Lessons from the West with Kristyn DeBord Durbin

Let's talk about your business strategy and the juicy details of what actually works, from mainstream fashion to fashion on Main street and the entire ecosystem behind it. How do we scale your company and do it with the balance and the happiness that we all seek? Let's hear from those insiders, experts, and strategists that actually make it happen. I'm your host, Ashley Alderson from the Boutique Hub, and I can't wait to chat.

Hey, guys.

Welcome back to the podcast this week or on YouTube if you're watching there. Kristen, I'm so pumped that you could join us today. Thanks for being on the show.

Yeah, super pumped also to be here.

So you and I were just talking the last time we saw each other. It's been a little bit. We saw each other in person at the NFR with Double J. Your life has changed quite a bit since I last saw you.

I am my main role now, or my biggest role, I guess, in life now is mom. So it's a big one. It's an important one.

So for those who are listening who aren't familiar with Double J, tell me more about the history of the family business and then your role along the way, how you've been supporting the family business.

Okay, so, I mean, I've been around Double J my whole life. 1991 is whenever we officially the year we started business. So, I mean, growing up, I was down there at the factory and in the office doing stuff. In high school, I did some work there. So I. I've been working there for a long time. Even as a kid, I remember painting the letters on the trophy saddles that we were sending out. I mean, I wasn't real. Real little then, but, like, oh, here's some.

I think I have one of those Double J trophy saddles from high school. Like, right out here. That's so funny. You probably painted that one.

Probably. I mean, who knows? But, yeah. So, yeah, it. It feels weird to, like, talk so much about my involvement just because I haven't been super involved in the last three years. So it's. Life has been a little different with kids, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to be home with them and taking care of them and getting help when I need it. And I still get to do some things, but, yeah, it's nice to talk to an adult.

Oh, my gosh. I've been there. So I. I know you've got some new exciting things since having kids and now starting a children's boutique as well, but I want to, before we talk about the children's boutique, I want to talk a little bit more about Double J and just some of the experience you had because we have so many Western stores inside the boutique hub and Western boutiques. And I think there's always so much to learn from your family's business. So if someone doesn't know what Double J is, can you explain more what you guys sell and how it's, how that's even evolved over the years and the different lines that you carry?

Yeah. So I, I remember when I was first going to market, Western wasn't like as cool as it is right now, so aren't as many young people involved. I was probably one of the only. Me and a couple others were probably some of the only young females in the business. And we kind of, with our handbags, we based things a little more contemporary. So we were at the World Trade center, but we were in like the, on 13 where the temps were and we were kind of marketing ourselves as both Western and contemporary. So that, I mean, we've always tried to kind of do that. And so it's neat to see more people doing that and see Western kind of going into more mainstream and like seeing some of the lines out of LA that are doing like, you know, the whole, the whole Western, like with the fringe and the bling and the Barbie pink and all that, like just loving it. Yeah, just, it's just everything's getting a little louder and more fun.

Yeah, I love seeing Western take over so much of mainstream today. That's really exciting.

I think that's kind of the reason too, like why you see more younger people just that are into trends and wanting to maybe even start a new business in the Western industry. I like it. I like it a lot. Yeah.

And social media has really aided in that too. You know, I mean, not only has it made Western cool, but there are so many. Like the rise of the influencers in Western fashion has been really something to watch, but also I feel like something that your family's done really well is you've taken products that were traditionally very handmade, labor intensive and you've really like ramped up to create like a multi channel brand. So it's not just saddles and tack and all of that belts, but the accessory line is huge. And then you also have a jewelry line, so you help design for accessories and you have a jewelry line that you design with Double J. Tell me more about that.

Yeah, so it kind of. So I've always been involved in the designing for the handbags and some Belts and stuff. My sister has also. Her name is Shadra and she's had to give a shout out to her. She's doing pretty much everything right now. But anyway, I wish she could be on, but she's in Vegas doing, doing work. But anyway, what were we talking about?

Oh, about, about the designing accessory lines and the jewelry.

