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

Molly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

Well, the idea was not mine originally. Our story started a long, long time ago, back in 1973. My mom (Sally) left home at age 17. She didn’t really have a plan as to what she was going to do, so she decided that she would make some stuff to sell. She travelled around the world, she spent time in Europe, Jamaica, and a few years in California. The craft she settled on and came to love was leather work. She made leather goods for professors at Berkeley University, businesswomen in Jamaica, and even a mime in Paris!

Fast forward a few years to the 1980’s. Now married, my mom and dad opened a shop in downtown Hermann Missouri. My dad was a part-time school bus driver, musician, and college dropout (at the time). They decided that dad would learn shoe repair from a local cobbler who was wanting to retire, because shoe repair went well with mom’s leatherwork. As time passed and more children came, they decided that dad needed to go back to school and finish his engineering degree. So that’s what they did. They closed the shop and dad found employment in manufacturing while mom raised (and homeschooled) us 4 kids.

A few more years later… I (Molly) was fresh out of a local tech school after getting an associate’s degree in Powersports Technology, (and a brief stint at a Harley-Davidson dealership). I was working a few seasons at a local vegetable farm. The farm was one of my favorite jobs, but I knew it wasn’t a long-term thing. One day while planting garlic it came to me, “mom and I are going to open the shop back up!”. So, that’s exactly what we did! Mom and I have been rockin’ and re-solin’ together since 2011!

Molly, 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?

We are a two-woman operation here at Saleigh Mountain Co.. We are located in beautiful downtown Hermann Missouri. Our mission, if you will, is to serve our community with quality handmade goods, and repair services. We want to make things that will last our customers’ a lifetime. Items that can be passed down to the next generation.

Mom designs and creates beautiful purses, belts, wallets, bags, and lots of other things. Molly (along with some help from dad, Mark) does shoe repair! We are a full-service repair shop, meaning; we do full-soles and heels on your favorite dress shoe, cowboy boot, or work boot. We do orthopedic lifts for people who may have one leg that is shorter than the other. We repair zippers, snaps, rivets, boot hooks and eyelets and more! We can stretch shoes or modify them in order to help our customers with ill-fitting shoes as well. It’s an amazing thing to be able to help someone walk a little better in their own shoes!

What sets us apart? I guess one of the main things that sets us apart is customer service. In a world of fast fashion, mass production, online EVERYTHING, it’s a little bit old school to be able to walk into a store and meet the person who is making the product you are buying. Repair is also very unusual these days. Our society has gotten very used to just buying something, using if briefly, then tossing it in the trash. We are NOT about that! We want people to be able to buy an item, use it for years and years, repair it if needed, and then use it some more! Makers and menders are different in that regard.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Oh gosh, I don’t know that I’m the best person for giving business advice! I guess if I had to name a few things they would be these:

Be consistent. If you say you’re going to be open, then be open. No leaving early or ditching on a whim. New customers can’t walk in your store if it’s not open!
**This does not mean that you can’t take vacation! Notify customers in advance and take that trip!**

Be honest. This one speaks for itself really. In any and all dealings with customers, always be honest. Treat people with respect. They will keep coming back and they will tell their friends!

Have integrity. In life and in business no one is perfect. If you make a mistake, own it. Apologize, make it right, and move on.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I do not consider myself an expert in my field (yet) or as a businesswoman, however I am always striving to be better at both!
I listen to different business podcasts, watch others in my field on YouTube, go to conventions, and listen to mentors any chance I get!
I never assume that I’ve “made it” or that I know all there is to know. In short, always be willing to learn something new!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://saleighmountain.com
• Instagram: @saleighmountain
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/saleighmountainco

Image Credits

Matt Wilson