We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Clint Wilkinson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Clint, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I grew up in a saddle shop that my grandfather started in 1957. I watched him, my mom, dad, and other employees work hard inside and outside of his shop. After 60 years of business in downtown Denton, Texas we closed his shop. I wanted to continue that legacy with my own shop, so I started Wilkinson’s Fine Goods in the same building he was in on the corner of Bell & East Hickory St.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a maker and outfitter. I make leather goods for our shop and for other businesses too. Most of my work has a western influence because thats what I grew up around. I also sell raw denim, outerwear, and cowboy boots made in Nocona, Texas. In my estimation we’re one of the most unique shops in North Texas where you can watch us make our leather goods, design a custom pair of cowboy boots, or even design your own raw denim pants/jacket.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Don’t dwell on the hard times because they don’t last. Be willing to make adjustments to your personal life in order to keep your dreams alive. Resting is important for longevity. I spent many a night working until the next morning. I found that I couldn’t sustain that for very long. You’d be surprised at how much work you can get done if you’re intentional. Don’t believe me? Then set a timer for when you’re working and pause it for every time you stop. See what you get at the end of the day compared to how long you’ve actually been at the shop.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
It’s always better to be a jack of all trades in my opinion. I’ve been able to survive in business because I know how to do just about everything to keep it going. For instance, I shoot my own photos, build my website, design most of my branding, answer emails, design & make my leather goods, and the list goes on. If I didn’t know how to do those things then I would have to pay someone else to do them. At some point you may grow enough to where you would out source that stuff to other folks but, when you’re just starting it’s important to learn those things especially if you’re on a budget.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wilkinsonsfinegoods.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wilkinsonsfinegoods
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3Rr_5YCvDdYrhQ4KzYSnWg
