Field Norris on Turning a Problem into a Brand: The Birth of Chene Gear

In this episode, I sit down with Field Norris, co-founder of Chene Gear, to talk about how a frustration in the duck blind turned into a premium outdoor brand. He shares the story of what it takes to build something from the ground up, and how he and his team have scaled without losing sight of their values. From early challenges to staying customer-first, Field offers an honest look at building a brand with purpose.

Episode Highlights

• Origin Story: How a leaky pair of waders on a duck hunting trip sparked Chene Gear.
• From Problem to Brand: Solving a need for their community before realizing they had something bigger.
• People First: Building relationships through handwritten notes, in-house repairs, and grassroots loyalty.
• Growing Without Losing Purpose: Hiring smart, learning from mistakes, and staying mission-focused.
• Field’s Mindset: “We had plenty of reasons to quit, but we just kept asking, ‘Why not?’”