Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Patrick Wierenga. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Patrick, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
From an early age I always had an unhealthy interest with hats. As far back as I can remember I was stealing my older brothers baseball hats. They didn’t fit, but I wore them anyways. My father always wore a hat, subconsciously, maybe I wanted to be like him. As I got older my interest grew to wool and felt hats. I tried several top brands and didn’t like the fit or the detailing. In frustration of obsessing over finding the perfect hat, I began to discover the process creating my own. Through the process I began to document my progress through social media, and I began making hats for others. Interest grew very quickly, and within a year Redbelly was created.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I grew up in the mid-west before heading out west to attend an art school for college. After spending 15 years in LA and starting a family , I decide to move back to the mid-west to start a new creative journey. I have always been fascinated with an artists ability to add value to someone’s life through their creation, whether it’s through song, a photograph, or in my case, a hat. When I made my first Redbelly Hat for a friend, I saw that it brought a feeling of confidence when they looked in the mirror for the first time. It added value to them, which in turn had an impact on me. My hope is that I can create a one of a kind, perfectly flawed, aesthetic creation for my customers. In a small way through the creative process of collaboration, I’ve had the honor of being part of peoples most milestone moments. I’ve made hats for weddings, and Birthdays. Restored the most sentimental hats of fathers and grandfathers who have pasted away, and also created the hat Recording artist James Bay wore the first time he sold out The Royal Albert Hall in London.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
In a creative business that sells custom creations through interpretation of a collaborative process, there is a dynamic that exists between the creator and customer that tends to be much more personal for the creator then others who may selling other products. Like a tattoo artist who listens to their client describe their ideas and vision, so do I. With every custom hat I make, I have a very unique personally connection with it. It’s mine. At the end of the hat process I present an end product that I’ve created with my heart and sole that I’ve done my best to interpret that now I have to give up. I know it sounds silly, but it can be super vulnerable. You put everything into it and hope they love it., but every once in awhile you get someone who you can’t make happy. I’ve learned to let those times go. I had to stop carrying those one off experiences with me, and not let it affect the creative process or my self confidence.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
For me at the at the beginning, I was extremely self conscious. I offered a product that was much to under priced. I didn’t know my worth as a creator. I had to make what was a hard decision for me and increase my prices. It was scary for me. As a new business just getting started, I was worried I was going to chase away all of my potential new customers. However that wasn’t the case. Most were still enthusiastic about the price for the product received. My advise to anyone starting is to know your worth, and be confident in it.
Contact Info:
- Website: Redbellyhats.com
- Instagram: Redbellyhats
Image Credits
Photographer Sam Vargas Photographer Sarah Smoger