We recently connected with Faye Woods and have shared our conversation below.
Faye, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you think about cost-management? Growing a business is always exciting, but often businesses run into issues when costs grow faster than revenue – have you experienced such an episode? Any advice for other operators around how to keep costs in line?
I work pretty hard to make my goods as affordable as possible for my customers. Especially since leather goods are known for being wildly expensive. When I can I purposely use leather that has minor defects or blemishes and is sold at a lesser price in order to keep cost down, as well as find as many ways as possible to repurpose scraps. I also work with previously used leather from other projects or goods found in the community. For instance I try and find older bags, clothing items, or furniture. Not only do these practices allow me to keep costs down, but they also are more environmentally friendly and sound.
Faye, 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 Red Hare Leather seven years ago as a small side hobby project after returning home from a trip to Brooklyn, NY. While I was on my trip I stumbled into a small local flee market where I fell in love with this little leather booth. And in this booth they had a simple keychain that I deeply desired, but wasn’t about to pay $50 for. (Not that handmade beautiful work isn’t worth that much. It was just way out of my budget for such a small item.) So I snuck a few photos, and came home with a passion to recreate the same thing for myself. I had gone to college for painting and printmaking and I prided myself on being pretty creative and crafty. So I bought a few tools and some scrap pieces and slowly worked my way to a decent version of what I had seen and lusted over. And then a few friends and family members requested them, and a few other minor projects, and I slowly fell in love with it. A year later I got divorced and the idea of becoming a fulltime leather biz owner had to take a backseat. It still isn’t my full time gig, but since them I’ve grown RHL to be a fun, local, queer community leather resource. Not only do we make keychains, bags, and wallets. But we also make fun, fashionable, and risque’ custom harnesses and wearables. Each piece is made custom to the clients body measurements and made to fit them perfectly. I’ve become incredibly proud of this part of the business that has grown. RHL strives to help make all of it’s clients feel sexy, strong, and babelicous in their gear, and have fun with it too. All bodies, genders, and sexualities are beautiful and deserve to be celebrated with custom fit pieces. Each wearable piece is hand measured and designed by color, shape, and hardware with the client. If the clients happen to be local I meet them in studio or at a coffee shop, and if not we then correspond multiple times over and over. Also every piece is available to be resized upon request. I’d like to see more leather wearables items in fashion and hope to participate in more local and reginal fashion shows. But also I’ve got a deep desire to push my bag and other fine leather goods line. Right now I currently hand sew most pieces, but am looking into buying some more specific machinery to make things more efficient and streamline.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I have learned that when it comes to quality made leather goods items, if it’s treated well you won’t have to replace it. Like a good leather belt should last you a decade if you stay the same size. Or a wallet or bag should hold up forever if conditioned and cared for. Thus reducing the need for repeat customers for the same items. So over time I started to played with several new designs and creating many different items. I had started Red Hare Leather making just a handful of items which I loved and were my personal style. And after a few years of minimal growth in an otherwise expensive hobby, I started researching, polling, and experimenting with different styles, designs, and goods. We now make handbags and tote bags, several wallet designs, all types of wearables and accessories, jewelry, home goods, some sexy gear and items, Each quarter there is a goal to introduce 2 new items, remove 2 older stale items, and poll for new and desired content.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Being a small, queer owned business I began hitting up my personal community. I have made countless items at no cost for folks in exchange modeling work, trade, photography, web design, and feedback. I still love and prefer a trade system amongst my peers. I’ve collaborated with a couple other local artists, wholesale goods in local stores and small businesses, I attended several local and regional craft shows, I offer delivery, shipping, and porch pick up for items, and I try and accept all custom projects that I have the skills for. Last year I also participated in the West 18th street fashion show. That event really has pushed our envelope in terms of leather wearables and accessories. But I think the fact that all of our wearable pieces are 100% custom made to perfectly fit every body is a huge draw for several of our clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.redhareleather.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redhareleather/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redhareleather
Image Credits
Photographer: Cassie Taylor for the second photo with Model: Stephone Singleton Photographer: Cassie Taylor for the fifth photo with Model: Jordan Bird Rest of the photos were shot by me.