My father, Richard Morgan, was a natural-born salesman. He started his career by selling Fuller brushes door-to-door. He demonstrated the different brushes and cleaning products to housewives, taking orders, and delivering products. He took a few college courses in sales but quickly became bored, knowing he already had more sales experience than most of the professors.
He worked his way up through multiple companies from local sales to district manager and eventually to national sales manager. During his career he served as National Sales Manager of Edgeworth Pipe Tobacco Co. and Eastern Sales Manager for Chapstick and Sargent's pet products. He adopted the slogan "Fine & Dandy" as his personal motto. From 1979 to 1995 he was Vice President and National Sales Manager for a major manufacturer of lawn and garden tools. In 1995 that company went bankrupt, leaving him without a job. His famous statement “Who is going to hire an old fat bald man?” led him to starting the Fine & Dandy Co., Inc., finally fulfilling his dream of being his own boss.
The Fine & Dandy Company became the only United States importer of Saboten Shears, made in Japan. The Japanese working culture is built around trust and seniority. My father had been selling Saboten shears through the lawn and garden tool company which was the only importer at the time. The owners of Saboten Shears only allow one United States importer; my father saw an opportunity to become that sole importer when the lawn and garden company closed. He went to Japan with my mother and convinced them to allow him to take over that role.
I learned a lot from my father during his tenure with the Fine & Dandy Company. He believed the customer always comes first and that all orders had to be shipped on the same day they were placed. He knew the names of every customer and treated them all with great appreciation. Our family has had many visits with the families from Japan who work with Saboten. There is great respect between them. When my father was no longer capable of running the company, my mother took over, carrying on his legacy.
In 2021 my mother decided it was finally time to “retire” (at age 84) and sold the Fine & Dandy Company to me and Hue. We are continuing to carry my father’s legacy of selling the finest shears in the world.
Saboten shears are multi-purpose. They are great for all gardening, bonsai care, and pruning needs. Japanese florists have long trusted these pruners for their durability and reliability. They are also suitable for heavy-duty use such as harvesting fruit in commercial orchards. Craftsmen & toolmakers in Japan have a special dedication to their skillful craft & art of toolmaking.
They are also the finest shears available for trimming hooves of goats, sheep, alpacas, and llamas. My parents went to sheep expositions in Australia and llama farms in the United States to learn more about their care and to promote the Saboten shears.
The shears are made of high carbon steel of top grade that outlasts any conventionally available shears. The tough Delrin safety latch locks and unlocks snugly by one hand for the safety of the user. They have a stainless-steel spring, and the blades are wholly heat treated, not just the cutting edges. Teflon coating on the blades provides a friction-free, smooth, clean cut, and long-lasting sharpness. The patented Pivoslide system is an oil-less pivot and shock absorbing contour grips are easy on the hands. An optional looped hand strap is available to use both hands when necessary and to prevent misplacement of the shears.