So that kind of started. I. We had all of this leftover scrap leather and I was like, man, I really wish there's something cool we could do with this. And. And I just kind of started playing around with it and I came up with the name Vestige because actually a friend of mine helped me also with coming up with that name. But anyway, vestige is actually a word in the dictionary and it means basically something old that is turned into something new, like revamped and refurbished or, you know, just brought back to life. So that's kind of where I came up with the name Vestige by Double J. So that's the fest, the jewelry line. And I get to do that. I have all of my stuff at home. So the girls. Well, my two year old likes to get into it sometimes, but it's, it's still fun. We, I still get to crank out some orders that way. And so still, definitely still very much working, just not out in the public eye.

Just in a different way. When you think about designing the jewelry line and helping design the handbag line is huge for Double J. Where do you go to find your inspiration and new ideas?

Honestly, it's hard to say because I just like being around it my whole life kind of is where my inspiration comes from. I may get an idea from like a saddle that we made for Brittany Posey or you know, just things here and there, new leathers that, you know, come out. I just, I usually take a look at those and say, you know what, this will look good in this shape. Or you know, our customers actually are, are good at voicing their opinions on what they like. So we try to pay attention to that and then, I mean, just paying attention to trends. You know, I, I'm a girl, I'm a woman, I like to shop a lot. So I pay attention to patterns and clothing and color schemes and just, yeah, stuff like that.

I love that when you think about all of your time going to the NFR and setting up with shows with your family, I know you've taken a break from that now with kids at home, but I wanted to ask you this because I feel like I see this question a lot inside the boutique hub. Specific what advice Would you have for people when they're contemplating setting up at a show and how to make setting up at a show successful?

So I think the biggest struggle with setting up a booth in Vegas is the amount of money that you spend going out there. So flights, those airlines like to trick you into spending all this money, you know, on certain days that are so obviously everybody knows that, but try not to, you know, try to keep your staff there instead of flying people in and out, which we, we get put in a pickle sometimes and have to do that. And, but just I think money wise is a big thing for people because if you want to be successful, you want to make money, then try to keep your, try to keep your costs down. And maybe we rent a house and we cook at home in the evenings, you know, and everybody can go do their own thing, obviously. But that's usually, that's what we have done over the years. And my brother Josh does a good job of coordinating all of that for us. He's, he's, he'll be, he went out there to set it up this year and my sister will be out there majority of the time. But other than that being successful, I feel like if, if you're new and you're wanting to brand yourself, then just being out there in general is great because you get a lot of traffic and it's a great time of year for people to buy. Just in general because it's Christmas time, people are out shopping and spending money and it doesn't hurt that there's alcohol flowing and they're in Vegas having fun. So everybody's in a great mood. But yeah, I mean, I recommend it to set up a booth there. You just have to try to keep your cost down. So.

Absolutely. You said something that I think is really important, that you guys have done really well as a family, and that's branding yourself. There's all kinds of people who make leather products.

Right?

There's all kinds of saddle makers.

Even more now.

Jewelry, handbags. Yeah, even more. But you've created a brand that's stood the test of time and that is a bit of a household name in the western industry specifically. Are there things that, like, jump out at you as you think about things your family's done or things you've been really intentional about that have helped you to build that brand name over time?

Oh, for sure. Just staying true to who we are, which is made in Texas, handmade. Just the quality is so important to us. I think that is probably the number one thing that has made Double J successful is just the attention to detail and the attention to quality. I mean, we hear it from our customers all the time. Like I've had this built for, you know, 15, 20 years and look at it, it looks brand new. And we're like, yeah, you know, we love hearing stuff like that. Yeah. So I think that's the key because honestly, a lot of other brands out there that do leather work, I feel like they can't really touch us in that area of expertise just because, yeah, it's. Most of it's not made here or a lot of it isn't. A lot of bigger brands and even some that aren't so big they are able to source their work elsewhere in other countries. And I just don't see the same quality because the communication isn't the same. You know, being able say, hey, you know, this is wrong, this needs to be fixed. This is not the quality that we're looking for. You know, we want to make our customers happy. And the pride and the pride that everybody has in our factory can tell they feel the same way too. So all of our workers, it's so important to them because, you know, it's their job, it's their livelihood and it's ours too. So.

