Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Anderson.
Hi Jess, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We are a family owned hat business! We custom shape cowboy hats and enjoy promoting the western lifestyle.
My husband, Tod Bell, and I do this together. Tod is the hat shaper and the one who makes each hat unique for the customer. Our hats are open flat meaning the crown is rounded and the brim is flat. We carry American Hat Company Straw and Felts hats and Warbonnet Felt hats. Tod hand shapes each hat with steam to the unique design desired. We have a basic chart that shows designs, but we can also shape to match a picture or various ideas people come up with. He has shaped a cactus, a skull, a rose, and more in a crown! Pretty cool! We add unique bands as well to make the hat unique! Custom branding is also a cool addition. I am the business manager and do all the social media and the sales!
Tod was a bareback rider born and raised in Utah. He served in the United States Air Force for 34 years and retired last year to focus strictly on the hat business. I was born and raised in SouthEastern, Idaho on a cattle ranch. The Western Lifestyle is in our blood and selling hats fits perfectly into who we already are. We enjoy giving back to the communities that support us and we have done raffles for individuals in need and have donated over $12,000 back to those in need. It’s truly humbling to see the support and love within the western community.
I am also a realtor! I have been a licensed realtor for 18+ years! I love helping individuals with the largest financial investment most people make. I am licensed in Idaho with Silvercreek Realty Group. My license in Utah and Wyoming is with Mountain Retreat Real Estate. Selling hats and selling homes keeps me busy!
Our business is mostly done through events and by appointment at either of our locations; Blackfoot, Idaho and Plain City, Utah. Events that we attend include the Wilderness Circuit Finals in Heber City, Utah, Idaho State High School Rodeo Finals in Pocatello, Idaho, Utah State High School Rodeo Finals in Heber City, Utah, Intermountain Icebreaker in Ogden, Utah, Salmon Select Horse Sale in Salmon, Idaho, RMPRA Rodeos in Ogden, Utah, Southeastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, Idaho just to name a few! We keep an updated schedule on our Facebook and Instagram page. Our daughters, Maycie and Cambrie, help us with most of the events we attend. We definitely could not do what we do without the help of our family and support of the western community!
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?
Rock’n B Hats has been primarily smooth to run. It’s easy when the customer base knows a good product and appreciates a well shaped hat. Sometimes the wait for the hat to be shaped is long depending on the event, but when this happens people just pull up a table or chair and make friends! One obstacle would be the supply and demand of felt hats. We have recently started to carry Warbonnet Felt hats which has helped with the supply of the felt hats. Warbonnet hats are made in Roosevelt, Utah which is pretty cool! Keeping it local!
American Hats are made in Bowie, Texas. American Hat company is a respected hat company that is doing amazing things in the western industry.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We love interacting with the western world! We enjoy being at the rodeos! We sell American and Warbonnet Hats. We take pride in the quality of hats we sell. We sell quality not quanity. My husband, Tod, is a well known hat shaper and a number of people will only let him touch their hats.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
It’s all just a thing; take it a day at a time and stay positive!
Pricing:
As I stated above, our hats are quality, not cheap wool blend hats so the price for the felts reflect that. The 10X American Felt starting price is $500. A Warbonnet 20X is $525. The price goes up from there for felts, the higher the “X” the higher the price. The higher the “X” the more Beaver in the hat. Another fun fact about a good quality felt hat, it will not need a hat cover in the rain. “Have you ever seen a beaver wear a raincoat?” 🙂 A good quality hat will hold up in the rain and snow!
Our straw hat pricing is around $220. We have a select few that are around $160 and $180, but the majority of our American Hat Company Straw hats are around the $220 and up price point.
The price does include the shaping.
Tod will reshape and clean hats for tips. If you need a hat cleaned or shaped or would like to set up an appointment you can reach us at 801-814-0938 (Tod) or 208-541-7262 (Jess).
Another fun fact, we have had brand ambassadors that qualify for the National Finals Rodeo the last couple years so watch for the Rock’n B logo again in 2025!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rocknbhats.com
- Instagram: rockn_b_hats
- Facebook: Rock’n B Hats
- Email: jessall29@gmail.com and tod.bell@rocknbhats.com
