CULTURED COWBOY PRESENTS
A Cultured Cowboy
Happy New Year - 2025

Statistics show that in the next week, half of the 80% of people who made New Years Resolutions will quit. 

Are we making dreams that are too hard to accomplish? Probably not. Most likely, we don't understanding that the biggest hopes begin and progress thru small achievable steps toward our goals. 

Cultured Cowboy did not begin as it is today. It began as a sideline of my horse training career. Got the idea that people who visited my training would need a halter, bridle, brush, wormer; and I could serve them between horse rides.  

Fast forward - I barely have time to ride my horses for the store's time requirements! Yet, I love it. 

There were a lot of "baby steps" between the idea of a store for extra part time income, and being one of the leading Western/English tack, Motorcycle & Fashion Leather retailers in the Southeastern USA.  

Our name was Walking T Stables & Tack because the stables' accomplishments were known so well in the 1970's horse show arenas. Our insurance company said they had to drop us because the store & the stables together, were a problem for underwriters. 

Asking if we separated the two facets, could we stay insured, ... Yep!  That stable name "could not" be altered. ( Today, almost nobody cares about the stable name.)

SO we hung a poster paper on the door:  We gotta change our store name for insurance purposes. Please check the one you like, or write in something better. My wife at the time, Lynne thought Cultured Cowboy was good. It should allow the idea of English & Western riding to blend. (And I was in college trying to get some culture!) 

Cultured Cowboy got all the checkmarks! 

Over the years, Cultured Cowboy has had multiple storefronts in several cities, but all those stores ran me crazy.  We tried mail order catalogues and I lost a lot of money because of production & (mostly) distribution costs.  We had a straping tall guy come in and ask us, "What about the Internet?"

Needless to say, we were the first Western store online. At the time, we built the first website for Chrysler/Dodge, for Wolverine Worldwide & hundreds of others.  Needless to say, once a big company sees it works, they hire their own staff. So we went back to a single store with Internet presence.

The first quarter online was an experience!  We had buy buttons, And we had challenges. WE sold so much stuff ... And the returns were horrendous.  (Example:  Than you for the custom leather coat you made for us. The pictures turned out great. Please refund our $2500.00 as we no longer need it. We called out credit card company to let them know.)

Then, An Internet scam stole $12,500.00 from us by using computer generated Visa/MC numbers that went through V/MC procedures.  Visa/MC charged back all the money AND charged us another $13,800 because we were scammed, to protect their interest. - Learning experiences.

We took down the buy buttons.  Calls kept coming & emails. By being personal, we have been able to 1) help over ten thousand people have the wedding of their dreams. 2) meet, learn, & confer with some of the industry leaders in almost every aspect of horsemanship & rodeo. 3) help super star entertainers, and those who dreamed of becoming so, to relax into who they really are. 4) celebrate wins & near wins in tens of thousands of lives.5) Spread the Gospel, share the good news of LOVE with more people than we can count!
         All while avoiding so many problems we had to learn through.

2025 & Cultured Cowboy:
     We have a bid in on another section of woods, to build a larger store. Gotta get all kinds of permits & approvals. When most 69 yr olds are quitting, I'm just getting started.  I had a friend who commented, "when it's too tough for everybody else, it's just getting right for Chuck". 

Dallas Trade Show is in a week. We'll be with other leaders in this industry to map out what is needed for all of you over the next 3 months to 3 years! 

We scaled down for Covid & the finalities of the past few years. Now Cultured Cowboy is moving forward again. 

Our Ad budget will include national magazines, the culturedcowboy.com website, newspapers, and some special events. 

We will continue to train, to learn, to be an important part of more lives. We will share our knowledge with you. We committed to more hat machinery for refurbishing Western hats. If the larger location comes through, we will look into custom boot making with our expanded leather shop. 

Locally, we will stock even more workboots along with our dress boots. Worldwide, we will be trying to re-establish / enhance old relationships and establish new relationships. 

Many of you know, my other career is as an Executive Coach, a Team Coach, last year, I was voted top ten facilitator with the World  Business & Executive Coaching Summit. Top15 the year previous. With bringing more independent contractors & partnerships with Cultured Cowboy, I'll be able to have more time to devote to my Life Coaching.

