Kristyn DeBord Durbin paved her way in the family business as a sales representative and designer for Double J Saddlery. She helped expand the Double J leather goods to include not just handmade saddles and tack but also fashion accessories — bags and belts made from the leftover leathers. She even created her own jewelry line, Vestige by Double J, which she continues to design herself at home in Yoakum, Texas.
As a new mom of two young girls, Kristyn has gone from wholesale to retail, stepping away from her role with the saddlery business to establish June’s Pearls, an online boutique of children’s clothing, toys, and gifts, and she joins the show today to share her story, her history, and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Listen in as Kristyn shares how Double J Saddlery has evolved since it was founded in 1991 and how Kristyn has played a pivotal role in driving the fashion side of the business with the curation of the Vestige by Double J jewelry line. We also discuss how Double J has built a brand that has stood the test of time and become a staple in the Western industry, and what non-Western brands can learn from their Western counterparts. We get into so much in this episode, so get comfortable and get ready to be inspired!
>>Lessons from the West – LISTEN NOW ON iTunes <<
>>Lessons from the West – LISTEN NOW ON Spotify <<
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Lessons from the West with Kristyn DeBord Durbin
- Lessons to be learned from the Western industry
- The power of quality
- Wholesale vs. retail experience
- Staying true to your foundation
- The mom work-life balance
Resources Featured In This Episode:
Favorite Quotes from Kristyn DeBord Durbin
“You can do it all, you can. But you have to stay true to who you are in the first place.” – Kristyn DeBord Durbin
“The quality is so important to us. I think that is probably the number one thing that has made Double J successful, the attention to detail and the attention to quality. ” – Kristyn DeBord Durbin
“I try to not lose my sense of self in doing all of the children’s clothing because my main background is leatherwork, and so I’ve been incorporating things that mean a lot to me… I try to incorporate some of my own work back into the boutique.” – Kristyn DeBord Durbin
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Original Air Date: March 14th, 2023
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