We recently connected with Rachelle Mapes and have shared our conversation below.

Rachelle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

During my time in retail and customer service, I learned invaluable lessons that have significantly contributed to my success as a business owner. One crucial lesson was the importance of prioritizing customer satisfaction. In the retail industry, I discovered that a satisfied customer is not only likely to return but also to become a loyal advocate for your business.
Additionally, working in a fast-paced retail environment taught me the importance of adaptability and quick decision-making. Customer preferences and market trends can change rapidly, and being able to pivot and adjust strategies accordingly is crucial for success. This agility has proven invaluable in the dynamic landscape of running a business, where staying ahead of the curve is often a key factor.
The organization and layout of a retail space are critical aspects that I’ve carried forward into my role as a business owner. In retail, I learned the importance of strategic store layouts and zoning to create a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience for customers.
I have always been a strong, hardworking employee and that transitioned into being a strong, humbling business owner.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I appreciate the opportunity to share more about myself and my journey.

My husband Justin Mapes and I are the owners of Black Sheep Co. Motorcycle Apparel. Our road to motorcycle apparel and accessories was fueled by a passion for riding, but never having a good store to find affordable leathers and even to get patches sewn on was hard to find. Early in my career, I gained valuable experience in the retail and customer service, where I developed my skills in customer satisfaction, team management, and the art of creating a welcoming shopping environment.

Recognizing the importance of these lessons, I decided to channel my experiences into Black Sheep Co. We provide a place where bikers can come shop, find exceptional prices and quality, get patches sewn on, and gather with other bikers. Its become a community spot for our annual Bike and Car show, poker stops, and events. We really enjoy being apart of the community.

We always work with the customers to meet their needs weather its ordering a special size, custom vests, or creating a layout of patches for them that flows nicely on their vests or chaps. We support local “competition” if we can’t meet the needs of our customer we gladly point them to where they can go even if means losing that sale. The priority is that the customer is satisfied and they truly feel their opinion mattered to us.

Have you ever had to pivot?

We recently rebranded our store, from BSC Leathers to Black Sheep Co. We were are a point where we were not putting in a whole lot of effort into our business and that reflected in our customers. Our vibrations were low and we were just getting through the day. A moment came where we had to make a decision and either close the business or make it work. I was not ready to give up, and started putting my heart and focus into the store. I became the face of Black Sheep Co. I looked at our store from the customers perspective and started making changes, working with little recourses I added lighting, moved things around, and tried to add space while showcasing our best line of products. The positive feedback of changing the name and logo was encouraging. We increased our social media presence with more videos, updates, and community involvement. At this time our biggest competition closed down, and business flowed in.
All the hard work, extra hours, and dedication started showing results immediately.
Often, people give up on their dreams just three feet from gold, not realizing how close they are to success. Perseverance is the key to unlocking the treasures that lie beyond the challenges. Which I give credit to Napoleon Hill “Think and Grow Rich” We were so close to throwing in the towel, and not seeing the success blossom from our hard work.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building a social media presence takes time and patience. I focused on building genuine connections, providing value, and adapting a strategy based on audience feedback and platform algorithms. I had a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve through social media. It wasn’t just about promoting products; it was about creating a community and sharing valuable insights in my industry. We spotlight other local business and share local events where people can find more information or share their information. I actively engage with my audience by responding to comments, messages, and participating in discussions. This personalized approach helped build a sense of community around our business. To boost engagement, I organized contests and giveaways. This not only encouraged my existing audience to participate but also attracted new followers eager to get involved.
Hosting events and collaboration with other local business helps expand the social following, consistency, being personable and that sense of community is what really helps us.

Contact Info:

• Website: coloradoblacksheep.square.site
• Instagram: blacksheep_colorado
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlackSheepMotorcycleApparel
• Other: TikTok @tinksepam and @bscleathers