Jeff Bishop and Todd Bishop have turned Dormie Workshop from a small Canadian startup into a premier name in the golf industry, recently establishing a United States headquarters in Los Angeles.
The brand, founded in 2014 by brothers Jeff Bishop, Todd Bishop, and Alex Bishop, specializes in handmade leather headcovers that have gained a following among professional golfers and exclusive clubs. The expansion into California followed the acquisition of a belt company, marking a significant step in the brand’s global growth strategy.
The transition toward golf accessories began after Jeff and Todd gave up chasing the professional golf tour life. Instead of competing on the course, they pivoted to design and manufacturing, building a company where the U.S. now accounts for 80% of total business.
Today, the brand serves approximately 300 golf clubs worldwide, offering products that range from $100 to $300 per piece. This growth highlights a robust demand for personalized, high-quality gear in an increasingly crowded golf market.
Vertical integration is a cornerstone of the company’s business model. Jeff Bishop envisions a future where Dormie Workshop serves as an umbrella for a collection of curated brands, controlling the entire product lifecycle from design to point-of-sale.
This approach ensures that the specific standards of quality, such as the 147 individual stitches required for every driver cover, remain consistent as the brand scales its operations across North America.
From sock puppets to high-end leather craftsmanship
The origin of Dormie Workshop is rooted in creative improvisation. Jeff Bishop first became interested in leather headcovers while caddying in the U.S., but he found existing market offerings disappointing. To create his first prototypes, he sourced leather scraps from a local Nova Scotia furniture store and hired a woman from Craigslist who specialized in making sock puppets to bring his drawings to life.
To refine their production, the brothers learned about sewing technology by searching Kijiji for local tailors and seamstresses. These early efforts evolved into a sophisticated manufacturing process using full-grain and top-grain Italian and South American leathers. Today, the brand utilizes techniques such as laser etching, leather appliquĂ©, and embroidery to provide the customization that was missing from the marketplace during the company’s early years.
A major milestone for the brand occurred at the 2016 PGA Show in Orlando, which the brothers described as their “coming out party.” During the three-day event, they took orders for nearly 2,000 customized leather headcovers, a figure that exceeded their total sales for all of 2015.
This momentum continued into 2021, when production at their Halifax facility peaked at 1,000 pieces per week to meet rising interest from the U.S. market.
The artist pipeline and the NSCAD connection
A distinctive element of the Dormie Workshop workforce is its focus on formal artistic training. As of June 13, 2026, the company employs 17 full-time artists on staff. These artists are graduates of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD), an institution that has become a vital pipeline for the brand’s creative energy.
This influx of talent allows the brand to differentiate its products through unique identities rather than basic logo placement.
This creative culture is reflected in the tenure of the company’s early employees. Their second hire, an artist named Sting, emigrated from Taiwan and graduated from NSCAD with Jeff’s sponsorship. Jeff describes Sting as an integral part of the team, exemplifying the company’s commitment to quality control and treating others with respect.
This emphasis on people has remained a priority as the brand moved into a 10,000-square-foot facility in Halifax in 2021.
Managing trans-border logistics and future expansion
With 80% of business generated in the U.S., the Bishop brothers are strategizing to streamline their international logistics. The Los Angeles headquarters will use American suppliers to manufacture products for U.S. customers, effectively eliminating cross-border shipping and tariff issues. This dual-presence allows the Halifax headquarters to remain the primary production hub while California handles high-volume domestic demand.
Dormie Workshop has also expanded its product catalog beyond its signature headcovers to include more than two dozen other items. These include yardage books, towels, hats, and ball markers. The brand’s growth is increasingly driven by direct-to-consumer sales on its website, which now represents a larger portion of the business than traditional retail store shelves.
This shift mirrors broader trends in sports retail where brands are seeking more direct contact with their fans.
While the business continues to scale, the founders maintain that their motivation is rooted in the sport itself. Jeff Bishop views the company as a way to give back to the game that provided his family with a life and a career.
As the brand looks toward further expansion into new categories, the goal remains provide golfers with a means to express their individuality through high-end craftsmanship.