So, with all these dreams, will there be time to enjoy being me?  Yep, I thrive on the helping other people get what they want out of life. By doing this, I get to enjoy my life! 

MAYBE, for 2025, you could share with me, a resolution to help better the lives of others. To contribute to others, beyond SELF, not expecting a "Fair" return for horsetrading, but helping for the sake of helping. It is a higher calling. YOU are up to the challenge!  

Let's enjoy 2025 together!
 God Bless you all,     Chuck Taylor

 

Does anyone else consider the "holiday season" to begin with Thanksgiving, or Hanukah, (depending on the year) and flowing though the great V-Day?  With all the dreary skies of a North American Winter, isn't it a relief to have all these opportunities to touch the lives of friends & family?

In year's past, Cultured Cowboy has gotten into lingerie and candy for Valentines Day. What we (I) discovered was: I ate way too much of the chocolate. And it's hard to sell clothing that embarrasses you.   So this year, 2023, we'll stick to tack, saddles, boots , belts & clothing for daytime wear. 

 Well, I'm ready for V-Date Day to happen. Yet, life can get confusing. I'm pondering what to get my youngest boy, just turned 15 now. He still likes chocolate. Not ready fro driving a truck yet. Maybe a promise of driving lessons this Summer. (And a chocolate treat for now.)  How about the oldest son? I thinking that giving him some valuable time together might be best. He stays so busy. The middle male now has a serious girlfriend. I'm sure he's not thinking of a step dad!

Youngest daughter? Definitely chocolates. And a handwritten letter of love. She's eleven and has been a wonderful addition to my 66 year old soul. Oldest daughter? Has a great family with an understanding hubby. "I'm so proud!" Gotta think of something unexpected?

There are so many friends I can't possibly list them all, or call them all. Maybe that's why we should love them all during everyday of our year. Ex-wives? I'll think about them, and reflect on times we shared. But even that can get me into trouble.  Current female companion? I don't know if she would appreciate the chocolate as much as another few bags of k9 feed.

Some ladies are like that. - But guys - Ya better do something in addition to that kennel ration!  Or face sleeping in the "doghouse" yourself. 

How can I show a little extra love for my Lord?  Betcha, He's appreciate some quiet time together. And perhaps an offering to contribute to a homeless shelter, or food bank. MAybe include Him in more of my daily conversations with you guys too! 

And what about parents? grandparents? Certainly a phone or better, a Zoom call. Could I have something special delivered to their home if I can't make it myself?  What about a note of appreciation for all they have done for all of us?  What if getting closer to siblings might make a Mom or Dad happy?

I believe we are all smart enough to challenge ourselves to deliver true love along with a token gift. By token, I mean representative, not something without sincere meaning. 

Cultured Cowboy understands that a great workboot or a barn boot can make our clients smile. Maybe a new stable or turnout blanket for the horse. (We just restocked. It's gonna be at least 6 more weeks of cold) 

Cowboy necklaces are a good idea. We don't normally have diamonds but we do have pearls in our wedding case.  A warm coat might be good for your special someone, as well as the horse. Those Key, hooded jackets and those Australian dusters are great. 

I just remembered - we now have "jeweled boots".  And  flowered boots. Check out Arlos boots for ladies.   One year, Cultured Cowboy gave out roses to our female customers. Yes, Free!  Yes real red ones!  Over 200 of them!    And what about a floral tooled Western belt?  That's an idea! 

So, in summary, I think the most important thing is to spread the love as much as we can. Short notes.  Maybe short video calls. Let people know you care.  Maybe a Facebook or LInkedIn something? And for those most special, take the time to listen. Listen with the intention of caring about their feelings, their conflicts, their dreams, their needs.

Valentines Day can become a true day of giving. Giving you, giving for your Lord. And taking in all the emotions available through the giving.  

Happy  Happy Day & Happy Happy Season.
You are a person of value & worth. 
God Loves You,  and I love you.   

C Taylor, Jr
01/29/2023

 

 

www.culturedcowboy.com    *   1 (864) 223-3700 or 1 (866) 492-6926 toll free  *    cowboy@culturedcowboy.com