Today we’d like to introduce you to MacKenzie Bradds
Hi MacKenzie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Growing up on a farm, I was naturally interested in agriculture. I showed cattle and hogs, was an officer in my FFA chapter, and had plans to pursue an ag-related career after college. But, I found out quickly after graduating and having a couple full-time positions that my heart was leading me in a different direction. I truly wanted to be my own boss. I also watched both of my parents run their own businesses and helped them from a very young age. I told my parents I wanted to start my own boutique because I always have loved fashion and styling. They supported me 100%, and that gave me the confidence to put myself out there. And so began my adventure in owning my first online store, Faith Farm Boutique, in 2018. Right from the start, I knew I had found my passion in life. I thought I would eventually open up a storefront, and I had started pursuing those plans, and then, out of the blue, I met my now husband, Evan. He was working in Boston at the time, and as our relationship got more serious, I knew I would have to move. I ended up closing my store, moving to Boston, and taking a full-time management position at Anthropologie. I wanted to continue learning about the retail industry because I knew that that was something I still wanted to do in the future. After another job change for my husband and myself and a move to Utah in 2022, I finally felt settled enough to start another business. I knew I loved what I was doing before, but I wanted to move away from fast fashion, and so I got the idea to start an online vintage/thrift shop. It would complement my deep appreciation for fashion that is both quality and trendy but could be done in a more sustainable way. And so, Beckenridge and Co. (Beck. + Co.) was born this past March, named after my family’s farm back home in Ohio.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to get to Beck. + Co. was full of twists, turns, and lots of prayer. I actually never thought I would have a vintage shop. When I started Faith Farm, I had a clear vision of that boutique and what it would be. This time around, I felt called to take a different approach, but I hadn’t the slightest idea what that would look like. Finally, one day I was sitting at a coffee shop and I stumbled upon the website, Lucia Zolea. I fell in love with the product imagery and how I felt transported back in time. And then it hit me: a vintage shop was exactly what I needed to do. It took me almost a year after that revelation to open up the online store. To be honest, I was afraid to put myself out there again. A lot of time had passed since my first boutique, and this business would be such a change from that. Owning your own business is a very vulnerable space to be, and I think any small business owner would tell you that. I mean, you are doing everything yourself for the most part. Whether it is posting videos of yourself, popping up at markets, or putting together inventory, it all can be challenging at times. Some days I feel great about my business, and other days I struggle with confidence. So, yeah, there are definitely struggles along the way of finding motivation and having courage each day to keep showing up.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Beckenridge & Co. is an online curated collection of timeless yet unique and fun vintage and modern pieces. I founded Beck. + Co. in 2024 with the idea of making sustainable fashion more relatable and desirable. Understanding what the name of our business means, I think, will truly encompass what our brand is about. In 1986, my parents purchased our family farm from my grandfather and renamed it Beckenridge Farms. The farm sits between the rolling hills of southwest Ohio (the ridge), and a creek flows through the land (the beck). Growing up, the farm was my sanctuary and still is to this day. This brand represents heritage and caring for the land. It reminds me of the butterflies in the fields and growing up free. How it’s okay to love things of the past and carry them into the now with a new purpose. I truly hope each customer of Beck. + Co. finds something they love in the shop and that can transport them to happy memories. I also hope that they can feel good about their impact on this world through their purchase.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I’ve only lived in the Salt Lake Valley for two summers now, but so far, I absolutely love the outdoors here and all of the coffee and sweet shops! I think that one is pretty obvious, but having not grown up around the mountains, I can’t get enough of the views and the beautiful hikes. I used to live in Boston, so I was a little spoiled with all of the wonderful local restaurants. The food there was incredible, so I probably feel like I’m missing that the most here in Salt Lake City.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beckenridgeandco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckenridgeandco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Beckenridge-Co/61559143792175/?mibextid=kFxxJD
