff feels very much a part of the SEFL family and we take a lot of pride in knowing your programs and philosophies. The culture of your company is something we admire very much and try to emulate. We know from personal experience that “valuing people” comes down from the top at SEFL.
We appreciate your business and all you do. Feel free to call us anytime we can be of service.
Regina
The Name: 7 Sons
Being the sixth of seven boys born to Era Bonner Henderson and Frank Henderson, Brian Henderson, owner and founder of Seven Sons And Co. Inc., was always proud of the fact that after the death of his mother, Era, his dad, Frank managed to keep all seven boys together under one roof while maintaining a full time job as mill supervisor. While Frank worked two and sometimes three shifts, these seven boys pulled together and kept a family united.
The original name Seven Sons And Co., Inc. and logo were designed by Brian in honor of his dad, Frank Henderson. The “seven sons” is symbolic of positive attitudes overcoming negative attitudes.
The new name 7 Sons Quality Services, LLC is symbolic of positive attitudes creating Quality Services.