Yeah, you know what's interesting about that, I think the Western side of retail industry knows this so well. And I wish sometimes just apparel would pick this up from Western. And that is cheap's not loyal. Right. There's a lot of people who want to carry products in their stores and they're price conscious. Right. I want to bring in a cheaper belt. I want to bring in, you know, something that's sourced overseas, whatever. But at the end of the day, like the consumer isn't loyal to that. The consumer's loyal to quality and they're loyal to a brand name. And in Western, you know, you see people like, yeah, you might spend $20 on a crap T shirt, but you're going to spend $300 on a belt and you're going to spend several thousand dollars on a nice saddle. Like in Western, we take it very seriously. Do you think that there's other things that non western retailers could learn from the Western industry?

Yes, absolutely. I mean, everything you just touched on, they can learn for sure. I think it's to me like, it's a whole different world getting into the boutique ownership with the clothing, because I mean it's, I like, I wish there were more spin mills in the United States because I would totally support 100% all of that. But It's, I mean, it's, it's hard to compete in the clothing industry, I feel like, with, with all of that. But I'm, I'm new in all of that area. But as far as the western industry goes, yes, I think there is a lot to learn. I think some people in the western industry need to learn more about quality also and less about knocking other people off. That would be great. But.

Let'S talk about that. Let's talk about that because that's a big deal that, in the last year.

Kidding. But no, it's something that, yeah, we've dealt with like our entire time of being in business. Yeah, it's, you know, I always get told like, oh, you should be so flattered like that. It just, it's not, it's not flattering when people take your hard thought out designs and, you know, try to do the same thing. It's just, it's, it's repulsive in a way to me because it's like, you know, where are your morals? Like, didn't your mama raise you better than that, you know? Yes. Yeah, yeah. It's just part of really, I think.

Everyone who's listening, Kristen, is like shaking their head because everyone deals with this, you know, whether you're a boutique owner that gets your ideas knocked off at the boutique hub. How many times has my own content been knocked off and all of your leather work. Right. And there's people that are just flipping that like crazy. I see it all over markets all the time. What's your best advice of how to just rise above that?

Some boutique owners, they're like, hey, you know, so and so's like making your clutch organizers. I'm like, yeah, yeah, I do, yeah, I've seen it, you know, and you have a choice. You can either buy the crap or you can buy the quality. And it's just depends on what kind of name you want for yourself. What kind of name do you want your business to reflect when you are, when you're selling?

So that's perfectly said. Definitely you're going to build a reputation around that. Right?

Yeah.

Tell me more about so having kids, having two little girls and transitioning a little bit out of your role. I mean, you're still busy designing, but not on the road as much as you were with Double J and deciding to now start your own new venture. Tell me about starting the children's boutique.

Well, I have two girls and I think like any mom that has girls, I love to dress my little girls up and I think they love it too. At least my 2 year old, I know she's really gets into it or she's, you know, starting to. But I, that's kind of where it all started. When I found out I was having another girl, I was like, man, I'm gonna be spending a lot of money on clothes. And now I spend even more money on clothes. But I'm, you know, things are starting to take off. They were a little sl. At first just because I one, I started off in the summertime, which is like, that was, you know, that's like the deadest part of retail.

Yeah.

So it was a little discouraging at first, but my husband's a, a good cheerleader and he's like, we're Durbans and you're Durban now. We never quit. But yeah, so that's, it's been a whole new experience for me and it's been eye opening because I'm usually on the wholesale into things and I mean I, I studied fashion merchandising in college and they taught us a lot about being a buyer. Mainly is with, is what a lot of the formulas and everything that we learned. But I kind of, I didn't really know a whole lot on that end other than, you know, talking and meeting with my buyers. But being a buyer now myself, it's, it's a little different for me because I'm actually, I haven't been going to market. I've been doing a lot of buying online, which can get tricky. Yeah. But it's, I feel like it's great. Like it's, it's great that I'm able to do that because I can kind of, you know, spend my time when the girls are sleeping, looking at some stuff and ordering it. And it's, it's just, it's working out good. But it's also, I try to not lose my sense of self in doing all of the children's clothing because my main background is leather work. And so I, I try to like, I've been incorporating things that mean a lot to me, like my mama necklace and I do little. I started doing little kids bracelets and stuff too. So I try to incorporate some of my own work and back into the boutique and then some double chase stuff as well, like diaper bags and things like that. So. So try just trying to, you know, keep a healthy balance. Is that's, that's been the, been the main goal in doing it all.

