Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerry Dawson.
Jerry, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been entrenched in the button business since I was a teen when I began dying buttons. After quickly learning the elaborate science of getting the perfect color match in each button, I took over as a head dyer at the California button manufacturing company where I got my start.
I realized I wanted to do more than just dye the buttons; I wanted to buy and sell them. I moved to Texas, where I met Herb Yonack, owner of Button Tex. Yonack saw my drive and potential. With Yonack’s encouragement and help, I worked my way to the very top of the button trade. After spending ten years as a salesperson at Button Tex, I started up Dallas Buttons and Supplies in 1992. and now Benno’s Buttons. Dallas Button and Supplies offers 50,000 styles of wholesale buttons to designers and manufacturers around the country.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The challenge is finding good suppliers with high-quality buttons and trimmings.
Please tell us about Benno’s Buttons & Triming.
Benno’s Buttons offers buttons of every size, shape, color, and texture including hand-carved mother-of-pearl, etched and laser cut glass, handcrafted buttons made of real coconut, bamboo and other natural woods and a selection of novelty trim for apparel and home décor.
From classic to trendy, Benno’s offers buttons for every category of apparel or decoration from everyday shirt buttons to couture and limited edition “vintage”. You’ll also find a collection of exclusive vintage embroidered ribbons, imported from France, perfect for special gift wraps or apparel embellishment.
First Lady, Laura Bush, wore an aqua evening gown adorned with Benno’s buttons by Dallas designer, Michael Faircloth, Many other local designers consider Benno’s a unique resource for buttons and trimming when creating one-of-a-kind garments. The store is also a favorite of wardrobe consultants and stylists who suggest new buttons and trims to their clients to update last seasons looks.
We offer services such as custom dyed-to-match buttons and select trims, and fancy covered buttons. Customers may even request refinishing of metal buttons such as bright gold; changed to matte or antique gold and the same applies to silver. There’s even a selection of 24k gold finished buttons. Another treat for shoppers are the trendy “image buttons”, featuring the likes of Elvis, 50’s pin-ups, TV personalities of the 50’s and 60’s, cartoon favorites and even political figures. You can also choose from an array of lace trims and ribbons, fringe and tassels.
Customers: Disneyland and Disney World costume department. Also Universal Studios and some the largest theater companies in the United States
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Lessons learned:
Customers are being their own designer when it comes into the store. I enjoy making the customer happy. The store is like a candy store to designer.
Pricing:
- Prices .20 – $20 a piece
- You can find price ranging from .20 – $20.00 a piece.
- Imported French ribbon range from $2.00 to $18.00 a yard.
Contact Info:
- Address: 12300 Inwood Rd. #106 Dallas, TX 75244
- Website: bennosbuttons.com
- Phone: 214 634 2324
- Email: info@bennosbuttons.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bennosbuttons/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/BennosButtons
- Yelp: www.pinterest.com/bennosbuttons/
- Other: www.sewonbuttons.com
Image Credit:
Fernando “ferny”- FeeldaFlow.com, ferny78@aol.com (Email), 214-207-0980 (Phone)
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
