A year ago, I
wrote our first "March Madness" Newsletter. Didn't
mention much about Basket Ball. But it was a cool lead in to all
the good stuff we had going on as fears over the Covid contagion
relaxed. Hope your fav teams do well this year! Anybody looking
forward to “March Madness” 2023?
Again, B-Ball isn't riding horses. But we can still get
just as excited!
What if we created a “Cowboy March Madness”?
What would you like that to look like? As
Spring approaches, trail rides, outdoor rodeos, horse shows
& lots of fun stuff like shedding horses & cutting grass
will happen. We've seen some growing excitement in the
SASS weekends too. We're increasing stock in the Viper
boots - snakes are starting to be more active.
A
year ago, we spoke of opening with R Watson Boots. This
has been a great partnership. We carry in stock their waterproof
lacer & pull on workboots. Hard to beat at $179.99
pr. And several of the exotics, roughstock &
cowhide boots. We stock a limited edition blue/black cape
buffalo boot in matching men's & ladies. (Looks better than
it probably sounds!) Caimans & lizards seem to be
favorites of our walk-in customers. Our website now shows a good
many to select from. Delivery anywhere from 3 days to 4
months, depending on the type boot. We're
excited and hope you'll be too!
Fenoglio boots,
(having taken over the old Nocona Boot factory), has made
Cultured Cowboy a good looking, functional "Shooter's
boot". Black or brown. reg calf or wide calf. tall tops
& comfortable. Fenoglio is also making our crepe sole ropers
now. A great program in smooth ostrich, or cowhides - Same
Vibram sole we've all come to love under the "technocrepe"
moniker. One of their specialties are rough out roughout rough
stock boots
for rodeo. - Cutter square toe, spur ridge firm heels, and just
right for winning your event!
Joes' Boots are
still a huge hit with the ladies - still under $150.00.
AND - they will be making some cowboy lacers we're excited to
introduce in April. Black bullhide, Bay Apache - leather
sole & rubber sole. Ladies love Joe's Boots!
We're excited!
Black Star
boots are gaining in popularity. Corral Boots have exciting new
ladies styling too. - Both for ladies with discriminating tastes and maybe ready
for some excitement in footwear! And Life! See
their ads in Cowgirl Magazine.
Twisted X, with
great fit, function & tough wear-ability has become our best
selling brand. Got lots of that
square toe styling. I do have some rounded toe boots remaining.
Their model MABW001 All Around Waterproof Boot is very
popularly replacing that Geo Strait 9018
discontinued Justin series. The MRA001 western work boot is
getting even more popular. And
those Twisted X Driving Mocs feel so good ya gotta have a pr for
Summer. (Men's, Ladies & Children's in stock) I
can't say enough good about Twisted X company and management!
Call me, ask
me why I think they are real people!
And, upon
popular request from our ladies – We now have “Grace”
jeans ($79.99) here now &
Medium
rise jeans are the rage. High waists are coming on strong. (No
more muffin on top of the waistline!) All styles we
ordered for stock go over a boot.
We put some “wild side” 60's looking ladies
pants on the site because you told us you liked them!
Still have Colored Rockies available in a lot of sizes
– higher waist. &59.99 up.
Panhandle
Slim & Rock 'N Roll Denim have been a lot of fun. -
BORDER PRINTS on men's shirts are back!
Cultured Cowboy
keeps well over 100 saddles in stock, ready to ship fast. Dakota
Saddlery
is now delivering saddles made for your specs in 12 – 16 weeks.
BigHorn is a
longer wait. The Old Garroutte company is the same actual
saddler, but they come to you with a different label. Dean retired. Company continues, but
Dean Garoutte prefers no one to use his
name. We have a bunch of Tucker & Circle Y saddles now -
mostly trail models. If ya need any Circle
Y or Tucker saddle, PLEASE go to their website Let us know. A
reasonable deposit & let's get yours on order NOW!
Even their Reinsman bits & pads are sometimes taking months to
get, so Cultured Cowboy is stocking a lot of them for you.
Production is still backed up with labor & material
shortages.
Due to so many costs escalating, we expanded our offering of
imported saddles. There are a couple of really nice for the
under $1000.00 saddles available. European leathers, India labor. (India has
some great leather craftsmen)
5
yr warrantees – JTI Ropers for
under $800 new. Pleasure saddles even under $650.00.