Yeah, I, I specifically want to ask you about balance, but in another context in just a minute. But let's stay on this because I, I just, I'm assuming coming from an industry in a family business where you know your role and you know the expected outcome of your role so, well, to moving to starting your own business, starting this boutique, and you're kind of having to figure it out as you go. That's probably a bit of a mental battle each day, right? Making sure, like, am I doing this right? Is this the way it's supposed to be done? How do you balance, like that challenge mentally of, of starting something from scratch.

So it's funny you bring that up because I was just a few weeks ago, I was listening to a Joel Osteen podcast and he was talking about how it's, you know, it's important. It wasn't really about balance. It was more like kind of staying in your lane. Like, if God gifted you with these talents, then you need to stay doing this or doing that. Don't try to do it all, which I know we all get guilty of it. If you're anything like me especially, yes, I try to do it all. But I think I was mentioning it to a friend of mine who has been hosting these pop ups for us in Goliad. I told her about it and she was like, you know, she's like, but I think you can do it all. You can, but you have to kind of see, stay true to what it is that brought you there in the first place. So I think, yeah, that's probably the most important is just keeping that foundation beneath you and through all of it.

So, you know what's, what's really interesting about that is, as I think about new boutiques and like, the ones that.

Launch, well, the thing that they have.

In common, the successful ones, is they absolutely know who they are and they're confident in their own skill set or their eye or whatever it is, and they absolutely know who their customer is. Yeah, that's critical. And I think a lot of people get stuck like they're trying to be something for everyone and you can't.

You just can't. Right.

So to me, it sounds like that's exactly what you've nailed, is you know who you are and you're staying true to your roots and your customers love that.

Yes. Yeah. So, I mean, still so fresh, starting out this year doing and all, but yeah, I've. Since I've been starting to do these pop ups, I feel like I know my customers a little better, like, especially in this area. So I'm getting more of a feel for that in a sense, in which, you know, like, to me, I don't always dress super western. I want to be neutral. Like, I kind of want to be eclectic in a way where it's like, not a whole lot going on, but a merge of the styles. So that's kind of what I've been trying to do, which is incorporating my taste into the children's line of clothing that I select. And I just really try to curate it to where it's a good mix, to where you could really be in any environment and be comfortable. And I think doing that is helping my, helping me see what my customers want. Because you're still offering a variety, but yet you're staying true to, to your own sense of style as well. So, so good.

Has there been a best piece of advice someone's given you along the way since you started? You come from a family owned business. I'm sure there was lots of input when you told them what you were going to be doing. Do you have any good advice given to you?

Well, you know, honestly, I think that best piece of advice was when I was listening to the Joel Osteen podcast. But, yeah, I mean, my mom thought I was crazy. She's like, are you sure you want to do this? Because she's raised four of us, she knows what it's like to have kids. And she actually opened a restaurant when we were really young. And who. She. She had to shut that sucker down when I, when I was little, I think it was my fault, actually. I tried to run out into the road. Well, yeah, it was not a good story. I'm okay, though. Nothing happens. I'm alive. But she was like, okay. But anyway, I think that's why she was a little nervous. Like, you know, are you sure you want to take this on? Like, is it something that's, that you're going to be able to do? And she still is. You know, she'll tell me when I'm like, doing a little too much. She'll say, hey, you need to tone it down a little bit and maybe not overload yourself with things. But yeah, I mean, I feel like family is always going to have your back no matter what. And they'll tell. With my family, they'll always tell you how they feel, which is, which is a good thing. And I try to pay attention to that, but also, you know, keep, keep my own mind about what I'm wanting to do. So.

Perfect. We touched on that word balance earlier, which I just kind of hate that word, if I'm being totally honest. I don't know that it really exists. But being a mom of two young girls, how have you really found time to do the things that you are doing right now and also take care of yourself in the process?

