Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jada and Jack Kissel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jada and Jack , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

What started out as a leather hobby for Jack, has grown into a silver business for his sister Jada. We hadn’t even considered a business name yet, we were just making things and realized they needed a maker’s mark. A few ideas were thrown around, but when our dad (Dude Kissel) mentioned the old Kissel family brand lazy k lazy 3 was available, it stuck. The lazy K lazy 3 brand was first registered in the Colorado brand book in 1948, when Fred Kissel and his two sons Jack and Wayne Kissel moved from Albuquerque NM to Kiowa Colorado to start a sale barn. Two generations later, the brand was taken over and used by Dude and his brother Joe Kissel, and 28 years after that Jack and Jada make the fifth generation to use the family brand. When Jack started selling some of his Lazy K Lazy 3 marked leather goods, Jada made the social media handle Lazy.K3.Leather. And that is how the Lazy.K3 business was started.

Jada and Jack , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Jack and Jada are brother and sister and grew up on their family’s fifth-generation farm/ranch outside Genoa CO. There, the bunkhouse that previously was home to Great-Grandpa Jack Kissel, was used for starting the leather and silver shop. Jack Kissel is the leatherman behind lazy.k3.leather, and he began making a variety of leather gear to save money. As the full circle is now coming around he realizes that he’s tied up thousands of dollars in tools, and materials. He has built most of his own gear used for cowboying and riding horses, which may have saved a few dollars. Thanks to his creativity and natural talent with leather, he has had quite a few orders over the last few years. Jack will always continue to make stuff for himself and a few other individuals. However, most custom orders are very limited for the time being, due to a shortage of time. He says leather orders are expected to open back up after finishing college. One of the only ways for leather craftsmanship to continue is for craftsmen to share the trade with young individuals. Jack has had the pleasure of learning a lot from a semi-retired saddlemaker (Jim Capraro), and lots of practice.
Jada is also thankful for the opportunities she had to learn from the craftsmen before her. A local silversmith (Don Lengel) started her silversmithing adventure in 2019, and from there she went to MCC to pursue a degree in Cowboy Arts/Silversmithing. Eddy Mardis introduced her to bit and spur making, and brightcut engraving. From there Jada has enjoyed learning from bit makers Gary Wiggins and Tom Palmer. But what she most enjoys making is sterling silver and turquoise jewelry.
Each piece is handmade, and many of the bigger jewelry pieces are constructed around stones she cut herself. There’s a lot that goes into each piece of jewelry, and when you purchase handmade from her it embodies time, effort, creativity, passion, and persistence. Most of the pieces have all had some literal blood, sweat, and tears to get where they are she laughs. She loves being able to create wearable art, and help people find the right jewelry to express their style. However, she thinks the most special pieces have been sentimental ones, special to the wearer. She’s been honored to make jewelry using family’s inherited turquoise to create a special wearable heirloom, and use elk ivories in jewelry to commemorate a successful hunt. “Fast fashion and fake jewelry don’t hold up long, but I get to make something that someone else will enjoy for years to come.” Said Jada. And not only is silver and turquoise jewelry carrying on a beautiful tradition, it holds its value and can actually increase over time, making it a worthwhile investment to jewelry lovers.
Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”. This verse shapes the work ethic, and quality of work at Lazy K3. She says “I want each piece to be honoring the Lord, and this verse is a reminder of the goal…whatever you work at-glorify Christ, that the world may see him through us.” Jada looks forward to seeing how God grows her silver business, and is thankful for all the people who have supported her work along the way.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When first starting out, I was told to aim to sell my items for half the price that someone else would ask for a similar item. Not only does this undercut the other person, but it leaves no profit margin for me to make a living on, and makes my work only a hobby-not a business. It also can create unrealistic expectations for the customer, and give the impression that my work isn’t as high quality as the other person. When in reality my work is just as deserving of that price tag. However, I always aim to charge the least amount possible, because I want to make beautiful authentic jewelry affordable to those around me. Everyone deserves a quality piece they are proud to wear, but I’m learning that doesn’t mean I can’t make money on my business. So I’m trying to learn to respect my customers by valuing my own time, and I know it will be appreciated eventually.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I’ve really enjoyed meeting new people at rodeos and tradeshows, and getting to know them. It’s amazing how strangers can become customers, who become great friends! But I think it is even cooler when a customer refers their friend to buy jewelry from me, it really means a lot.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lazy.k3.leather/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lazy.k3.leather/

Image Credits
Emilee Fagan, and Candace Lostroh