Maker Monday: Cruise Customs Flags
Maker Monday is Presented by our friends at Clayton & Crume.
Cheers to our first Maker Monday! We’re so pumped to do this series alongside of our friends at Clayton & Crume. C&C has been named one of the Top Makers in the South by Garden & Gun Magazine, and they’re handcrafting the highest quality leather goods right here in our backyard.
This collaboration with Clayton & Crume came during the install of their shop door mural which reads “Louisville is for Makers”. Louisville is indeed for Makers and during this series we’ll highlight various Louisville makers in a variety of different industries.
Our new series, dubbed Maker Monday, will be released the first Monday of every month. In this series, we’ll highlight the makers, shakers, and movers in Louisville, and we’ll cover their stories and journeys to their unique crafts. Up first is our good friends, Cruise Customs Flags.
Cruise Customs Flags is a veteran-owned business right here in Louisville. Owner abd maker Chris Cruise served in the military from 2002-2006 as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. After his services in the military, Chris says he was drawn to the opportunity to help others. Therefore, Chris created a veteran-owned and operated business, Cruise Customs Flags. Cruise Customs Flags handcrafts American Flags from Kentucky bourbon barrel staves.
The idea started from a unique Christmas gift Chris made for his father-in-law in 2016. Many people complimented his work and craft after seeing the gift, so Chis began creating custom flags for family and friends. Chris states that Cruise Customs Flags has allowed him to work with his hands and provide him with a creative outlet after Chris returned home from overseas and transitioned out of the military.
Since the commencement of his business in 2017, Chris and team have shipped flags all across the U.S. Chris says the homes that carry the flags are storied and patriotic. “We hear happy, mournful and inspirational stories that move us on a daily basis,” he tells Hello Louisville. “These are men and women who have put their lives on the line, lost loved ones, or appreciate the sacrifice of military personnel”.
Chris and team caught some eyeballs on a national level. Fox & Friends flew to Louisville to showcase the work he and his team is doing. Chris was named one of Evan Williams’ American-Made Heroes and appeared on the side of Evan Williams’ Special Edition bottle. Other partners of Cruise Customs Flags are Dewalt, Keene and Grunt Style.
Q&A
What does being a Maker mean to you?
There’s two parts of being a Maker for me. One is taking material that once had a purpose and giving it a new purpose just like the new purpose we are giving the veterans that work with us. Second, I enjoy working with my hands. It’s very therapeutic and I think all of us veterans in the shop can attest to that.
What does being a Maker in Louisville mean to you? What does “Louisville is for Makers” mean to you?
Louisville is a cool place. I’m originally from Mississippi but my wife is from here and the people are very passionate and get behind businesses that originate from Louisville. There are a lot of cool makers here in Louisville and I think the sign at Clayton & Crume tells all, Louisville is for makers!
What’s your best memory since the commencement of your business?
We have many stories that make up a collection of memories and those are always touching. The Fox News piece was big for our business too and it’s not everyday you get to see your business on national TV.
What advice would you give people if they’re inspired to become a maker in Louisville?
Start making. Just put your head down and start making and never give up… The only people who fail in business are those who give up. Create good relationships and treat your customers as a #1 Priority.
What does the future hold for your business?
We hope to create a welcoming environment for veterans so it provides a transition place for them to work. There's a unique metaphor of re-purposing bourbon barrels. Veterans once served a great purpose serving their country and bourbon barrels once served a great purpose holding bourbon and we want to help veterans find their new purpose when they transition out of the military making american flags for other patriots and veterans. It is a very simple model. The more flags we sell, the more veterans we will hire.
Where can people find your goods to purchase?
On our website www.cruisecustomsflags.com
Now for the fun part!
Beer or Bourbon?
Bourbon. Obviously Evan Williams. Honestly, there are too many good bourbons from Kentucky. It is too hard to pick even a top 10.
Favorite overall restaurant in Louisville?
Royals - Bourbon Slushies
Favorite neighborhood in Louisville?
Nulu is fun and eccentric, Whiskey Row is also a great place to have some fun.
Where’d you go to high school?
Stringer High School - I graduated with about 30 people.
If you had a giant piece that was going to be painted for wall art in Louisville, where would it be and what would it be of?
Nulu and it would be a tribute to those who served this great nation!
Favorite thing about Derby.
There isn’t one thing not to love about derby. All the parties and the way the city has a great time.
Favorite Maker in Louisville?
Drunkwood - owner John King was a great help and friend for me from the start. He is a great inspiration for all makers. His Masters Degree is hanging all dusty in his garage. It is a great reminder that the stigma that you have to do things a certain way to succeed in life is false.
Thank you to Chris and team!
