We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miranda McIntire a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Miranda, 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 would definitely say that my work ethic comes from my parents, grandparents and other family members. I come from farming and ranching families and there is always work to be done, animals to be fed, and repairs to be made. So much so that we rarely took time out for fun activities, and when we did it was usually centered around a rodeo event or something else that needed to be done. I am guilty of this with my girls, I can usually find a work trip that needs to be made and throw in a little fun on the side. A good work ethic is what helped get me out of debt as a single mom after divorce. I would be down and out wondering how I would ever be able to dig myself out of that hole, but I just kept praying and telling myself that if I just put my head down and keep working everything would work itself out. Thankfully that hard work paid off and my business has grown because of it!
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
When designing new products each Fall and Spring, I have to think about what is fashionable, what colors are coming into season and where will customers be wearing the items. We usually introduce new products for Fall in August at the Dallas WESA market. This allows us to showcase new Fall items and any new scents added to the Home Goods side of the line. I am always pulling ideas from mainstream fashion to try to incorporate them into the Western side! This broadens my customer base to those who may not even shop for western clothing or accessories, but hopefully will notice something they like at a boutique that carries my line. Aside from designing for the line, I have established a project that I hope will grow into something bigger someday. We want to help foster and care for Women or Men who are battling cancer and other health issues.
– Caps for Cowgirls – is a section on the website that allows you to send a care package to someone you know that needs a pick me up! Not only do they get a Christian based cap or beanie to “cover” them in prayer during illness, but the box is filled with hand written well wishes from our staff, a soft t-shirt, snacks and many other items to send a smile and a prayer to a loved one to brighten their day.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First off, I do have a college degree in Agriculture Services & Development, and even though I am not technically using my degree, I am still using my degree. College is so much more than that piece of paper, and I highly recommend trying to get some kind of upper level education. The experience you gain as a college student will serve you well, the deadlines, the studying, the people skills and many other aspects are teaching you how to be a professional, how to run a business and be a good employee. I do know many professionals and business owners that were not able to attend college and they have turned out just fine, so I am not knocking that path at all. Secondly, I would recommend studying all you can from several different people in your field. I have worked for at least 3 or 4 saddle makers and other many other jobs. This gave me a different perspective on how each of them ran their business, handled clientele, tips and tricks for the items they made and so much more.
Lastly, don’t stop learning! Learn how to use quick books, make your own website, design your advertising materials, go watch and learn from others in your field. Take a drawing course if that is where you find a weakness in your skill set. Ask a fellow craftsman for tips and tricks or what you can do in a spot you are unsure of. Many of us were right where you are and are very willing to help and teach. This goes for any job, not just leather work.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I am very hands on with my business and everything that is made in my shop, and also somewhat of a perfectionist! So it is hard for me to rely on employees to make the things the way I want them to. Our tag line is Branded with Quality and that is the way I expect the products to be made and sent out. Learning how to handle this part of me and get my point across correctly is an ongoing challenge. Everyone learns at different rates, has different levels of what they think is acceptable, and also has their strengths and weaknesses. Being the owner, I have to recognize these things and place that employee where they are most useful. I would say that I still struggle with this daily in a shop full of women. They all have different personalities, different upbringings and family duties that affect how they work and interact with each other. Finding the right mix of people and the right ones to be managers has been a hard lesson, but I think we have an excellent crew right now and are looking forward to our busy season!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mcintiresaddlery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcintiresaddlery/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcintiresaddlery/
- Other: tik tok – McIntire Saddlery
Image Credits
McFarland Productions – Natalie McFarland
