Location: Elkland Mo.
County: Webster
Owner: Chelsea Crites
History of the business: “This business started as a hobby when I was in high school. Having horses myself, I started teaching myself to braid simply as something to do to keep myself busy and to help with entry fees.”
“When I started my braiding career, muletape was not yet popular. So I started by taking my dad’s old team ropes and untwisting them so I had materials to braid. It was several years into my journey that muletape started to become popular. Shortly after learning to braid I went on a trip to Cody, Wyoming with my mom and dad to video the Cody Pro-Rodeo and after stopping at several Native American sights along the way I bought a cheap beginner loom kit and spent our down time in the hotel learning to make beadwork pieces.”
What are the products and services offered? “My “main” inventory list includes: Muletape halters and breastcollars; beaded tack, jewelry, and belts; mohair breastcollars, cinches, headstalls, and halters.”
“I do offer some items that are custom order only such as belts, spur straps, leggings, cantle bags, purses, just a random assortment of items I have been talked into learning over the years.”
What are some of the most popular products and/or services offered? “If we discuss the most popular in terms of largest quantities sold it would be halters! The beaded headstalls, belts, over and under etc are probably the favorite item for most of my clientele. My cowboy clientele would all pick cinches.”
Future plans: “This business used to be a hobby. When I became a mom, I wanted to stay home with my little girl until she went to school so I expanded the business to a full time income. I love creating custom pieces! That is where my joy truly lies so I would like to get back to that as my main focus rather than having so much inventory on hand.”
Business philosophy: “When I started this business it truly was just a hobby. However, even as a hobby I was very confident in my precision, my skill set, and my desire to improve myself and my product. My biggest goal through this entire journey was to make high quality products at a reasonable price to as many people as I could. I spent YEARS making changes and improvements selling via word of mouth before social media played a factor. Even now, I am constantly looking for ways to improve and better meet the needs of my customers.”
