Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista Whitley.
Krista, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always had something in me that wanted to have a creative business, my own website, something to be proud of. Growing up, I was also getting into different crafty/creative avenues – scrapbooking, stamping, card making, vinyl, and beading. You name it, I’ve probably spent a small fortune at Michael’s attempting to craft it.
One day in January 2022, I very persuasively convinced my not-easily persuasive husband to get on board with purchasing a laser, the GlowForge Pro to be exact. I thought it was the perfect idea to be able to help pay for some medical debt and then some. For weeks, we researched inspiration for different products we could create, we needed to make sure that this investment would pay off. After 10 months of trial and error on products, we found our niche – genuine leather patch hats.
A collection we’ve created and also custom hats for businesses who’ve provided us with their logos. In January 2023, we announced that we would only be offering hats going forward. No more little trinket products that we had previously tried out. The response and support we have gotten this far have been nothing short of amazing and we can’t wait to see where we can take this.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
By no means has this been a smooth road. My husband Jon and I both work full time, 9-5 jobs Monday-Friday, when we get home, we go straight to our home office and start working on fulfilling orders, updating our website, taking pictures, staying active on social media and so many other tasks that come along with having a small business.
We’ve taken so many financial chances on building what we’ve created this far and that alone is a struggle itself. I don’t expect it to get easier anytime soon, but the bumps along the way are what help us pave a smooth path for the future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Muddy Barn Hat Co. creates engraved, genuine leather patches for hats. While we specialize in men’s hats, we also offer women’s, toddler, and youth hats as well. I like to think we are known for offering quality hats. We have so many repeat customers who share how much they love that we use quality products and that is what keeps them returning. I (and my husband) are most proud of how far we’ve come to build what we have.
As previously mentioned, we started with the Glowforge Pro, which by no means is “cheap.” We’ve recently been able to upgrade that laser to something much larger and more efficient. It’s something we are so very proud of being able to do, not only personally, but also for our customers.
It’s allowing us to be able to complete orders at a much more reasonable rate, but keeping the quality the same, if not better. Being a husband and wife duo sets us apart most from others. We are such a great team and I truly believe that our customers see, feel, and appreciate that.
What does success mean to you?
Success to me, is setting small goals and reaching them. It could take multiple tries and failures, but having the energy and focus to keep trying and achieving is success to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: muddybarn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mbhatco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themuddybarn/
Image Credits
SJC Photography
