It has been a hot minute since I have stopped to blog a little but be aware I have a bunch coming your way over the next few weeks! I could not be more excited to not only show of some amazing women and their businesses but also the upcoming 5th Annual Count Down to Vegas as well! We are definitely counting down to Vegas and I can not wait to see one of my favorite people Trisha Giles owner of Whipin Wild Rags. I had the pleasure of meeting her a couple years ago and we become instant friends as well as close sisters in Christ. I love that she is not scared to be who she is and also share not only her love for people but her love for Christ. So let’s get started and find out more about Trisha and how she started this amazing brand and business.
Photo By Denim and Velvet Marketing & Design
I got the idea to make wild rags when we were in Vegas for the 2016 NFR. That was the first year I remember hearing anything about Western Fashion Influencers and when western fashion was getting more extravagant. I had only seen wild rags that were worn for function before then and I was all about these new ways to wear them!
T: When we left Vegas I was really into the wild rag trend but I hadn’t put much effort into turning it into a business when Casey decided I needed a Serger for my birthday. We talked about what if’s for a second and decided to jump in and try to make a few wild rags and see how things go. We headed off to JoAnn’s and got a few prints, some thread and signed up for a sewing lesson. I am not kidding, I had never sewed anything and had no clue how I was going to thread this machine with four separate threads. A few days later I got the basics down and made my first wild rag. Let me just say, thank you YouTube I couldn’t have done it without you.
(Trisha this is just so inspiring you are one determined woman! I love that you and with the support of your hubs just ran with it.)
T: Whipin Wild Rags was started Super Bowl Sunday 2017, I remember this because Casey was working and I was home working on my sewing skills when I decided that my product was finally good enough to sell so I spent my morning listening to podcasts on how to sell on Instagram and taking pictures with my phone. I’ve left all of these gems up if you want to see our humble beginnings take a look. But I am not kidding you I chose a picture, added a few hashtags and then started requesting friends. I followed everyone I thought would be interested and sent probably a hundred DM’s the first hour until I got temporarily suspended, but an hour or so later I got a DM back. Someone wanted one on my wild rags! I am not kidding I was so happy I was literally whooping it up having a dance party all by myself in our tiny apartment. I made the wild rag, packaged it up and headed to our friend’s house to watch the game, feeling like a boss and checking my phone every 15 seconds for likes and follows. Then BOOM I a got a second and a third-order that same day. When Casey showed up and I told him and we were pumped thinking this might actually be something. I signed up for every podcast on social media marketing and got to work. I was determined to quit my job and with a little luck and God’s grace was able to leave my position 3 months later and become the crazy wild rag lady full time. Those three months taught me all about sleepless nights and hard work, I would wake up at four and get a few done before work, work all day, take orders while staying active on social media and making awesome connections, then racing home to fill orders, riding when possible and taking pictures at night. On the weekends I would take wild rags to the jackpot and Jr. Rodeos. I was that crazy personal slinging scarves out of the back of trucks. At first, I was a little uncomfortable with it but I was crushing my goal and getting closer to quitting every day and that was really motivating and was what got my business off the ground.
T: Style is so unique and therefore I listen. My goal is to make Whipin a brand that is all about our customers. I read every comment / review and ask tons of questions because I really want to design prints that excite our followers. Every few months I will post a this or that type series of questions on our Instagram stories to ask our fans what they want to see more of and oh boy do they show up and provide some great feedback. The questions usually last a day or so but the information is priceless. It keeps us really connected and focused on the customer.
(Haha oh my gosh I couldn’t love that anymore, in true Trisha fashion!)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
This scripture was encouraging for me in leaving a stable career for the unknown, a move that most people including myself thought was crazy. It has been a season that has challenged me to grow as a Christian and be the biggest blessing I could have asked for.
(That too is one of my favorites as well! )
Your welcome, it’s pretty funny now but I was super stressed and overwhelmed when it happened I ugly cried for 5 minutes and felt like an idiot for wasting so much time but sister I learned how to use photoshop that day because that project was out of time and money. There is a saying do what you do best and hire the rest, which is great if you can afford to hire the best as well. I did not and now it’s pretty funny but at the time it was pretty devastating because I was planning on using that design for NFR last year and it clearly was a fail and didn’t happen. So this year will be my first year with my own original designs.
Sidewalk Prophets
Gosh Trisha thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy days to sit down and share not only your heart but you life and business with us. You are truly inspiring I know not only to me but to so many. One of my favorite things about you besides your giant heart is that you never quit. You have so much grit and grace and that truly is so very inspiring. Thank you so much for being apart of today’s blog. We all love you!
Readers I hope this blog inspires you as much as it inspires me and also gives you a chance to get to know a little more about the face behind the brand. I truly believe when you here an owner’s why and how it helps you connect with them more personally and fall in love all over again with the brand.
If you are headed to Vegas this year and the NFR be sure to stop by and tell Trisha hi! I know I will be and might even spend a little time there! So stop by and Trisha and I would love to help you style that new Whipin Wild Rag!
As always remember to live in His Grace and Rock your Style!
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