Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ben Roller.
Hi Ben, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always loved working on and creating things. Whether it be working on steel, wood, automotive projects, or anything else that involves working on things with my hands, I have always been excited that we can manifest incredible things into existence from what we create in our imaginations.
When I first started leatherwork, I was infatuated with the material itself. The texture, feel, fragrance, visual beauty, and durability of leather, as well as its ability to patina and become more beautiful over time, made me hold its value in much higher regard than any of the modern synthetic materials used in similar applications. The more I came to understand how to work with it and what I could create with it, the more it became my primary focus. I worked to hone my abilities for several years, and once I reached a level of craftsmanship with my leatherwork that I was confident was of very high quality, I started Hidelab Leatherworks to offer leather goods that I make to the market.
I started Hidelab while attending (but independent from) the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah and realized I had the lowest-tech business plan in the college, which I was, and am still, proud of. I started Hidelab around an idea that involved a reference for old-world, high-quality, handmade American craftsmanship while maintaining a connection to the modern world we live in and the interest of today’s leather goods customers. I founded the business in late 2021 (amid the pandemic madness), and it has been steadily gaining traction since then.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It can be challenging running a small, family-owned, handmade leather goods business among a world of giant investment-backed, factory-produced goods companies, as far as the realistic amount of work one can expect to have to undertake single-handedly. Hidelab was never, and never will be, intended to serve the same customer base as companies like these, but rather the niche of consumers that truly value high-quality handmade leather goods, so in that respect, the workload is much more rewarding, in my experience.
The challenge lies in handling all the aspects of a business one might expect, such as marketing, accounting, procurement, shipping, etc., while also being the sole maker of the leather goods themselves. What I keep in the front of my mind, however, are the two most important aspects of the business: the quality of the leather goods and the customer experience. I believe that if those two elements are achieved, things like the frequency of social media posts or detailed financial projections are essentially insignificant in the long run.
As far as I’m concerned, the quality of the leather goods and the satisfaction of the people that order them are without a doubt the two most important elements of the business and what drives it, so I work as hard and as long as necessary to ensure those things are prioritized above all else.
We’ve been impressed with Hidelab Leatherworks, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
Hidelab Leatherworks is a handmade leather goods company inspired by and made for the outdoors. We focus on creating beautiful, high-quality, rugged leather products for both outdoor-specific activities and lifestyle, from knife sheaths to handbags. We are known for our excellent hand-stitching, which makes our products more durable than machine-stitched goods, for our unique designs, and for using extremely high-quality leather.
The unique style of the leather goods fuses artistic elements that may otherwise seem at odds, such as classic bag designs with our modern graffiti logo, also emulating nature in how we can exist in both its beauty and its chaos simultaneously. We sell products on our website at www.hidelableather.com and will take custom and semi-custom order variations via email, direct message on Instagram or Facebook, or by phone.
Are any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
The podcast that I watch/listen to is called the “My Self Reliance Podcast” by Shawn James.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hidelableather.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hidelab_leatherworks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hidelableatherworks
Image Credits
Hidelab Leatherworks