Circle J has some snazzy looking barrel saddles we can
deliver packages for about $1100.00 on saddles that would
compare to $2500.00 on the top side.
Hats are still in short supply and prices escalated last year,
but seem to have now stopped rising in price. We're working
with Stetson & Resistol as much as possible, but we have to have
some substitutions. For $229.99 we have a nice felt hat marked
8X that compares to Stetson 6X, in 4 colors. 6 5/8 - 7 5/8
sizing. There are more Shantung Straws at our store
than last year. YES, we have Geo Strait straw hats in
stock. Many cowboys are wearing Bangora &
Bandera rather than Shantung straws because of
availability. Cultured Cowboy does have some Black Gold in
stock, several other black and some charcoal gray, silverbelly
& tan felts. WE ordered heavily for Fall and hope to
receive lots of rodeo & horseman styles.
Bailey Hat
& Akubra are still important to us. American Hat Co is still
not even taking new orders for
a couple years. (till they catch up.)
So Cultured Cowboy is adding heavy lacquer to straws for
you, to get that tough type hat. (Just
ask us.
Wrangler
promises I'll get better deliveries soon!
So we'll hope! Key
is still a great work jean. Delivery is great! Our
kids are now mostly wearing Rock N Roll Denim.
Tack – Weaver
has cut my margins to the bone – they compete with their
dealers heavily. Still they have a great ½ inch set of reins
– roper & split that we'll carry. And anything else they
make we'll get for you too.
Reinsman
is pretty much all merged into Tucker. No Reinsman saddles. Your
fav styles are now labeled Circle Y. Bits
selection is greatly reduced. Still
their quality is supreme. AND - They are making the wool
Sharon Camarillo pads for me again!
And that brings Supreme Leather to mind. Still a great company
for basic tack. And cotton rope leads. Good side pulls. Practice
& farm ropes at about $30.00. (Kids ropes too.)
Pro ropes – Cactus seems to be our customer's
preferences. Plenty of
saddle bags and halters are ready to ship for this Spring. Big
Horn, Reinsman, South Bay.
Custom blankets
from Mayatex. Don't wait till you need them. Great quality.
Vibrant colors. Just taking time to get. We're keeping specialty
pads & wool pads in stock as best we can. Prices on imported
better wools start at $79.99. Most at $200.00 - $300.00.
We'll have the 5Star line this year too.
Had a great meeting of the hearts with them!
Never sold as
many holsters as we have in the past year. Stocking side arm
type with rear bullet keepers - Right, left, cross-draw, single &
double holsters. Also - holsters to fit onto your belt & for
conceal carry too.
Our Amish made
leather belts are holding up great. And the ones made in Texas
too. We're going to put a good many of them on our site in May
for Father's Day.
And that's the
beginning! SO much
change, so much fun! WE still don't use buy buttons. Call or
email. Till you get
us. Like everyone
else, we have about half of the help we need. I apologize for not
being as responsive as we wish, in answering calls.
The phone messages are filling up in half days. Over 500
emails a day that people really need answers, not counting the
junk. It's because we really try to research & answer
questions for you all.
I turn 67 in a
few days (Mar14) and our store celebrates 50 yrs in
business. I couldn't be
legal till 17 in SC. We
could argue the start in '73, but I like to remember it as a
great Birthday gift to me and the world of Cowboys!
Ridiculous how many changes I've been thru in these short
years. SO don't be discouraged by our “NEWS MEDIA”.
Things have always been a little crazy!
God is still in control. You are a person of worth & value,
God loves you and I love you!
Another side thought: re-tirement
- I was tired yesterday & I'll be re-tired again
tomorrow! Kinda got huffy with Social security when they
suggested I retire at 62.
Why retire when ya love what ya do?
On a personal
note: The cancer is all cut out or gone for now. Chemo is over. Thanks
for the thousands, maybe millions of prayers during the past
couple years. I've had it better than most on chemo.
As I write
this, I'm listening to some soft country music. And
I'm thinking: life has opportuned me with more than most men
would dream about. Maybe because my dreams are so big! I've
already lived the life of 3 men. Accomplished a lot. Failed at
much. Strange how the fails are necessary to grow you into who
you're meant to be!
