We recently connected with Blair Cantrell and have shared our conversation below.
Blair, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Taking a risk is what got to where I am today:
In November of 2019 I was popping up at a big Holiday Bazaar in Fort Worth. I had been doing pop ups for my business those last two years and I was just about done. I was exhausted and was thinking to myself, “this is it; this is my last show…”. During the event a vendor friend (Lizzy Bentley, owner & creator of City Boots) approached me about doing a 3-month pop-up at LOCAL Design Studios. Local is well known collaborative retail space with women designers who own their own businesses. I remember feeling honored they asked me and thought this could be a good way to end things. Having a successful 3-month pop and then shutting down the fur doors.
City Boots and I moved into the space in December of 2019. We were successful, and just having fun playing shop owners at that time. We made it through the holiday crazy and more importantly, the rodeo madness. I remember feeling good about the pop up and happy with how things were going, it was fast and furious, and I was excited to take a time out during that spring and summer and hopefully be asked back for the fall.
Soon after rodeo season, the end of February 2020, Lizzy and I were asked to stay in the location permanently. I was so nervous and torn on what to do because this was NOT in my plan. I wanted my time out and to just pop back in later. I also didn’t want to lose my opportunity. “But what am I going to sell in these warmer months?? I am a winter outerwear company!”. Well, I took a leap of faith from all the abundance of support we had those last few months and decided to stay for a year March 1 of 2020. . .
Then we all know what happened after that, COVID! The world stops 2 weeks into our agreement, I was sick, stressed, beside myself. I was in a daze with being a retail owner and trying to homeschool my 3 & 5 year olds at home. . . wasn’t the happiest time! Once we got over the “unknown” hump and saw some things opening back up in fall things got better. Then that December all the business owners of Local and 3 other women owned businesses popped up in the new high-end commercial retail space in Clear Fork. This was an amazing December for me and gave me my business strength back I needed.
Since December of 2019 I have shared my retail space with City Boots and the other owners at Local Design Studios + Gallery. There are challenges that come each year, but we manage to conquer them. Taking that leap of faith and deciding to stay in our space long term verses a three month pop up was worth the risk. Working alongside these incredibly talented women has brought so much to the table for me and I have learned more than I ever thought I would, and it has been so fun!
Blair, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started this journey in 2016, naming my business after the two little loves of my life—my daughters, Cavi and Blythe. As a Texas native with deep Fort Worth roots, fashion has always been close to my heart, but my path into the industry really began with a five-year chapter at Louis Vuitton in Dallas. That experience, along with an unforgettable few months studying abroad in Spain during college at Texas Tech University (wreck ‘em!), completely changed the way I saw style—and myself.
Those years taught me so much about luxury, craftsmanship, and the confidence fashion can bring. More importantly, they showed me that a small-town girl from Texas could hold her own in a big, beautiful industry—and maybe even shake things up a little.
When I moved back home to Fort Worth, a dear friend of mine, reached out with a wild idea: “What if we partnered up in the fur business?” She had been doing some pop ups on the side and thought we could make it non-stop as a partnership. She ended up getting too busy with her real business and told me to take a dabble in it for a year. That conversation sparked something, and just like that, C+B Furs was born. What started as a passion project quickly became a full-blown dream come true.
Today, C+B Furs has grown into C+B Collections—a curated mix of luxe resort wear, everyday statement pieces, and of course, fabulous furs. My mission has always been simple: to make luxury feel accessible. We have found a new passion for our puffer and bomber jackets that clients seem to love all over the U.S. (even in the “non fur” cities!). These are beginning to be our new focus, with venturing into wholesale as well; a new adventure awaits! I truly believe that everyone deserves to have something special in their closet—something that makes them feel powerful, beautiful, and seen.
Whether you’re dressing for the holidays, rodeo season, a night out in Cowtown, or just want to elevate your everyday look, I’ve got you covered. And if you ever spot a fur online, in another boutique, or on someone fabulous walking down the street—send it my way. I love helping clients track down unique pieces (often at better prices!) and bring their fashion visions to life.
Thanks for being here. I hope C+B becomes part of your story the way it’s become such a big part of mine.
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
At the heart of C+B Collections is something deeply personal—this brand isn’t just about fashion, it’s about connection. From the moment I launched C+B, I knew I didn’t want it to feel like just another fashion line that is out there. I wanted it to feel like a conversation, like a one-on-one styling session with your most honest and stylish friend. Every piece I select, every custom order I help fulfill, and every message I send to a customer is rooted in real relationships and a genuine love for making people feel their absolute best.
One of the biggest compliments I’ve received from clients is that shopping with C+B feels like shopping with someone who truly gets them. That’s intentional. I take the time to get to know my customers—their style, their life, their budget—and that personal approach is what drives everything I do. Whether you’re a longtime client or discovering C+B for the first time, I want you to feel like you’re being seen, heard, and celebrated. Shopping with us at the brand is supposed to be fun, not just purchasing a conversation piece, but to live in the experience while shopping for your C+B piece!
I also believe that luxury doesn’t have to come with a high price tag or a cold, distant vibe. It can be warm, accessible, and even fun. I personally love sourcing pieces that make a statement but still feel effortless. That kind of personalized attention is what sets C+B apart.
Every collection we release is a reflection of real women—moms, professionals, cowgirls, dreamers—who want to look good without sacrificing authenticity. I think that’s why so many of our clients keep coming back: they know we’re here to help them show up as the best version of themselves, no matter the occasion.
At the end of the day, C+B is a brand built on relationships. It’s about celebrating confidence, personal style, and those magical moments when you slip something on and just feel amazing. That feeling is personal—and that’s exactly how I approach everything we do which I have noticed fosters brand loyalty between us and our clients.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
With my business being so personal to me, I have found that just word of mouth from customer to customer/friend/collegeu/ peer has been the best way to meet new clients. I always want our customers to expereice the best customer/shopping experience they can. Even if it is a purchase online, there will be a handwritten note from me on each order.
Trying to bring that personal approach to everyone we find helps spread the name of our brand organically.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.candbcollections.com
- Instagram: @C.BCollections
- Facebook: @CBFurs
Image Credits
Crystal Wise