Right. Okay. Yeah. First of all, I understand that whole mom look when you're like, I haven't. I'm lucky I brushed my teeth today. You know, like, that whole thing. I totally get it now. And especially when you're busy with kids and working from home. Yeah. So the whole balance thing, I think it's. You just have to be aware of, you know, be conscious of the time you're spending doing what you're doing. And I think technology is great because it's really allowed these things to happen. Whereas, you know, 10 years ago or longer, we weren't able to do these things. Moms weren't able to work from home and, you know, be profitable with a business and kind of feel like you're still out there doing things even though you're, you know, mainly at home with your kids, which is great. So. So I think balance to me is. Is really a time management thing, and I. I'm no one to really look out in that direction because I'm still a new mom and I'm learning. Yeah. I. I feel like just being home in general and able to spend a lot of time with my girls is. Is the first. Is my first priority. So I just. I try to try to balance that home life too. So. Especially with my husband in West Texas picking cotton or harvesting, like. All right, got it. It's trying to do it all. Yeah. Everything is. Is all about balance. So it. I feel like in the end, it all. It all equals out. We just gotta. Gotta pray about it and ask God if you're moving in the right direction. And. Yeah. Pay attention to. To the signs of the world. Yeah.

So true. Well, I think you're in good company. I think everyone here can agree none of us really have it figured out, but you do have to just pray about it and take it that one day at a time.

Right? Absolutely.

What might work one day may not work the next.

Absolutely. Yeah.

Oh, Kristin, I have got a question for you. So, last question of our time together today, and I think you and I probably are very much on the same page with this when I think about business in general. Right. Whether it's your boutique or whether it's Double J. At the end of the day, we aren't here just to sell products to people. We're here for a much bigger purpose. And so if you fast Forward your life 30 years from now and you're on the front porch with your little girls and they're grown and now they have girls of their own and you're just reflecting back on the life that you lived and the experiences that you had along the way. What's the thing that you want them to remember most about who you were and how you lived?

Oh, man. So I think about that quite often, you know, I think once you become a mom and you have kids, that's inevitable, you know, because one day your kids are going to be without you. Just I try, I try to think about it but not dwell on it. But. So, I mean, I want them, you know, to remember me as being creative and also having, having an eye for detail and then also, you know, just being warm for them and someone that they can always talk to or reflect upon, you know, as they get older. And I just, I hope that they know everything that encompasses my life and they can use it as a tool when they get older and go through certain things and just there's, you know, life is full of adventure and so much fun. And I, I feel like I just want them to be happy and know all of the things that all of the good morals and all of the, all of the wonderful things that life can offer them. So that's so good.

That's a mother's heart right there. Like truly, that is a mother's heart.

I love that.

Well, Kristen, thanks so much for your time today, sharing your story, your history lessons along the way. We'll certainly link up all the links in the show notes for today, but thank you for being on the show.

Yeah, it's so great to see you again, even if it's on video chat. Yeah, I really enjoyed it. So I talk to my kids a lot during the day and not a whole lot of adults. So I so much glad to feel the voice.

One of my favorite things to do toward the end of the year is to lay out all of my notebooks, my thoughts, my ideas, my vision board and really dig deep into what worked, what didn't work, and what do I want to do different going forward. And a key component to making sure I end the year right and start start a new year fresh is making sure I have a great planner. So you guys, if you haven't had an opportunity yet to visit our BoutiqueBossStore.com and check out our line of planners and paper products and content creators built with boutique owners specifically in mind, I encourage you to do so. The boutique boss planner was created specifically for your business with inventory tracking and reporting, social media tracking, Best of checklists for quarterly, monthly and annual to dos in your business. Plus my favorite part, the month in review that details out what works, what didn't work, how did your business perform, inventory issues you might have had and how to plan the next best month ahead. So please check out our BoutiqueBoss store.com for the complete line of planners and paper products here at the Boutique Hub. Hey guys, thank you so much for listening to this episode. We hope that you loved it. Don't forget to hit subscribe and leave a rating and review down below for a chance to be one of our featured listeners each and every week. For more information on our spirit of community over competition and how to access complete show notes and bonus downloads from our guests, head on over to the boutiquehub.com and join the community. We'll see you next week.

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