As an “old fart”, I'd advise – live life. Never sit on the
sidelines for long – just enough to get into the groove of
things. I have more
stories than “Carter” has pills!
My memory is not as it was, but I'll always relish what I
do remember. And what I remember most is the love you have given
me for 50 years in this industry, so I in turn can pass that
love forward, back to you!
Reflecting over
the past few years, friends and some family
members who were much younger than I, are in their resting
place. And too many more customers, and friends. But I'll dance
with them in Heaven. Wonder if they do the "Cotton-eyed
Joe" or "Boot Scoot Boogie" in the clouds? Imagine dancing with
angels, with saints, with Jesus! Guess I gotta brush up on some
of that fancy Hebrew dancing I see on YouTube videos.
(Seems if it's
not Covid, it's cancer or a heart attack or something. - Prayers
to all of you who have lost loved ones.)
God Bless &
Let's have some fun this month!
PS: On the Moto
side, some perforated leather motorcycle jackets are now in
stock. And flow thu vented jackets. - Gotta get ready for warm
weather, don't we? Still
got the Schott 141 models too!
Made in NJ & NYC. Need new chaps? Lots in
stock, XS to 5X. First
Manufacturing has great product. And Cultured Cowboy can cut
& re-stitch belts or bottoms for you.
First Mfg vests are doing great. I like the models you can lift
the liner to sew patches. A little more work, but worth it in
looks. Call us with any models you might like. They fit
true on up to XL, but as you get larger - above 2X,
go an extra size.
{March Madness
Sidebar – Seems the whole world is in midst of madness. The
war between Russia & Ukraine threatens WW3. We're closer to
world conflict than I'd like to even imagine.
It's gonna interfere even more with better felt hat
deliveries because so much of our felt comes as a side product
of fur coat markets in Eastern Europe.
Petrol is way up in price. Uncertainty is everywhere.
So, aren't ya
glad yer a cowboy/cowgirtl?
As Hank Wms Jr sang: “A Country Boy Can Survive”.
What if hot
heads could simmer down? What if the opposing factions could
have talks about how each could support each other rather than
extending the fear and the threats, the escalations, caused by
fear? In every war,
is it strange that the wars have to be financed? That the same
sources seem to like to lend to both sides?
Who stands to profit?
Not so much the soldiers fighting! - They don't split
“booty” anymore. Not the families of soldiers or civilians
killed. Who really owns the munitions factories?
In our USA
'49ers gold rush, those who really benefited were those who
supplied the miners! Duh!
Has someone's profits or debt control fallen since we de-escalated
from the Middleast conflicts? Who are the pressuring forces
controlling the “Hawks” in governments? Could someone
explain to all the elected and dictatorial “officials”,
that
the real heroes will be those that resolve conflicts peacefully?
My other job is
as a life coach, specializing in relationships. Now certified -
Coaching Leadership in Healthcare from HarvardU. and obtaining
another advanced certification in team coaching. I was honored
to be selected in the World Business & Executive Coaching
Summit as a top 15 facilitator. (thousands of professional
members worldwide)
“Boy Howdy, world leadership could use some professional
coaching! Team coaching is all about opening relationships with
team members & their stakeholders for the better benefit of
all. The entire world, people & planet are stakeholders in
the decisions being made. Present forward & future back role
plays are part of the mix. With the right coach, amazing what
can be co-created together, even among people that are not
getting along all the time.
Listening is key! New options are available – unlimited
resourcefulness will out-perform resources every time.
Kind'a like a relationship I have with one neighbor. He needed
help watching out for a large property next to me. Twice fires
“popped up” in his woodlands from "visitor" abuse.
I watch after the property. I'm allowed to ride trails, grow
some corn or oats if want, Made
a muddy clay track, 2 tractor widths wide, 100 ft straight-aways
and 60 ft radius ends in the midst of an 8 ft tall blackberry
bramble for those "tough to break" horses..
Works wonders! He
pays the property taxes. I keep the property in shape and safe.
Everybody wins! { Maybe
I should send a proposal to Putin & Ukraine. }
C
Taylor, Jr
03/11/2023
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