Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Baugh.
Hi Tiffany, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As far back as I can remember I have always done my own thing and had my own sense of style. Current trends and who or what was in fashion never seemed to dictate what I wore. Then one day while I was shopping I was stopped cold in my tracks. OMG!! What is THAT?!!! THAT is almost exactly what I’ve been looking for all these years. It was clothing by Ed Hardy.
However, Ed Hardy’s items were a little more “Tattoo-ish” (that was his background) and it incorporated a little too much “Japanese-ish” style than what I had in mind. So after searching and searching and not finding exactly what I was looking for I decided one day to make a hat exactly like I had been hunting for all those years.
I bought a plain black ballcap. Bought some spikes and metal embellishments to add to it. Once I figured out how to get those on the hat I added a cute red rose and a rhinestone cross. I really wanted the ribbon wrapping around them as well but couldn’t figure out how to do that and thought that might look too “Ed Hardy-ish” right out of the gate. I wanted it to look similar but not at all the same.
Once I made that first hat I wore it to the local Walmart. I kept getting people stopping me telling me how much they loved my hat and asking me where did I buy it? This didn’t only happen at Walmart, it started happening no matter where I went. And THAT was when I decided to start my own brand, Tiff’s Rebel Wear (that name was just a placeholder) which later became Whiskey Business Rebel Wear.
And that is where we are today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
OMG no!!! LOL!!
I thought this would be easy since so many people seemed interested in the one hat in the beginning. Truth is, a lot of people seem to love my products but right now I get the feeling everybody is handing on to their money because of the uncertainty of everything right now.
When I first started out, I had a booth at a local Harley Davidson store. I just KNEW this would be a huge hit. These were my people!!!! WRONG!!!!
While people were stopping and looking at my products (by then I had hats I had made and leather bracelets I had made by hand using genuine leather). I think I sold a couple of hats and that was it.
Then, I got a booth at the largest women’s biker rally in the country. I just KNEW this would be a HUGE success. WRONG!!! I almost broke even between paying for the booth and the hotel room for a few days and gas to get there and back, etc. I just didn’t get it.
Then I looked at all my inventory (by that time I had added t-shirts to the mix. But I was using sublimation ink to make the t-shirts. I didn’t realize that would wash right off). So, I took a step back to reassess what I was doing.
I was “PLANNING” on going back to the basics to what I originally had in mind. Then one day I accidentally made a makeup bag. I was teaching myself how to sew and wound up making a coin purse and a makeup bag. So, once people saw those, now they wanted bags. Now I have bags as part of my inventory.
Once bags became part of my inventory I got interest from unexpected people. My groomer, for instance, is now my silent business partner. Now she is wanting me to make aprons for waitresses and groomers, etc. Now I feel things are really starting to get a bit out of hand and my initial vision is nowhere in sight.
The biggest issue and struggle has been the money. I need money to buy raw materials to make the products. I haven’t had a “real job” in almost two years so the money issue is a HUGE struggle right now. And when I have friends and family throwing out ideas about what I need to make to add to my inventory that just creates havoc. Everybody thinks their idea is the best. They don’t understand. I’m not trying to create a one-off business where I make an apron for somebody today and a makeup bag for their sister tomorrow. I am trying to create a brand.
With the money issue I have yet to trademark anything. So, I am a bit apprehensive about putting my stuff I want trademarked out there. However, that’s the stuff I’m most proud of that I want to sell.
Another huge struggle is getting everything done. I have a website but not all of my products are listed there. I have started an Etsy page but only have one item listed there. There is just too much work for one person to be able to do it all. There’s obviously no way to hire somebody to help me since there’s no money to pay them.
So no, the road has not been smooth. Lots of potholes to dodge and some really tight turns along the way. But I will make it to the finish line and I will be successful!!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
It’s almost comical because I have never seen myself as the “Creative Type.” An artist? Not me, LOL!!!! Then one day I made a wreath. After making that wreath I thought, “Wow!! That looks awesome! I made that??!!”
Then several years later I was at my cousin’s in-laws ranch where they were making quilts. I have always loved quilts. My grandma used to quilt. So I decided I wanted to try that. I went to several fabric stores (all of which are now out of business) and got several different fabrics for which to make the quilt. Over Thanksgiving break, while out at the ranch, I made my first quilt. It is beautiful!!! That’s when I caught “The Bug.”
My products are for the rebels at heart. There’s a lot of negative connotation around the word, “Rebel.” Even the local high school changed their mascot from the “Rebels” to the “Royals.” THAT just upset me even more!! The point of being a rebel is not to conform. To be true to what you believe no matter what everybody else is doing. So being a true rebel, I decided to make my stuff for those people who are being told to “Hush” and “Be silent.” WRONG!!! I am a rebel and PROUD to be a rebel!!
My Mission Statement is: “Creating Fun and Rebellious Fashions that Project your Unruly Soul!”
If you can’t be yourself then who can you be?
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Living in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area is great!!! We have the best of both worlds. We have Dallas, the uppity, high-fashion city where people care who you’re wearing and what you’re driving. Well, that doesn’t quite work for me.
Then we have Fort Worth. I absolutely love Fort Worth. The people are more laid back, accept you for who you are and don’t judge you for what you’re wearing or driving.
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) is kind of a two-edged sword. For the longest time we had a population of about 2 million people. Now? We have over 8 million!!! It is too crowded now. There’s way too much traffic and the competition for not just small businesses like mine but to just find a job is outrageous.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.whiskeybusinessrebelwear.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiskeyBusiness
