American Covers, Inc. dba HandStands

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In the early 1980’s, two men, Don Watkins and Gary Deaton, found themselves in similar situations. Don, a real estate agent, was starting to consider a different career. Gary had climbed the ranks at AT&T, but was growing especially tired of the corporate world.

Good friends since their LDS mission days, they got together with an idea to make dust covers for computers and video game systems. After some time and struggling, they decided to create a program to make dust covers using corporate logos.

The company started off a little rough, so things were going okay. They began to see the light, due to an upcoming account being interested in additional product. Unfortunately, this “partner” changed their mind at the last moment, and Don and Gary found themselves not a part of the deal. The stress began, since both has just recently quit their day jobs in hopes that the new company would be able to sustain them.

Top make things worse, Gary had borrowed $25,000 from his father, who had grown-up eating from garbage cans due to being homeless. He told his father they were ready to close the business, due to the loss of this deal, and they wouldn’t be able to pay back the $25,000. Things had gotten so bad for Gary, that his house payment was being made on his VISA, and he was sending his 4 kids to neighbors around dinner hoping they’d get a free meal.

Gary’s father surprised them with his response, “the hell you’re going to quit! Now get out there and make it happen.” With that, Gary and Don decided to give it another shot. Don loaded up his 4 kids, sold his house, and bought a motor home. He began traveling throughout the western United States, and met with every computer retailer he could find. Don later said, “It wasn’t my sales skills or knowledge of the industry that got us a few sales, it was the good Lord blessing a couple of guys who didn’t know what they were doing.”

Eventually, orders came in, Gary was able to pay his father back, and, a year later, business was going well. Their largest account, was a company known as Computer Depot. They were ordering “like crazy” and had over $100,000 on receivable. Unfortunately, Computer Depot shortly thereafter filed for bankruptcy, which nearly crippled the company.

A couple of years later, Gary and Don decided two things that would help prevent a similar situation in the future. Those were to control growth and become and remain debt free.

Since then, the company has created multiple divisions, and become one of the largest suppliers of mouse pads and automotive air fresheners in major retailers throughout the United States. It holds patents on several products, including the Sticky Pad, a small pad designed for holding cell phones and other gadgets on a car dash.

The company currently focuses on the computer accessory, iPod/MP3/Sansa accessory, automotive air freshener, CD/DVD storage, and promotional markets.

HandStands is located in Draper, UT, 84020.